Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1870-07-13
The Cardiff Giant Hoax EX-
posed.
LETTER FROM THE MAN WHO CUT THE
BLOCK,

Tribune about one week ago
that the Cardiff Giant wa.
manufactured in Chicago, i.
true. One Of Mr.. Volk's
workmen and myself cut it out
of a block of gypsum, in a barr
near Lincoln Park, during the
months of July, August, Sep.
tember and October in 1861
George Hull, one Of the former
owners Of the figure, made an
arrangement with Henry Sale
who is employed by Mr.. Volk,
and myself, to cut out a statue,
and he agreed to pay us either
$50 or to allow us share in
the money deriving from ex-
hibiting it after being dug from
the earth. We concluded to
take the cash, but he has
paid us. Sale received $40,
but | did not get one epenny.-
AS Hull has not carried out his
part of the agreement, l do not
think it right for me to remain
quiet any longer, but think the
swindle should be exposed.
"When Hull came to us he
said he had a block of gypsum
which he said he had obtained
from Fort Dodge, Iowa. and
that it was in a barn near the
park. Sale and myself took
our tools to the place and work,
ed at it whenever we had an
opportunity /; sometimes two
days in a week, and on Sun
days. We had a model about
three feet long: Beer was sup.
piled, and there was no neces-
sity for leaving the place while
at work, for a drink. The stone,
| was informed, was furnished
by a man named Martin, who
is at present interested in the
giant. 1t was about II feet in
length, 4 feet wide by three
thick, and worked nicely; did
not crumble as some stone does.
The figure was pronounced
completed in the latter part of
October. Hull came occasion
ally to see how the work pro.
gressed. Hair had been cary
ed on the head and a beard on
the chin. Hull did not like
this when he saw it, and said
he would see about it. When
he came the next time, he told
US that he had consulted with
a geologist, and was informed
that hair would not petrify. So
he ordered it to be clipped of,
and we shaved the giant.
Several ways were tried to
make the figure look old, and
at last one was invented. Quite
number ofneedles we're placed
in lead, with their points pro,
truding, and the figured was
pricked over with this. Two
days were occupied in this
work, as the chisel left marks
on the stone which had to be
effaced by this slow process Of
pricking. Some vitriol, sui
phuric acid and English ink
were next procured and rubbed,
which gave the antlquated look
required, Hull thought at
first it would be best to put on
a clay coverings but concluded
it had better not be done, as
the clay where the statue was
10 be buried might be different.
He was undecided where to
bury it at first, and suggested
Mexico. / told him I thought
that would be a good place,
but finally concluded not to
take it there, as the distance
was so great
"a box was obtained Of a
man who makes sashes and
doors, ON North Clark street,
Just south of the entrance to
the old city cemetery. How to
get the figure into the box puz-
zled Hull, but we hit upon a
plan which was successful. A
derrick was erected, bands were
placed beneath the head, legs
and body, and when raised to a
sufficient elevation, the box
was showed underneath, and the
giant was in it in a few mo-
ments.
"During the course 81 Ssae
next week o l. -