News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-07-29
THE CARDIFF GIANT.
| The story Told by the Author of the Hoax,
| who Afterward Sold Ont.


From the Detroit free Hr6S6.
George Hull, of West Superior, Wis
consin, inventor of the Cardiff Giant"
relates the history OF its creation and
downfall as follows:
'Down near Fort Dodge I got to
specializing in that gypsum business.
| Looking over some of the large pieces
one day there was one which appeared
| in a good deal the shape of a man. l
got interested in the dark lines, which
| looked very much indeed like the veins
in the limbs of human being. A grand
scheme struck me, or l struck it. | Sc
cured the largest, most solid piece that
could be found and shipped it to Chi
| cago. After some time | got hold of a
man said to be a frst-class marble cut
ter. told him my scheme was to get
out of the block of gypsum the petri-
! fed remains of tremendous giant. The
fellow caught on, and we studied over
| the prospect for some time. When the
arms and hands were marked out the
veins showed up in fine style. Cad,
you never saw anything more complete
| in your life. They were also visible in
the tenn pies and forehead 1t cost me
heap, though, to get the artist at his
work. He had my secret and handled
me as he pleased. Sometimes he'd get
on spree for days and weeks. Several
months passed before the concern was
finished; it was grand piece of work
l boxed it and shipped it eastward as a
block of marble. Its weight was 2, 900
pounds. 1 took charge of the great
wonder. At first did not know ex-
actly what to do to bring it before the
people. When 1 reached New York
State seized upon plan of burying
the giant in a secluded spot, a romantic
nook by mountain side. l finally Sc
lected Cardiff, IA village on the Oman
! daga creek, Onandaga county twelve or
| fifteen miles south of Syracuse. l con-
| fided my secret to a lone farmer. He
| appeared to be all right in the matter.
l gave him money and promised him
more. We dug a grave by the river
and, as luck would have it for petrifca-
ton purposes, at the depth of about six
feet we struck pure moving water The
giant was lnclosed in a rough case and
deposited in the grave.
''No one but the farmer. his wife and
myself knew of this transaction. The
agreement was made between us that in
one year the farmer should accidently
find the giant; word would reach me
1 would make a great ado about it take
people to the spot, taking CAFE to lose
my way several times before reaching
said spot. The arrangement worked all
right. News of the finding of petrified
remains of a human being near Cardiff
was spread over the neighbor like wild
fire, and in day or two newspaper men
were there and then the whole world
knew of it. I purchased the petrified
remains and proceeded forthwith to
erect tent over the grave, the remains
staying undisturbed. Hundreds and
thousands visited the place, charged
fee, of course, to get inside the tent,
just to pay expenses. In few days the
crowds could not be accommodated.
In one week soon after the discovery
took in So, 900. The rush kept increas-
ing. The most scientific men in the
country were present and they made
critical examinations of the giant as it
lay in its resting place"
Hull sold a third interest for $50, 900
and soon after the secret leaked out.
Hull was formerly in business in Madi-
| son.