File:Hillsboro Bay giant Tampa legend drawing 1922.jpg

English: Some of the earliest settlers of Florida were cattle ranchers called Crackers who came to the state in the late 18th century. Among the legends that came out of that one period was that of the Hillsboro (Hillsborough) Bay giant. Allegedly, cattle began to disappear from their herd during the night. As was often the case back then, natives were blamed for the loss. However, when the group went out looking for them they encountered a giant eating one of the missing cows. There was a battle in which three ranchers were killed along with the giant. A group of giant skeletons and skulls were reported by the newspaper to have been found in the 1920’s, corroborating this earlier legend.