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CNN Live Saturday

Old Man of the Mountain Collapses Overnight

Aired May 03, 2003 - 18:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Until last night, the side of a cliff in a state park was one of New Hampshire's most beloved landmarks. Now -- well, it's just the side of a cliff. Reporter David Boeri of CNN affiliate WCBB is in Franconia Notch with word of what happened to the Old Man of the Mountain -- David.
DAVID BOERI, WCBB CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, you've got to appreciate the fact that the Old Man is New Hampshire. It's on every highway sign, it's on the license plates, it's on the state's quarter. It's synonymous with the state's motto of "live free or die."

And that's why the governor's talking tonight of actually rebuilding it somehow, talking rather rashly. Let's take a look at the video. The stone, the granite is about 100 million years old. But it was sculptured, that chiseled face of the New Hampshire Yankee was chiseled about 1,400 years ago by glaciers and erosion. Still, this was the face of New Hampshire to tourists. Then, last night, cold rains, freezing temperatures and the geological reality of old age that just rushes in brought down the ledges. It came tumbling down. And those cables that were keeping it on life support couldn't keep the Old Man from going code blue.

Today the face is gone. And all you can see are those cables, the back of the head, but the rest of the state's symbol is gone.

COOPER: It's sad to see, David. David Boeri, of CNN affiliate WCBB. Thanks very much for being with us, David.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired May 3, 2003 - 18:41   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Until last night, the side of a cliff in a state park was one of New Hampshire's most beloved landmarks. Now -- well, it's just the side of a cliff. Reporter David Boeri of CNN affiliate WCBB is in Franconia Notch with word of what happened to the Old Man of the Mountain -- David.
DAVID BOERI, WCBB CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, you've got to appreciate the fact that the Old Man is New Hampshire. It's on every highway sign, it's on the license plates, it's on the state's quarter. It's synonymous with the state's motto of "live free or die."

And that's why the governor's talking tonight of actually rebuilding it somehow, talking rather rashly. Let's take a look at the video. The stone, the granite is about 100 million years old. But it was sculptured, that chiseled face of the New Hampshire Yankee was chiseled about 1,400 years ago by glaciers and erosion. Still, this was the face of New Hampshire to tourists. Then, last night, cold rains, freezing temperatures and the geological reality of old age that just rushes in brought down the ledges. It came tumbling down. And those cables that were keeping it on life support couldn't keep the Old Man from going code blue.

Today the face is gone. And all you can see are those cables, the back of the head, but the rest of the state's symbol is gone.

COOPER: It's sad to see, David. David Boeri, of CNN affiliate WCBB. Thanks very much for being with us, David.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com