Giant Skeleton of a Luzon Cannibal King

The Luzon Cannibal King was an alleged giant skeleton that was claimed to have been discovered in a cave somewhere on the island of Luzon in the Philippines by three American soldiers - Walter Seamans, Samuel Rockwell, and George Knotts - during the Spanish-American War. A press report, credited to the Pittsburg Post, related that the skeleton, described as being "gigantic" but otherwise unmeasured, was found positioned upright with an ivory-handled steel battle axe in one hand, and that there was an inscription on the wall nearby, recording the date of death (which the report only says was "over 500 years ago," so as early as the late 1300s) and a statement that the king had "participated in over 400 cannibal feasts and had eaten the flesh from over 400 human beings"; while another press report, credited to the Pittsburg Dispatch, added that the skeleton had been "brought to camp" and that "three teeth of the giant" had been sent to Pittsburgh where they were exhibited.[P] It is not known when or how the discoverers' translated the inscription nor what ultimately became of their alleged discovery.

Dramatis Personae

 * Walter L. Semans (1863-1915), sergeant from Dunbar, Pa.;
 * Samuel Newcomer Rockwell (1868-1952), sergeant from Uniontown, Pa.;
 * George Burton Knotts (1873-1925), corporal from Uniontown, Pa.

All three men were members of Company C, Tenth Regiment Infantry, National Guard of Pennsylvania, which was stationed at Camp Dewey, south of Manila, from 14 August 1898 through 4 February 1899.