On December 13th, says a Fresno, Cal., dispatch, two men named Packwood and Barrett came in from Cantua canyon with a remarkable curiosity, namely, a petrified man.
    The men are from Fresno, but have land at Cantua canyon, which they were engaged in cultivating. One of them saw a foot protruding from the ground, and, upon investigation, they unearthed the body of a man. They found that it was petrified when they attempted to lift it, it being as much as they could do to carry it to their wagon. As it was, they let it fall, and a foot and leg were broken off.
    Packwood and Barrett brought their strange find to Fresno and deposited it in the rear room of a drug store here, and but a few are being permitted to see it. Your reporter saw the petrified man this afternoon, he is remarkably well preserved, and even the lines on the back of the hand are visible. The left hand rests on the breast, the right on the stomach, which is depressed. Tho head is of a good size and the features are of the Caucasian type. The man measures nearly seven feet in length.
    Physicians have seen the petrifaction and declare it genuine, but have not determined upon the race he belonged to. Your reporter examined the portion broken off, and found it somewhat porous. From appearances the petrified man is a genuine curiosity. He was found in a district noted for its petrifactions.
    Packwood and Barrett sold the curiosity to M. J. Donahoo of San Francisco and P. B. Donahoo, his brother, of this city. The consideration was $10,000. The body was placed on exhibition here yesterday morning and more than on thousand persons were admit a small charge being exacted. The first owners of the curiosity were offered sums ranging all the way from $2000 to $8000 before concluding the bargain with the Donahoos.
    It is the intention of the purchasers to exhibit the petrifaction throughout the Pacific Coast and the East. They intend to go at it in a businesslike way. First an artist will visit the spot where the body was dug up, and views of everything around about will be taken. A picture of the petrifaction will also be made, and everything possible of a convincing nature will be secured to substantiate the discovery and the genuineness of the petrified body. Very close to where the body was found a prospector not long since, while sinking a prospect hole, unearthed a petrified snake, but upon being exposed several days it crumbled to pieces. There are now within a few hundred yards of the same place many excellent specimens of petrified wood, notable among them being a log ten feet long and fully forty inches in diameter.—Ex.

From— The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands), 31 Dec. 1890., Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.