Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-12-04
Cardiff Giant.
HOW AN OLD FARMER HOAXED
LEARNEN DOCTORS AND SCIENTISTS.

HOW AN OLD FARMER HOAXED
LEARNEN DOCTORS AND SCIENTISTS.
In the New England for October,
is a very interesting history Of the
Cardiff Giant hoax or humbug, by
w. A. Mckinney of Binghampton,
N. Y, from its first inception by
Geo. Hull Of l'inghampton, who, it
seems, went West to better his for
tune, and stopped in Ackncy. Hardin
county, Iowa, where one night, watch
ing with a sick man, he had dis
pute with a Rev. Mr.. Turk about
the sons of Anak. hull retired ut
IaLe nour uACi.oh W tl.~ .a;.o..as;nn
and convinced of the inordinate
credulity of mankind, especially re-
garding the giants mentioned in the
Bible. In his sleepless state he
conceived the scheme of manufac-
turiug a giant, then bury it, dig it
up and pass it off as petrifed giant,
and thus substantiate his notion rs
to the credulity of mankind-and,
perhaps, make his fortune, He car
ried this notion for year and a half
before attempting to execute it. He
had quarried, finally, a block of gyp.
sum near to Fort Dodge, weighing
1000 pounds, sent it to Chicago by
rail, where by German stone cut
ter it was shaped as exhibited, Hull
putting on the finishing touches.
After it was ready it was shipped
and buried in Cardiff, N. Y, where
it was exhumed III due time and be-
came the wonder of wonders. The
first men of science who came to
view it, were the four doctors of the
neighborhood, Dana, Parker, Nc.
Donald, and Kendall, l,who concurred
in calling it the petrifaction of
giant. DR.. Boynton, the geological
lecturer then in Syracuse, N. Y,
examined it, and gave it as his
opinion that it was made some three
hundred years ago by the Jesuit
fathers and he offered 8 10000 for
it ; hut his offer was refused it
was finally concluded to sell three
fourths of it for 100000, and a sale
was made to express men and bank.
ers in Syracuse, and invitations
were sent Prof. Agassiz, Prof. Hall,
N. Y. State geologist, and Prof. S.
B. Woolworth, Secretary of the
Regents of the University, N. Y.
to come and scientifically examine
the fossil man. Prot. Hall believed
it Of great antiquity. Prof. Henry
A. Ward of the University Of
Rochester, N. Y, said of it, "though
not dating back of the stone age,
it is nevertheless, deserving of the
attention of archaologists )" a clergy
man wrote-"This is not a thing
contri we'd of man, but is the face of
one who once lived like all on earth,
the very image and child of God"
Dr. j. Kneelanl said of it in the
Independent-T am of the opinion
that it will not be found as old as
the Egyptian Sphinx, nor as young
as the first settlement of New York
by the Dutch. ."Dr. Kneelnnd further
says, "The anatomical structure of
the human frame was most carefully
copied by the sculptor" The Rev.
s. r. Calthorp says-"In the ancient
world only the Greek School of Art
was capable of such perfect repro
duction of the human form. l have
seen no Egyptian Of Assyrian sculpt
ure which approached this in anat-
omical accuracy. Throughout the
middle Ages till the great Art
Revival no one in Europe had skill
enough for the purpose"
Prof. Olmstead says-"There is a
charm in looking at it, which does
not arise from fine material or ad-
finish, but from it's just pro- !
portions and its correct, harmO NOUS
portray al Of the character assumed.
As a work of Art the Cardiff statue
is, perhaps, a better embodiment of
the intellectual and physical power
of a rock .hurling and mountain.
piling Titan, than Italy possesses"
How Farmer Hull must have laid
back and laughed at his success
seen by these testimonials, with
others that follow, contributed by
scientists, doctors and
clergymen
The giant, meanwhile was yield
ing All income equal to per cent,
interest on $3,OOO,OOU; large bids
we're made for it, as high as S25, 900
for an eighth of the fossil man of
;1,,s4., .no,,1.l,A mt hxr tho sfOnp.