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." A separate 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.

Press Coverage

• "HAD EATEN MUCH HUMAN FLESH. Three Members of the Tenth Find a Giant Cannibal Skeleton.", Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pa.): 1, 28 Dec. 1898, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/86378258/ 
  

  Special to the Pittsburg Post. UNIONTOWN. Pa. Dec. 27. Walter Seamans, Samuel Rockwell and George Knott, members of Company C, Tenth regiment, now at Manila, were caught a long distance from camp by darkness and sought shelter in a cave. During a violent electric storm they discovered in the recesses of the cavern a gigantic skeleton of a cannibal king standing upright with a battle-ax in one hand, while on the wall above there was chiseled an inscription giving the date of his death, over 500 years ago, and stating that he had participated in over 400 cannibal feasts and had eaten flesh from over 400 human beings. The ax in his hand was of finely tempered steel, and the handle, which was of ivory, contained 248 notches, one for each victim slain. The soldiers expect to make a fortune out of the find if it can be transported to the United States.

• BONES OF CANNIBAL KINGS. Find Made in a Philippine Cave by Three Pennsylvania Soldiers.,  
  

  The bones of the skeleton were well preserved, and long white hair adhered to the skull. The find was brought to camp, and three teeth of the giant were sent here, where they are exhibited.