, 1886-07-22
HULL'S BIG HUMBUG.
STORY OF HOW THE CARDIFF GIANT
WAS MADE.

The Originator of the Fortified swindis
Describes His operations-Making
Money by Exhibition and stiIi More by
Selling Out Opportunity.
George Hull, now a resident of West
Superior, Wis, in whose fertile brain the
Cardiff giant hoax originated, was here
the other day, and to a reporter gave the
story OF that humbug as follows:
an 1867 | 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, l got interested
in the dark lines which looked very much,
indeed, like the veins in the limbs of a
human being. A grand scheme struck
me, or struck 1t. l secured the largest,
most solid piece to be found, and shipped
1t TO Chicago. After some time | got hold
n man said to be a first-class marble cut
ter. He was a splendid designer and
carver. | saw some Of his designs in
marble. l told him my scheme was TO get
out OF the block Of gypsum the petrided
remains OF a tremendous giant.
"The fellow caught on In n moment,
and could see in 1t 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 han were
marked out the veins showed up in fine
style-you never saw anything more com
plete 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
as he pleased. Sometimes he'd get on a
spree for days or weeks. Several months
passed before the concern was finished. 1t
was n grand piece OF work. The artist
put ON 1t an ancient appearance-there
was an antiquity about 1t that was really
marvellous. 1 boxed IL and shipped il
eastward as a block OF marble. Its weight
was 1896 pounds. 1 took charge OF the
great wonder
DURYING THE "GIANT.p
AT first l did not know exactly what i
would do to bring IL before the people.
When | reached New York state | seized
upon n plan of burying the giant in a Sc
rluded spot-a romantic nook by a noun
tain side. | finally selected Cardiff, a vii
lage on the Onondaga creek, Onondaga
county, twelve or fifteen miles south of
Syracuse. l confided my secret to a lone
farmer. He appeared to be all right in
the matter. l gave him money and prom
ised him more. We dug a grave by the
river, and as luck would have it-for pet
rifaction purposes-at the depth of about
SIX feet we struck pure, moving water.
The giant was inclosed 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 far
mer should accidentally find the giant
Word would reach me; 1 would make a
great ado about 1t and take the people to
the specializing care to lose my way
several times before reaching said spot.
"Ihe agreement worked all right. News
OF the finding of petri1ed remains of a
human being near Cardiff was spread
over the neighborhood like wildhre, and
in a day or two newspaper men were
there, and then the whole world knew OF
it. Ipurchased the p%etriied remains and
proceeded forthwith to erect a tent over
the grave. the remains staying undis-
turbed. Hundred and then thousands
visited the place. l charged a fee, of
course, to get inside the tent, just to pay
expenses. In n few days the crowds could
not be accommodated. In one week, soon
after the discovery, | took in 81, 200. The
rush kept increasing. The most scientific
men OF the country were present. They
made critical examinations of the giant
as 1t lay in its resting place. l remember
one old gentleman. a noted g~eoloeist. 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 I'm the val
leys.
LEAKING OUT OF THE SECRET
AFTER n few months beuan 10 mistrust
thai there had been a leak somewhere
and | questioned the old farmer about e.
He appeared to be u little afraid. thai his
old woman had let the cpa out OF the
bag' He said She copnd never keen her
mouth still. So | began TO think / had
better sell out If apt opportunity offered.