The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-11-12
@ruernl SnttlIiaruct l..
THE ONONDAGA GIANT.
a s~tupendous Hoax.

work during the season in the q]uarries Of
Onondaga. Three years ago a Canadian
Dv the name of Jules Gemud came to On
ondagn TO seek work. Geraud was amouO-
maniac. His n idea was that he was an
artist destined TO rival the fame Of Michael
Angelo. He was t]aciturn and Of retired
habits. Ho inhabited n secluded shnniy,
and when not at work in the q|uarrics a.
ways retired TO II. No person was ever in
vited into his cabin, and people passing it
on the Sabbath always heard the mallot
and chiscl ut full play. This first excited
no wonder, but when the same sounds of
labor in the shnnty were heard month after
month until late az night, the curiosity Of
people was awakened. This thing con-
tinued for nearly three years, and the most
active curiosity. seeker never penetrated the
mystery of Gemud's labor.
In the month Of October, 1865, Genud
was missed for several days from the work
of the quarries. An American by the name
Of George Hooker, n fellow-laborer, actua-
ted by a spirit OF philnnthrophy, visited
the shnnty Of Geraud, and found him suf-
fering from q low form Of fever; he brought
him food aud such medicines as he thought
his case required, as GeNud refused to see
n physician. About n week from his first
visit Hooker visited Geraud in the night
NAAA AkhAAA hlAA WY nihA AAn NllAAF AHNNNNNA
expressed himself grateful for the attentions
OF Hooker, aud told him he would reveal to
him a great secret. lie requested him TO
pass behind a screen thatdiyided the cabin
and look at his beautiful statue-the most
beautiful statue in the world, Geraud said.
The ruling passion Of the poor man was
strong in death. Hooker did as requested.
He saw lying before him an object covered
with a large and ragged piece OF canvas: he
raised It, and 10 his astonishmcnt, uncoy.
cred the colossal statue of a man lying on
his back. He returned to Geraud aud ask
cd him who it was. Geraud's eyes cleaned
wildly as he answered, ut is st. Paul"
Geraud requested Hooker in the most i'm.
FASHIONED terms TO swear not to reveal the
secret until he had been dead a week.
Hooker, wishing TO oblige the dying man,
complied.
That night Goraud died. But four per.
sons attended the funeral. Hooker among
the number, the three others being Cana
dians. Tho fifth night. after the burial of
Gcraud the cabin was observed to be on
fire. No II paid any attention to Il; but
Hooker, who had not seen the fire during
the night, on passing that way in the
morning saw that the cabin was burned.
lio walked up to the spot, expecting to
find tae statue Of ST. Paul, hut 10 his utter
amazement not a vegtigc of il was TO be
be seen; 10 had vanished as completely as
If II had been n soap bubble, instead Of n
ton of carved stone. This mysterious dis
appearance so impressed Hooker that he
wished to keep the fact Of the statue n Sc
cret. Beside his superstition, which was
actively aroused, he dreaded the laughter
Of his companions IL he revealed his dis
covery.
Hooker has been employed rs q teamstcr
IN this city. A few days before the discov-
cry of the statue, Hooker had ON attack of
acute pneumonia. On a frame weakened
by exposure and dissipation tho disease
made rapid progress. The news of the dis
covery flew like wildfre, and was much
talked of 10y those in attendance on the sick
man. He was deeply affected by the dis
covery. On the day II was rumored that
Professor Hall, tho State Geologist, was 10
visit the scene Of discovery, Hooker made
an urgent request that his physician be sent
for. DR.. - hHstened TO his bedside.
Hooker asked the doctor if he Thought he
would recover; the doctor replied that he
could not live much longer. Hooker then
told the doctor he would reveal the secret
Of the Cardiff giant. DR.. - then told
Hooker that he should like n responsible
witness present. Dr.. - therefore sought
me, as he knew l took q deep interest in
the subject. We both repaired TO the house
occupied by Hooker, near the west suburbs
Of the city. We fouudthe patient but little
excited, and, in the opinion Of DR.. -
perfectly sane. Hooker then made the
statement which L have above detailed
After L had written it, almost in the very
words Of the above, ! read it TO Hooker.
aud he then affixed his mark TO the follow.
inG dying declaration;
/, George Hooker, knowing myself to be
near my death, have heard read to me the
above statement, and it agrees with the
statement already made by me, which l
solemnly declare to be truth. / have heard
the description of the Cardiff giant, and
believe il TO be the same statue found living
in the cabin Of jules Geraud, Mt Onondaga.
GEORGE HooKER.
Witness -THoNIAs b. ELLIS.
This finishes all positive information re-
garding this wonderful hoax. l now come
20 that part Of the history which Isl ''mys-
terry"
One year ago, about tho time Of the burn
ing Of jules Geraud's cabin, a stranger
came to the hotel in Tully for q guide 10
the house of Newell, at Lafayette. A wagon
and guide were there furnished him. Az
ter travelling 10 within sight Of Mr.. Newel's
house, he paid and dismissed the guide,
and proceeded on foot. This was the last
seen of our mysterious stranger. A few
days after-some of my infOrmants say
two, and others say three days-a wagon
containing alarge box eleven feet long was
observed to be making its way towards
Newells house, Several veracious wit
nesses are willing TO swear 1t was Newelrs
team.
There the substantial part Of my nara
tive ends. / am confident the publication
of this statement will bring out further
facts. Several parties were mixed up to-
gether in perpetrating this fraud, and fear,
a powerful emotion in human nature, will
compel some Of the parties to furnish the
missing links in the chain of facts | have
detailed above. The most surprising thing
about this is the magnitude of the hoax.
All other attempts at humbugging sink into
~insignihcaDee by the side OF the "Cardih
Giant" Richard Adams Locke's moon
hoax and Poe's story, "Hans Phaal," are
simply moonshine when compared with the
cool effrontery of this Cardiff hoax. Ply
s%icians, biologists, lecturers and sayans
have visited the statue of poor, half crazy
Geraud, and returned dumbfounded. Twill
close this narrative by saying that Newell
and his abettors have persistently refused
10 allow any person, competent to decide
the question Of this being q petrefation or
work of art, TO inspect it. Prof Hall, who
was allowed a few moments of examination,
was pledged 10 reserve his opinion until
permission was given him 10 make il known.