Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-12-17
THE CARDIFF GIANT.


The Fort Dodge North Vest in its last
issue makes the following extraordinary
revelations, which let in food Of light up
on mystery which has puzzled scientific
and unscientiGc brains alike, at the East
for some months. The facts related below
seem to explode one of the greatest and
most successful humbugs of modern times:
On the 9th of June, 1868, two men came
to Fort Dodge, stopped at the St. Charles
Hotel, registering their names-Geo. Hull,
Boston, Mass.
Hull was tall, portly man, weighing
probably 200 pounds, had black hair, nous
tache, and beard on his chin, was stoor-
shoudered. red face and eyes. denoting the
free use of whisky. He dressed in black
and were "plug hat.
Martin, who seemed to be his compan-
ion, was a small man, and was less noticed.
Soon after their arrival they went down
to G. B. Cummins' gypsum quarry, and
tried to make contract with him to get
oui an immense block of gypsum. At one
time they wanted to exhibit it in New York
as specimen of the products of Fort
Dodge and vicinity. When it was suggest
ed that such an immense block, II feet
long and 3! wide, would be very expensive,
and that smaller piece would be much
cheaper and Just as good forexhibtioh. they
said they wanted to send it to Washington,
as Iowa's contribution to the Lincoln mon
ument. Mr. Cummins doubted their au.
thority to work for Iowa in 80 important
matter, and after submitting them to Sc
we're cross.questioning, concluded they were
imposters, and engaged in some attempt at
swindling, and refused to get out the block
for them at any price. They then went
south of town ana purchased an acre of
gypsum land, paying 500 for it.
They built a shanty on it, at An expense |
Of about SIS; employed workmen to open
the quarry. Not succeeding to their salts,
faction they employed Mike Foley, who
went onto section 33 and got out an i'm.
mense block, and getting Geo. Weber aud
others TO help load it, they started for the
railroad at Boone. Its weight was so great
that their wagon was crushed down, and
they were compelled to dress it down to
length of ! | feet inches, and q width of
3 feet inches, and % inches in thickness.
We saw it while it was on the road to
Boone.
The ''giant makers left our place some
time in July with their undeveloped block,
and were seen in Chicago by the writer
hereof on the 18th of August. and at differ
ent times 'or ten days following. On the
22d OF September they were seen by G. NJ.
Hull, merchant OF our place, in Chicago.
and stated that they were staying at The
{, RI, |
90 at least two months, how much longer
we do not know. 1t was there, undoubted
ly, that the giant was carved out ready for
shipment to N. Y. The time elapsing from
the date of their leaving Fort Dodge and
the date Of their appearance at Cardiff with
the resurrected "giant' in all his glory and
immensely, gave ample opportunity to carve
out the statue, ship and bury him. allow
time for the creek to wear away parts OF the
head, back and legs. 1t is well known
fact to all acquainted with our gypsum, that
it is worn away very rapidly by the action
of running or dropping water; few
months will suffice to make the action of
running water plainly visible on our hard
est gypsum.
This Cardiff .fcllop ,cas found lying in
he course Of little stream, and most in
geniously placed there too, by Hull and his
who were we'll informed as to
he action of running water on our gypsum.
This action of water was intended to prove
its great antiquity, but is one of the impor-
ant evidences 10 as, of its identity with our
gypsum, which has long been noted for this
popularity, injuring its value for projecting
caps and stills, as the driving rains soon fur
row out little depressions in it.
Now if some of our scientific men of the
wise and learned East will take jack
knife and shave off little of the giants
big leg, they will undoubtedly find a white
pulverized substance on the knife resembling
plaster of Paris-which will prove beyond
question that the Cardiff Giant is Fort
Dodge production. We would say in this
that we can supply the world
with them. in the "orignal packages" at re-
1uced rates at wholesale.
Mr.. Hul's specimen cost him at least
5000 in the rough, delivered at the railroad.
We can now get them out in unlimited
Quantities at 500 per head at good profit.
How mach it costs to carve them out,
ship, bury, and resurrect them, we do not
Know II Hulrs specimen is valued at
100000, and is producing a weekly in
come of from ST 500 to 1900, i. looks as
hough there might be fair living profit
over and above the FIRST cost, freight and in
,identals.
Cousins at the East, try your jack-knives
On the 'Cardiff's" corns, and let US know
he results.