The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-08-19
HULL'S BIG HUMBUG.
STORY OF HOW THE CARDIFF GIANT
WAS MADE.
The Originator of the Petrifed Swfndls
Describes His operations-Making
Money by Exhibition and Still More by
Selling Out OPPORTUNITY.

The Originator of the Petrified swindls
Describes His Observation-Disclosures
Money by Exhibition and Still More by
Selling Out Opportunity.
George Hull, now resident of West
Superior, Wis, in whose fertile brain the
Cardiff giant hoax originated, was here
the other day, and to reporter gave the
story of that humbug as follows:
"In 1857 l was over in Iowa, near Fort
Dodge, dealing in gypsum. Looking over
one of the large pieces, which seemed to
be in the shape of a man, got interested
in the dark lines which looked very much,
indeed, like the veins in the limbs Of q
human being. A grand scheme struck
me, or struck 1t. l secured the largest,
most solid piece to be found, and shipped
it to Chicago After some time got hold
man said to be f1rst-class marble cut
ter. He was splendid designer and
carver. / saw some of his designs in
marble. told him my scheme was to get
out of the block of gypsum the petritied
remains of a tremendous giant.
1.-THE fellow caught on in a moment,
and could see in it the grandest scheme In
the world. Both of us studied over the
prospect for some time. The artist drew
all sorts of plans, took measurements, and
the like. BY and by we got the idea to a
IT. When the arms and hands were
marked out the veins showed up in fine
style-you never saw anything more COM
plets in your life. They were also visible
In the temples and forehead. 1t cost me a
heap, though, to keep the artist at his
work. He had my secret, and handled me
n q ha nj caA hx.,H a
spree tor days or weeks. Several months
passed before the concern was finished. 1t
was a grand piece of work. The artist
put on it an ancient appearance-there
was an antiquity about it that was really
marvellous 1 boxed it and shipped il
eastward as q block of marble. Its weight
great wonder
BURYING THE GIANT"
AT first l did not know exactly what
would do to bring it before the. people.
When l reached New York state l seizeC
upon plan Of burying the giant In q Sc
cluded spOt-a romantic nook by a noun.
tain side. l finally selected Cardiff, a vii
lage on the Onondaga creek, Onondaga
county, twelve or fifteen miles south OF
Syracuse. confided my secret to lone
the matter. Igave him money and prom.
ised him more. We dug grave by the
river, and as luck would have it-for pet
rifaction purposes-at the depth of abou.
six feet We struck pure, moving water.
The giant was inclosed in a rough cass
and deposited in the grave. No one but
the farmer, his wife and myself knew OF
this transaction. The agreement was
hQf no hat in Z ha fn
mer should accidentally find the giant
Word would reach me; l would make q
great ado about it and take the people tG
the specializing care to lose my way
several times before reaching said spot.
"The agreement worked all right. News
of the finding of petriiied remains of .
human being near Cardiff was spread
over the neighborhood like wildtire, and
in day or two newspaper men vert
there, and then the whole world knew OF
it. purchased the petritied remains and
proceeded forthwith to erect a tent Ovei
the grave, the remains staying undis
turbed. Hundred and then thousands
visited the place. / charged fee, OF
course, to get inside the tent, just to pay
expenses. In a few days the crowds coul0
not be accommodated. In one week, soon
after the discovery took in $4,000. The
rush kept increasing The most scientific
men OF the country were present. They
made critical examinations of the giant;
as it lay in its resting place. l remember
one old gentleman, a noted geolOgist, tell
ing the assemblage in all sincerity how
this giant, so many hundred years before,
had evidently strobe over the Onon.
daga mountains and rested in the val