Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-11-10
6enfral SnfeLli9ente.
THE ON0NDAGA GIANT.
A stupendous HOAX.

work during the season in the duarries of
Onondaga. Three years ago q Canadian
Dv the name Of Jules Geraud came to On
ondaga TO seek work. Geraud was mono
maniac. His one idea was that he was an
artist destined to rival the fame of Michael
Angelo. He was taciturn and of retired
habits. He inhabited secluded shanty
and when not at work in the quarries al
ways retired to it. Noperson was ever in
vited into his cabin, and people passing it
on the Sabbath always heard the mallet
and chisel at full play. This first excited
no wonder, but when the same sounds of
labor in the shanty were heard month after
month until late at 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 Geraud's labor.
In the month of October, 1868, Geraud
was missed for several days from the work
Of the q7arries An American by the name
of George Hooker, a fellow-laborer, actua-
ted by a spirit of philanthrophy, visited
the shanty of Geraud, and found him suf-
fering from low form of fever; he brought
him food and such medicines as he thought
his case required, as Geraud refused to see
physician. About week from his first
visit Hooker visited Geraud in the night
and found him very near his end. Geraud
expressed himself grateful for the attentions
of Hooker, and told MIN he would reveal to
him q great secret. He requested him to
pass behind a screen that divided 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 large and ragged piece of canvas; he
raised it, and to his astonishment, uncov-
cred the colossal statue of man lying on
his back. He returned to Geraud and ask
ed him who it was. Geraud's eyes cleaned
wildly as he answered. cit is st. Paul. :"
Geraud requested Hooker in the most i'm d.
passioned terms to swear not to reveal the
secret until l4e had been dead week
Hooker, wishing to obhge the dying man,
complied.
That night Geraud died. But four per-
sons attended the funeral Hooker among
the number, the three others being Cana
dians. The fifth night after the burial of
Geraud the cabin was observed to be on
FIRE. No one paid any attention to it; but
Hooker who had not seen the fire during
the night, on passing that way in the
morning saw that the cabin was burned.
He walked mp to the spot, expecting to
find the statue OF ST. Paul, but to his utter
anaZement not q vestige of it was to be
be seen; it had vanished as completely as
if 1t had been q soap bubble, instead of
ton of CARED stone. This mysterious dis
appearance so impressed Hooker that he
wished to keep the fact of the statue a Sc
cret. Beside his superstition, which was
actively aroused, he dreaded the laughter
Of his companions if he revealed his dis
covery.
hoe IonY
in this city. A few days before the discov-
cry Of the statue, Hooker had an attack of
acute pneumonia. On q frame weakened
by exposure and dissipation the disease
made rapid progress. The news of the dis
coyery few Ike wildire and was much
talked of by those in attendance on the sick
man. He was deeply affected by the dis
coyery. On the day il was rumored that
Professor Hall, the State Geologist, was to
visit the scene of discovery, Hooker made
an urgent request that his physician be sent
for. DR.. - fastened 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 be would reveal the secret
of the Cardiff giant DR. - then told
Hooker that he should like responsible
witness present DR.. - therefore sought
me, as he knew took a deep interest in
the subject. We both repaired to the house
occupied by Hooker, near the west suburbs
of the city. We found the patient but little
excited, and, in the opinion of DIR. -,
perfectly sane. Hooker then made the
statement which [ have above detailed.
After I had written it, almost in the very
words of the above, l read it TO Hooker,
and he then affixed his mark to the follow
ing dying declaration:
I, 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
solemnly declare to be truth. have heard
the description of the Cardiff giant, and
believe it to be the same statue found lying
In the cabin of Jules Geraud, at OnOndaga.
GEORGE HOOKER.
Witness THOMAS B. ELLIS.
This finishes all positive information re-
garding this wonderful hoax. now come
to that part of the history which is a 'smys
tery."
One year ago, about the time of the burn
ing Of Jules Geraud's cabin, stranger
came to the hotel in Tully for guide to
the house of Newell, at Lafayette. A wagon
an guide were shere furnished him. At
ter travelling to within sight of Mr.. Newell's
no use, 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 large box eleven feet long was
observed to be making its way towards
Newells house. Several veracious wit
nesses are willing to swear 1t was Newell S
team.
There the substantial part of my nara
ffCE5 7 on, h.
OF this statement viii 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
lnslgnifeaDce by the side OF the sCarditf
Giant Richard Adams Locke's moon
hoax and P0es story, Hans Phaal, are
simply moonshine when compared with the
cool efrontery of this Cardiff hoax Ply
sIcIans, geOIOglsts, lecturers and savans
have visited the statue Of poor, half crazy
Geraud, and returned dumbtounded Twill
close this narrative by saying that Newell
and his abettors have persistently refused
to allow any person, competent to decide
the question Of this being a petrefation OF
work of art TO inspect it. Prof Hail. who
wUs allowed a few moments Of examination,
was pledged to reserve his opinion until
permission sglven him to make 1t known.
------------
The King OF Italy's four predecessors
ell abdicated in favor of their successors,
namely: Victor Amadeas l. IN $780, Charles
emmanuel IL in 1902, Victor Emmanuel
], IN 1881, and Charles Albert in 1849; and
= rumored that this traditional policy
"ia also be adopted by the Re GalIantuomo
ln tayor of Prince Humbert.
h'ng William Of Prussia offers the
ioPe carpet to cover the floor of the haII