Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-11-19
The Cardiff Wonder.

A DISTINGUISHED party, composed of
Chancellor J. V. l.. Pruyn, DR.. S. B.
Woolworth, Prof Jas. Hall, Dr. Robinson
(of Auburn), Judge Clinton (of Buffalo),
Judge A. s. johnson, Hon. George
Geddes, Z. w. Leavenworth, Dr. III. B.
Wilbur, DR.. Strong, DR.. Garfield, Rev. G.
NJ Hills, Jas. Geddes, President White,
III. K White, DIR. Dallas, DR.. Hitchcock
(of Binghampton), DR.. ,Boynton, and
others, visited the scene of the excitement
near Syracuse, last Wednesday, No Off
cial report of the investigation instituted
by the learned gentlemen will be made
public until after conference be held in
Albany, probably some time during next
week. Opinions, however, are expressed
by members Of The party, and though not
given by autl ority, yet gain Importance
and are worthy of credence, their source
being considered. The conclusions of
Judge Clinton, matured in legal mind,
whose decisions are by habit carefully
based, do not show him to be convert to
belief in the antiquity or archaeological val
ue of the statue. He describes it as being
of. colossal proportions, and very i'm
pressive with the detractiOn consequent
on its lack of finish, which arises from its
imperfect material. There is nothing that
would lead to the conviction that is the
work Of an artist, or that it dates back a
sufficient space of time to make it par
ticularly interesting. Some points in the
testimony, which speculation has un-
earthed and brought to bear on the dis
covery (so-called), indicate very closely it's
origin, and unless rebutted, or if generally
accepted, will prove this humbug that
out-Barnums Barnum, and will make the
celebrated moon hoax pass current for a
very Door joke, indeed Mr.. Noel familiar
ly called Stub Noel, the proprietor of the
land in whose embrace the giant lay, has a
cousin; the cousin is said to have been
seen about year since engineeringa four
horse establishment and tremendous big
box in the direction of Noel's farm and in.
quiring for Noels residence. The receipts
from the exhibition have been enormous
ION one Sunday alone $4,000 were taken
in at the tent door,, and by the profits the
cousini is said to have profited to the tune of
$1,000; one of the men who acctdentalIy dis
covered the figure, while digging well--and
that well itself is little queer from its
location and probable use-is reported to
have noticed and mentioned the fact that
the ground had previously been dug into;
these and many other circumstances, COM
in perishable stone, are taken as evidences
that a very successful dodge has been
come to the benefit of the clever perpe-
traitors. On the other hand, afffdavits
have been furnished and scientific opin-
ions given that accord all the antiquity
and mystery claimed for the work The
statue was yesterday afternoon successful
ly raised from the place where it was dis
covered, and taken to Syracuse. 1t was
found to be as perfect on the back, on
which it laid ON its clay bed, as on the
surface first exposed to view. Professor
Hall and DR.. Woolworth were present,
and declare that the wonder increases in
interest the more that is known oft. They
are collecting data and prosecuting in
quiries, the result of which will be embod-
led in formal report of scientific inves-
Ggation soon to be given to the public
Buffalo ErpTess, N00. 6.