Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-01-13
WAR OF THE STONE CLAWS.


The story of the Gfanf-The Latest
Developments-The Hand Of Barnum
try with Giants.
1t is singular how invariably periods of
commercial distress are accompanied by
extraordinary attempts at imposture. The
Cardiff giant may be taken as en- instance of
this law. The facts relating to its original
discovery are well known, and have been
sufficiently canvassed, but those which have
reference to its transfer to the present pro-
prietors have been carefully hidden. 1t
will be found that Hull is generally spoken
OF as the duper, and Newell as his victim;
but more careful examination of the cir
cumstances and a fuller knowledge of the
parties will point TO the conclusion that
Newell and Hull are alike guilty of imposi-
ton, and the true victim is Dr. Westcott.
OF Syracuse.
| At the time of the discovery that gentle
man, accompanied by Prof. Wilbur, of the
Lunatic Asylum of Syracuse, visited the
pit, and expressed much interest in the
matter. Newell, profound dissembler,
represented himselfas being half crazy with
the people who came to him with offers 70
buy the statue. and threw himself utterIo
on the Doctor for advice and counsel. Day
after day he gave the names of parties why
had made brilliant propositions to him. all
OF which he had rejected. At last he made
point that the Doctor should he one of
the company, as he could trust him with
anything with his honor, his life even.-
The Doctor, who had no notion of invest
ing In such thing, was vanquished, and
consented to take part in the business
His connection with scientific literature
was commented upon. and landed to the
skies; his extensive reading and informa-
ton were duly fattered; and before he knew
what he was doing, or whittier be was stend-
ing, the willy scoundrels had pushed him TO
the front, and made him the active man of
the concern. He was officially the secreta-
ry of the joint stock association, in which
appeared simply the names of Newell.
Westcott, Hannah, and Gillett, but which
was composed of seven gentlemen--Messrs.
Rankin, Thorne. and the express agent of
Syracuse being the partners behind the
curtain.
AS soon as the discovery was bruited
abroad, p. Il. Barnum, who smelled intu-
itiyeiy fraud, hurried up to Syracuse.
He made few inquiries on the sly as to
whether there was any sculptor or statuary
in Syracuse, and found out the artist Otto.
He then made overtures to the proprietors,
Offering $50, 600 for quarter share or him
self as agent for percentage of the profits.
With his aid he boasted that ten millions
could be made of it. But they mistrusted
Barnum, and Westco.t, who is truly an
honorable man, opposed any connection
SO notoriously given to ''hogging" the pub
lie as P. L. So they gave the great show
man the cold shoulder, and he determined
to see them and go one better if possible
He saw Otto and gave him an order for
six plaster facsimiles of the real Simon
Pure. The giant was then on the
point of leaving Syracuse. p. 7. travelled
to Albany with the proprietois. az d made
a last effort which proved fluitless also.
He then telegraphed to Otto: $50 ahead
and hurry up" Otto obeyed, and while
the Cardiff giant was occupying snug quar-
ters at the expense of the State, the first
facsimile was on its way to Woods Mu-
scum. The second is, as we write, in tran
'itu to Philadelphia, and the third is nearly
.eady for Chicago. The others are destin-
ID for st. Louis, Cincinnati and Louisville
Boston will receive the one now at Woods
Museum whom the attraction shall have
allied in the metropolis.
Barnum has thus completely triumphed.
lie has checkmated the opposition COM
,letely, and routed them ignominiously
When the news of the exhibition of the
,iant at Woods Museum was made public,
he proprietors sought to obtsin an injunc-
ion. They had heard that such things
we're matters of traffic In this city, and
hey wanted to buy one Immediately. But
Judge Barnard laughed at the idea, and
Utterly secuted the affidavits and afirma-
ions of the Cardiff party. He would grant
10 injunction. He characterized the whole
hing as an audacious fraud.
Alarmed at their humiliating failure, the
,roprietors hurierd to bring their giant to
Sew York, and established him last week
n Apollo Hall, where he was viewed by
he press on Saturday evening. That view
onfirmed the almost universal belief of
journalists in its fraudulent character. 1t
nay here be stated that only one daily pa
'er ever gave credence TO its authenticity
Tor has the public welcomed it as was
oped by the parties interested. On Mon
ay, the opening day, there was fair at
endance on Tuesday, hardly fifty people
throughout the day, and very few in the
vening
Meanwhile, Dr. westcott, reading the
of the Sun, was staggered in his
elief in the giant. He was continually in
he receipt of letters from scientific friends
sproaching him for lending his counte-
ance to a gross and palpable fraud Sick
like in mind and body, he has gone back
, Syracuse, and we hear has expressed
rm determination to concern himself no
niger in the matter.
The astonishing success of Otto in his
'csimiles need not be matter of wonder
lent since the Sun long ago pointed out
lat he was the sculptor of the original
iant-N. r Sun.