The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-02-05
The Cardiff Giant a Humbug.
La is n Fort Dodge Gypsum BiOck-TheO per-
aIious OF the Ginnt-Maker

The Fort Dodge, Iowa, Northwest, of December
9th, brings us the following full and connected
statement of the operations of Hull & Co., the
~giant-makers, mt that place
"On the 9Th Of June. 1868, two men came to
Fort Dodge, stopped at the St. Charles Hotel, reg
istered their narnes-George Hull, Binghamton,
n. Y, and ii. b. Martin, Boston, Mass. Hull
was a tall, portly man, weighing probably 200
pounds, had black hair, mustache and beard on
his chin was stooped-shouldered, red face and
eyes denoting the free use of whisky. He dressed
in black, and wore a plug hat.
Martin, who seemed to be his companion, was
u small man, and was less noticed. Soon after
their arrival they went down to c. B. Cummin's
gypsum quarry, and tried to make contract
with him to get out an immense block of gypsum.
At one time they wanted to exhibit it in New
York as a specimen of the products of Fort
Dodge and vicinity. When it was suggested that
such an immense block, twelve feet long and
three and a half wide, would be very expensive,
and that smaller pieces would be much cheaper
and just as good for exhibition, they said they
wanted to send it to Washington, as iOwa's con-
tribution to the Lincoln monument. MIR. Cum
minis doubted their authority to work for Iowa in
so important Il matter, and after submitting them
to q severe crOes-questioning concluded they were
impostors and engaged in some attempt at swim
ding, and refused to give the block at any price.
They then went south Of town and purchased an
acre of gypsum land, paying 800 for it. They
built a shanty on it at an expense of about S75;
empiOyeu WOFhIheH TO open Jie quarry NOJ
succeeding to their satisfaction, they employed
Mike Foley, who went to work on section 80 and
got out an immense block, and getting George
Weber and others to help load it, they started
for the railroad at Boone. It's weight was so
great that the wagon was crushed down. and
they were compelled to dress it down to ii feet 3
inches, in width 3 feet 2, and % inches in thick
ness. We saw it while it was on the road to
Boone.
The giant-makers left our place some time last
July with their undeveloped block aud were seen
in Chicago by writer hereof on the 18th of
August, and at different times for ten days fol-
lowing. On the 22d of September, they were
seen by G. NJ. Hull, merchant of our place in
Chicago, and stated they were stopping at the
Garden City House. They were seen in Chicago
at least two months, how much longer We do not
know. 1t was there, undoubtedly, that the giant
was carved out ready for shipment to New York.
The time elapsing from the time 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 opportunities 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 a well-known fact to all ac-
quainted with our gypsum that 1t is worn away
very rapidly by the action OF running or dropping
water; a few months will suffice to make the
action of running water plainly visible on our
hardest gypsum.
This Cardiff fellow was found living in the
course of q little stream, and most ingeniously
placed there, too, by Hull and his companions,
who were well informed as to the effects of run
ming water on our gypsum. This action of water
was intended to prove its great antiquity, but is
one of the important evidences to us of its iden-
tity with our gypsum, which has long been noted
for this particularly injuring Its value for pro-
jecting caps and stills, the driving rains soon fur
row out little depressions in it.
While the men were here, they were regarded
as suspicious characters, and it was generally
believed that the great gypsum block which they
took away would be heard of In some swlndilng
game to be concocted at the east. 1t was the
common talk here after the great block was
carried away, that it was to be used in New
York as a specimen to show in selling shares in
some imaginary gypsum quarry company to be
organized to gull the unwary.
This same Hull now turns up with his gypsum
block transformed into a monster giant, to the
There is one test that will settle the point of
identity of the giant with gypsum !; the stone in
it's natural state is a dark blush notified gray, is
soft and entirely free from grit, it can be cut
with a knife or saw, and when pulyerized turns
white.
Now If sonic of the scientific men of the wise
and learned east will take a jack-knife and shave
off a little of the giants big leg, they will I'M
doubtedIy find a white pulverized substance on
the knife resembling plaster of Paris, which will
prove beyond question that the Cardiff giant is a
Fort Dodge production. We would say in this
connection that we can supply the world with
them, in the original packages at reduced
rates at wholesale.
Mr.. Hull's specimen cost him at least 5000 in
the rough, delivered at the railroad We can
now get them out in unlimited quantities at 800
per head at a good profit.
How much it costs TO carve them ont, ship