Chief Justice Discovers 12 Foot Human Skeletons in Pennsylvania
The New York Times, August 10, 1880
Two Very Tall Skeletons
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 the company with Chief - Justice McKean, Judge Bryan, Mr. Beard and others on our way to Franklin, and take-in view of the town, in the company with Mr. McAllister, 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 8inches 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 and they mentioned that many others had seen them, and Mr. McAllister, who 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 his leg, reached from his ankle a considerable way up his thigh, pointing a small distance below the hip bone."
