Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-02-16
The True Story of the Cardiff Giant
From the Chicago Tribune J

from the Chicago Tribunel
In the latter part of June, 1868, two
men, one of them, at present large
owner in the giant, arrived in Chica-
| go. They had some time before con-
sidered the feasibility of inaugurating
a humbug, and had determined upon
having something ancient-a statute
so old it would cause wonder, and
create such an excitement, that before
it subsidized, their pockets would be
full, and their object accomplished.
The work of cutting out the statue
would have to be done secretly, and
none but man who could remain
quiet was competent to do it. They
searched for some time, and finally
met German who had been in this
country about four years, then in the
employ of well known sculptor of
| this city. He agreed to do the work
] for SO down. A block of gypsum
! twelve feet long, three feet wide, and
eighteen inches thick, was procured
| from Fort Dodge, Iowa, and placed in
a gentleman's barn near Lincoln
| Park, North Side. The owner of the
structure was let into the secret, as
was another, an assistant TO the Ger
man. These were the only persons,
beside the two men mentioned, who
knew anything of it. Even the three
did not know what was to be done
with the figure when completed. In
the latter part of July the two COM
menced the work of chiseling. In
consequence of the thinness of the
stone, about a foot and half was ia
ken off one end of the block, in order
to have better proportiOned man. a
model was necessary, so one of the
men who made the arrangements
Hull by name-who is himself giant
in size, with sufficient intellect to
humbug the learned savans and wise
men of the East, stripped and chose
the peculiar position to suit the twist
ed and unfavorable position of the
stone. The artist then inquired what
was to be made, and was instructed to
make anything-a monkey, a bab-
boon, or something that would repre-
sent a man. So, without questioning
the motives of his employers, he set
to work. There was no necessity for
his leaving the barn for drink when
employed, as plenty of lager beer was
supplied him. At the close of the
eighteenth day the figure was nearly
finished. He did not work at it stead
lily every day, but whenever he got an
opportunity during daylight and at
night. His employers. then came to
look at it, but what was their surprise
when they found that the artist had
given the figure any quantity of hair.
There were ringlets dangling from the
head, long beard and patches on the
other parts of the body. Hull said
that would never do-hair would not
petrify. The German was puzzled,
and did not know what they meant,
but removed the hair at their request
In two days more the work was pro-
nounced done by the artist, and his
employers, after examining it, ex-
pressed themselves as satisfied. Now
to make him look old. A gallon of
strong acid was procured and put on
him. 1t ate into the soft material,
producing spOngy-looking cavities.
A quantity of English ink was then
applied, and this had the effect of
giving the giant the appearance of
venerable age. The next step was
packing him il box. During the
next week the box was carted to the
Michigan Southern Railroad depot. |
1t remained there for so long a time |
that the owners were notified to take /
it away, as it occupied so much room |
and could not be moved to make space |
for goods receiving and delivering. 1t |
was subsequently removed and plac- /
ed aboard schooner, which sailed for
some Eastern lake port. The next !
heard of it was of its being unearthed /
on a farm in New York State, and an |
announcement of its antiquity. What |
has been done with it since, the pub
lie we'll know, and therefore repeti-
ton is unnecessary.