Des Moines County, 8 footer

In excavating for a cellar for Gov. Grime’s new house in Burlington, Iowa. The workmen came up on an arched vault some 10 feet square, which, on being opened, was found to contain eight  human skeletons of gigantic proportions. The wall of the vault was about fourteen inches thick, well laid up with cement of indestructible mortar. The vault is about 6 feet from the base to the arch. The skeletons are in a state of preservation, and, the Burlington paper says, are the most human remains ever found, being a little over 8 feet long.

The Burlington (Iowa) State Gazette mentions the finding of eight human skeletons of gigantic proportions, in a vault which was discovered in excavating for a cellar.

Western Giants in their Slumber.-

The Burlington [Iowa] State Gazette says that while some workmen were engaged in excavating for the cellar of Gov. Grimes’ new building, on the corner of Main and Valley Streets, they came upon an arched vault some ten feet square, which, on being opened, was found to contain eight human skeletons of gigantic proportions. The walls of the vault were about 14 inches thick, well laid up with cement or indestructible mortar. The vault is about six feet deep from the base of the arch. The skeletons are in a good state of preservation, and we venture to say are the largest human remains ever found, being a little over eight feet long.

1. Vermont Phoenix., May 02, 1857, Image 2.
2. Des Moines County, 8 footer Vermont phoenix., May 02, 1857, Image 2
3. The Evening Times. (Washington, D.C.), 17 Aug. 1897. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
4. The Daily dispatch, (Richmond [Va.]), 28 April 1856. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers
5. Grand River Times. (Grand Haven, Mich.), 21 May 1856 Chronicling America:
6. The Carolina Spartan, 1856.