The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-12
HISTORY OF THE cAnDrrr GIANT.
The Figure Cut Out of Gypsum, Buried for Z
Season and Then Resurrectad

The Figure Cut Out of Gypsum, Buried for q
Season and Then Resurrected.
Madison twis.) Special
Your correspondent to-day secured the follow
ing statement from George Hull. OF West Su-
perior. this State. the inventor of the famous
Cardiff Giant
"Down near Fort Dodge I got to speculating
in that gypsum business. Looking over some
OF the large pieces, one day, there was one which
appeared in good deal the shape of a man 4
got interested il the dark lines which looked
very much indeed like the veins in the limhs
of human icing A grand scheme struck me-
or struck it. / secured the largest, most solid
piece to be found and shipped it to Chicago.
After some time got hold of a man said to be
a frst-cass marble-cutter. / told him my
scheme was TO get out of the block Of
gypsum the petrfed remains of a tremendous
giant The fellow caught on and both of Us
studied over the prospect for some time. When
the hands and arms were marked out the veins
showed up in grand style. Gad you never saw
anything more complete in your life. They were
also visible in the temples and forehead. 1t cost
me heap, though to get the artist at his work.
he bad my secret, and handled me as he pleased
Sometimes he'd get on a spree for days and
weeks. Several months passed before the con-
Germ was inished it was grand piece of work
boxed 1t and shipped it eastward as a block OF
marble. Its weight was 1906 pounds l took
charge of the great wonder. At first did not
know exactly what to do 60 bring it before the
people. When | reached New York State, /
seized upon a plan of burying the giant in q So
cluded spot, romantic nook by mountain side.
/ finally selected Cardiff, village on the Onon-
daga creek. Onondaga county, twelve fifteen
miles south of Syracuse. / confded my secret
TO lone farmer. He appeared to be all right In
in the matter. gave him money, and promised
him more. We dug grave by the river, and.
as luck would have it, for petrfaction purposes,
at the depth of about six feet. we struck pure
moving water. The giant was nclosed in q
rouph case and denosited in the grave.
mo one but the farmer, his wife and myself
made between us that in one year the farmer
reach me; would make great ado about IL:
take people to the spot taking care to lose my
way several times before reaching said spot
The agreement worked all right News of the
finding of petrfed remains of human being
near Cardiff was spread over the neighborhood
like wildfre, ard in day or
two newspaper men were there, and
then the whole world knew of il
purchased the petrifed remains and proceeded
forthwith to erect tent over the grave. the re-
mains staying undisturbed. Hundreds and then
thousands visited the place. l charged fee. OF
course, to get inside the tent just to pay ex-
penses. In few days the crowds could not be
accommodated. In one week after the discovery
took in So 200. The rush kept increasing
The most scientific men in the country were
present, and they made critical examinations or
the giant as it lay in its resting place.
Hull sold third interest for $40, 900, and soon
after the secret leaked out Hull was formerly
in business in Madison.