Warren Evening Mirror, (Warren, Pennsylvania) May 17, 1910
Grim Relics of Early Fight
Manitoba Workman Unearth Skeletons In Common Grave
Snowflake, Man., May. 17-Workman digging on the brow of a hill on the Charles Sims homestead unearthed the skeletons of 20 human beings, which had been buried in all sorts of positions. The bones were those of men, women and children who in ages past, had been slaughtered, evidently in some battle between warring tribes of redskins.
The spot could have been no peaceful Indian burying ground, as the bodies were thrown in every position, some on top of the others. The skeletons show the men to be of gigantic stature.
Beads and other adornments for Indian women are quite plentiful. To Dr. Corbett of Snowflake belongs the credit of making the discovery.
Pennsylvania
History of Erie County, Illustrated, 1884
Many indications have been found in the county proving conclusively that it was once peopled by a
different race from the Indians who were found here when it was first visited by white men. When the
link of the Erie and Pittsburgh Railroad form the Lake Shore road to the dock at Erie was in process of
construction, the laborers dug into a great mass of bones at the crossing of the public road which runs
by the rolling mill. From the promiscuous way in which they were thrown together, it is surmised that
a terrible battle must have taken place in the vicinity at some day so far distant that not even a tradition
of the event has been preserved. The skulls were flattened, and the foreheads were seldom more than
an inch in width. The bodies were in a sitting posture, and there were no traces that garments, weapons
or ornaments had been buried with them. On account of the superstitious notions that prevailed among
the workmen, none of the skeletons were preserved, the entire collection as far as was exposed being
thrown into the embankment further down the road. At a later date, when the roadway of the
Philadelphia and Erie road, where it passes through the Warfel farm, was being widened, another
deposit of bones was dug up and summarily disposed of as before. Among the skeletons was one of a
giant, side by side with a smaller one probably that of his wife. The arm and leg bones of this Native
American Goliath were about one-half longer than those of the tallest man among the laborers; the
skull was immensely large; the lower jawbone easily slipped over the face and whiskers of a full-face
man, and the teeth were in a perfect state of preservation.
Another skeleton was dug up in Conneaut Township some years ago, which was quite remarkable in
its dimensions. As in the other instance, a comparison was made with the largest man in the
neighborhood, and the jawbone readily covered his face, while the lower bone of the leg was nearly a
foot longer than the one with which it was measured, indicating that the man must have been eight to
ten feet in height. The bones of a flat head were turned up in the same township some two years ago
with a skull of unusual size. Relics of a former time have been gathered in that section by the pailful.
Smithsonian Institutions Bureau of Ethnology, 1898-99 On the upper terrace, within the corporate limits of Monongahela City, are situated the garden and greenhouse of Mr. I. S. Crall. Two ravines on the east and west sides open directly south into Pigeon Creek, and their erosion has lowered the ground until it is surrounded by higher land on every side except along the bluff next to the creek. The further side of the creek being bounded by a high hill, the view from the level land between the ravines is shut off in every direction, except through a narrow pass looking up the river, thus the tract is surrounded on every side by hills close at hand, ranging from 40 to 250 feet above its level. In excavating for foundation walls and other purposes, Mr. Crall has, at different times, unearthed skeletons, some of large size; the ground is strewn with mussel shells, flint chips, etc.
On the eastern side of this level, near the break of the ravine, and close to a never-failing spring, stands the largest mound above the one at McKees rocks, measuring 9 feet in height by 60 feet in diameter… At the center a hole measuring 3 feet across the top and 2 feet into the original soil. In this were fragments of human bones too soft to be preserved. They indicated an adult of large size. The gray clay was unbroken over this hole. Directly over this, above the clay and resting upon it, were portions of another large skeleton, with which was found part of an unburned clay tube or pipe.
Otzinachson, A History of the West Branch Valley of the Susquehanna, 1889
That Indians frequented this stream in considerable numbers there is no doubt, as they left abundant
numbers traces of their occupation behind them, both in ruined huts and graves. As late as 1873, at the
village of Sterling Run, while Mr. Earl was excavating for a cellar, seventeen Indian skeletons were
disclosed. All except two were of ordinary grown stature, while one measured over seven and one-half
feet from the cranium to the heel bones. The bones had all remained undisturbed. They lay with their
feet toward each other in a three-quarter circle, that is, some with their heads to the east, and then
northeasterly to the north, and then northwesterly to the west. There had been a fire at the centre,
between their feet, as ashes and coals were found there. The skeletons, except one smaller than the
rest, were all as regularly arranged as they would be naturally in a sleeping camp and similar
dimensions; many of the bones were in a good state of preservation, particularly the teeth and jaw
bones, and some of the leg bones and skulls. The stalwart skeleton held a stoneware or clay pipe
between his teeth as naturally as if in the act of smoking.
Twentieth Century History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Vol. I, 1909
Among the best known is that found in Wayne Township a short distance from Coury, which consist
of a circular embankment of earth surrounded by a trench from which the earth had been dug, the
whole enclosing about three acres… Smaller that the Wayne mound or circle is that of the John
Pomeroy place on Conneaut Creek, near Albion. It encloses an area of a little less than an acre, and the
embankment of this was three feet high and six feet broad at the base… On the same farm there is an
interesting mound a hundred feet long and fifty feet wide by twenty-five feet high. There are stories of
finding the skeletons of giants in one of the Conneaut Township mounds.
History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, 1878
In 1822, while digging a cellar on the farm of Gen. McKean, the excavation came to what was a
supposed to be “an impenetrable rock, but striking it with a crow, it gave forth a hollow sound.” They
redoubled their efforts, and at last the stone broke and fell into a vault. And now, with visions of longburied treasure flitting through their minds, they carefully removed the earth from the arch, speculating
the while as to the probable extent of the “treasure trove” and the amount of salvage the general would
be likely to claim. On removing the cap they found “not what they sought” but a sepulcher. A careful
examination of the sarcophagus revealed it flagged at the bottom, the sides artistically built up, and a flat stone laid on the top. The sarcophagus measured nine feet in length, two feet sic inched in width, and two feet deep. In it was found a skeleton, measuring, as it lay, eight feet two inches in length (this measurement was made by Dr. Williams, late of Troy, now deceased). The teeth were sound, but the bones were soft and easily broken. There were two of these sepulchers within the space of the cellars, one of which had a pine growing over it three feet in diameter.
New York Times, August 10, 1880
Two Very Tall Skeletons
From the Harrisburg (Penn.) Telegraph
The following was copied verbatim from a note made in his pocket almanac by the late Judge Atlee: “On the 24th of May, 1798, being at Hanover (York County, Penn.,) in company with Chief Justice McKean, Judge Bryan, Mr. Burd, and others, on our way to Franklin, and, taking a view of the town, in company with Mr. McAlister, and several other respectable inhabitants, we went to Mr.Neese’s tan yard, where we were shown a place near the currying house from whence (in digging to sink a tan-vat) some years ago were taken two skeletons of human bodies. They lay close beside each other and measured 11 feet 8 inches in length: the bones were entire, but on being taken up and exposed to the air they presently crumbled and fell to pieces. Mr. McAllister and some others mentioned that they and many others had seen them, and Mr.; McAllister, whom is a tall man, about 6 feet 4 inches high, mentioned that the principal bone of the leg of one of them, being placed by the side of the leg, reached from the ankle a considerable way up his thigh, pointing a small distance below the hip bone.
History of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter Counties, Pennsylvania, 1890
The Freaty Indians, whose old country they entered, were comparatively modern settlers. There were
men here before them, who lived in the age of giant nature. On the Fisher farm, near Bradford, in the
Tuna Valley Flats, there were relics of a large race exhumed years ago. It appears an aged tree was
felled and uprooted to make way for improvements, and beneath were found large skulls, any of which
could encase the head of any modern man; while thigh-bones and shin bones were several inches
longer than those of the present people.
History of Erie County Pennsylvania from its Settlement, 1894
There are also remains of an Indian fort between Gerard and Springfield. From a grave in this
vicinity, some years ago, a thigh bone was exhumed which measured four inches longer than that of a
man with which it was compared, who was six feet and two inches in height.
In Scoalers woods, east of Erie, is an Indian burying ground. Mr. Fredrick Zimmerman described a
very large skeleton, which was found there; with it were two copper bowls perforated at the edges and
laced together with a buckskin thong, which fell to dust soon after being exposed to the air. The bowls,
which would contain about a pint each, were found filled with beads.
History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Illustrated, 1884
An ancient graveyard was discovered in 1820, on the land known as the Drs. Carter and Dickinson
places in Erie, which created quite a sensation at the time. Dr. Albert Thayer dug up some of the
bones, and all indicated a race of beings of immense size.
Ohio
Ohio Democrat, (New Philadelphia, Ohio) January 14, 1870
The Cardiff Giant Outdone
Alleged Discovery of the Skeleton of a Giant in the Oil Regions
The Oil City Times of Friday is responsible for the following:
On Tuesday morning last, while Mr. William Thompson, assisted by Robert R. Smith was engaged in making an excavation near the house of the former, about half a mile north of West Hickory, preparatory to erecting a derrick, they exhumed an enormous helmet of iron, which was corroded with rust. Further digging brought to light a sword, which measured nine feet in length. Curiosity incited them to enlarge the hole, and after some little time they discovered the bones of two enormous feet. Following up the “lead” they had unexpectedly struck, in a few hours time they had unearthed a well preserved skeleton of an enormous giant, belonging to a species of the human family which probably inhabited this and other parts of the world at that time of which the Bible speaks, when it says: “And there were giants in those days.” The helmet is said to be the shape of those found among the ruins of Nineveh. The bones of the skeleton are remarkably white. The teeth all in their places, and all of extraordinary size. These relics have been taken to Tionest, where they are visited by large numbers of people daily. When his giant ship was in the flesh he must have stood eight feet in his stockings. These remarkable relics will be forwarded to New York early next week. The joints of the skeleton are now being glued together. These remains were found about twelve feet below the surface of the mound which had been thrown up probably centuries ago, and which was not more than three feet above the level of the ground around it. Here is another nut for antiquarians to crack.
History of Ashland County, Ohio, 1880
“About thirty-five years since, while engaged in cutting a bluff, on the bank of the creek, east of the
residence of the late Patrick Murray, for the purpose of improving the trail-road alluded to, a number of
human skeletons were unearthed, among which was one supposed to have been over seven feet high,
when erect. The bones were in a good state of preservation. This giant must have loomed up among
his aboriginal kinsmen like a Colossus.”
The History of Brown County Ohio, 1883
Mastodonic remains are occasionally unearthed, and, from time to time, discoveries of the remains of
Indian settlements are indicated by the appearance of gigantic skeletons, with the high cheek bones,
powerful jaws and massive frames peculiar of the red man, who left these as the only record with
which to form a clew to the history of past ages.
American Antiquarian, Vol. 13, 1890
Bones in a Gravel Bed-- Some workmen in Auglaize County, Ohio, recently came across some
human bones in a bed of gravel. Mr. Charles Jones, a well-known and wealthy landowner of
Spencerville, Allen County, says of the discovery:
“There was a remarkable discovery of prehistoric remains in our section the other day. The instance
came under my own observation. Last week I had occasion to visit the farm of I. Hemley, about two
miles west of Kossuth, just across the border in Auglaize County. Some workmen were engaged in
digging a well, and had descended to a depth of 32 feet, when they struck a gravel drift, from which
they exhumed a skull, 38 inches in circumference. Further down the other bones were found. There
can be no doubt as to the kind of remains. The thigh bone measured three feet two inches long. All the
bones were in an excellent state of preservation, and were probably those of a prehistoric warrior who
was killed in battle, as the skull seemed to have been crushed with a blunt instrument. The whole
skeleton measured eight feet eleven and one-half inches in height, and when clothed in flesh must have
been a tremendously powerful man. A huge stone ax weighing twenty-seven pounds and a flint spear
head of seventeen pounds weight were found with the bones, and were, no doubt, swayed by the giant
with the greatest ease. A copper medallion, engraved with several strange characters, was also found
with the bones. This is a startling discovery. The scientific value of the discovery is also considerable,
and may lead to some interesting developments.
A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County, Ohio, 1916
The most important evidences that the Mound Builders once occupied this region are the mounds that
they left here and there throughout the county. One of the most important of these lies in Hale
Township between Mt. Victory and Ridgeway, and from which hundreds of loads of gravel have been
taken to build pikes. This mound covered an area of about one and one-half acres, and the first settlers
of that part of the county said it was covered with a very heavy growth of timber when they came. At
first it was thought the Indians had it for a burying ground, but the Indians knew nothing of the bodies
there buried. In 1856 when a railroad was built through the southern part of the county connecting
Cleveland with Cincinnati, this mound was ruthlessly torn to pieces for the purpose of furnishing
ballast for the track. While the excavation was going on more than three hundred skeletons were dug
up, most of which were dumped with the gravel on the railroad track. A few of the bones were saved,
some of them being gigantic in size. Many of the bodies had been buried in sitting posture, and all
about them were evidences of fire and the remains of various article. As the Indians knew nothing of
the fact of who was buried there, it is safe to say the bodies must have been placed there many years
before the white man knew anything about the country.”
Sketches and Stories of the Lake Erie Islands, 1898
A large quantity of human bones was discovered in a fissure in the limestone near the United States
Coast Guard lighthouse. A crude tomb of black stone slabs, of a formation not known on the island,
was found many years ago beneath the roots of a huge stump. Eight skeletons were found, one
measuring over seven feet in height.
History of Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, 1879
Near these forts were mounds or hillocks, which were found to contain human bones, promiscuously
thrown together, as if a large number of bodies had been buried at one time. The skull bones, when
found entire, were shown to be larger upon average, than those of the present race, and all exhibited
marks that would indicate that life had been taken in deadly combat.
The Washington Post, December 4, 1898
Dug Up a Skeleton Eight Feet Long
The Nephilim Chronicles: Fallen Angels in the Ohio Valley Page 11
