davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15

hoaxipg his countryInen and seeing the
scientists wrangle over the big child
of his genius, he never gave any sign
of his pleasure. Three men seem to
have known the secret-Rankin, the
farmer George Hull aud the artist who
designed and wrought the huge figure.
The three together worked over the
nam moth human effigy.
He wss made out of cement and sand
On an iron framework, the factory be-
ing neigh borhood barn. When he
was mod eled, he was washed repeat
til he looked as dark as though he had
weathered hundreds of years. He was
buried at night with goodly amount
of the sand of which he was made
mixed into the soil about him and was
then left for awhile until the farmer
could arrange graceful pretext for
running across him in the pursuance
of his simple pastoral duties. The
giant was duly discovered and his
glorious days when he was the OBJ
served of ell observers began.
BROUGHT TO Ell PASO.
After New England and the east had
paid out just about as many shekels as
it could afford to for this purpose, the
proprietors sagaciOusly went west and
had triumphant tour with their giant,
finally reaching Ell Paso. Here, &C
cOrding to the stories of citizens who
remem Der his coming some dozen years
ago, he was either broken in handling
him from one car to another, on his
way to Mexico, where ne was to be dug
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15
OTHER HOAXES.

But the Cardiff giant explanation
did not end as it did not begin the
hoaxing of the gentle public. They
but accepted another fraud when it
came along, aud, as Barnum had good
reason to believe, liked very well to be
humbugged. Not many years ago that
clever Snowman announced that he
had sacred white elephant from In
dis. A beast that had been
secured after endless expense,
danger and trouble, as in
India he was regarded as q
God, performing miracles aud aveng-
ing wrong. This elephant was trap
ped out in silk and spangles, was fed
on milk and honey when the public was
looking and on paled hay between the
acts to keep him alive, and slim, dark
skinned attendants served him and
watched his movements as though re-
verently. In those good old days when
circuses were circuses. Barnum's great
rival was Forepsugh and of course Fore
paugh Immediately announced also
that he had the only genuine sacred
white elephant. Circus extravaganza
reached its high water mark then
when over hundred thousand dollars
was spent by the rivals
in advertising their respec-
tive beasts. Newspaper men
and scientists were invited to examine
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15

ed was chance at him. So the friend
finally went with him to the saloon,
urging calmness and warning him of
made Falvey all the more certain that
the face OF the earth" Finally they
reached the saloon and Fslvey was in
troduced to the giant, who smiled his
drinks were on Falvey.
NEARING THE END.
Other brave aud fearless citizens had
their just wrath evoked in a similar
fashion, the general always being
quoted as being most insulting old
from tales of wife beating down to
those of extra aces up sleeves, would
be piled on sthe victim until he was
filled with wrath and consuming de-
sire to demolish this Stoneman. The
warnings that the general was q big
fellow and always armed of course did
honor was concerned but rather in
creased bis ire and his desire to find
the villi6er, and the demand 20 be led
to him would be repeated with increas-
ing forcefulness. The old general was
always waiting. The white heat of
anger would have to cool under his in
scrutable smile and the drinks were
forthcoming.
The giant continued to play this use
full part in the fortunes of Ell Paso until
there were no more unsuspecting citi-
zens and the thirsty ones had to bestir
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15

n ARNUM, the famous Snowman,
once said, "Tbe public likes to
- be humbuge ed,' and his remark,
though We may deny 1t in our fndivid-
ual vanity, has been verified OF US as
collection of indi viduals by the annals
of hundreds of our popular sen.a-
tious. that have proved profitable
hoaxes. In the Mesa gardens. over
hanging Ell Paso, lie the battered re-
mains of one of he biggest frauds that
ever set scientific men by the ears,
reused students from their books, and
fooled hundreds of our good
every day citizens who
particularly pride themselves on their
common sense. General Stoneman"
rs he is called here, 1.-THE Cardiff
Giant" as he was known 80 years ago,
smiles at the southern sun and stars ss
almly end inscrutably as he ever look
ed down on the New England profess
sors, biologists, archaeologists, poets.
and scholars who 80 years ago quarrel
ed as to whether he were a Phoenician
god marvelously carved or petriied
giant who had been turned into smil-
ing stone by nature to link some dead
history with modern. It seems as
though he would still brazen it out and
pretend not to be aware of the fact
that one leg is broken Off and the
other all battered and that for all his
smiling like Buddha and his looking as
old as the gray mountains that throw
their shadows across him, he can no
longer conceal his very evidently man
made skeleton of iron bars.
GENERAL SToNEMAN'S" HISTORY.
"General StoneDan's" history is
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15

the animals and scientists declared
that the sacred white elephant must
truly be sacred white elephant as if
red, his pores would be closed and he
would die-the fact of the matter be-
ing, according to shOwmen, that the
elephants pores are not so delicately
arranged as mans: be could be painted
with tar and never have a headache.
Anyway these elephants were updOub t-
edly white washed and after the sacred
elephant hoax was worn out and the
public purse had been perceptibly
llghtened, the elephant was scrubbed
OFF, taught to ring bell and ride
velocipede, and next year was posing as
Othello, the trick elephant.
THE RUNE STONE.
Another trick of even soberer and
graver character than the Cardiff giant
was played on the citizens Of Kensing-
ton, Minnesota, wherea purported rune
stone was discovered and wise men the
world over were puzzled. Now rune
stone is stone inscribed with runic
characters which were used by the old
est Norsemen and were the first alpha
bet used by the Teutonic Gothic peo-
Piles of northern Europe. The word
rune" means, in the early Teutonic
language, mystery or whisper. These
characters were known only to the few,
mostly priests, and were used
by chem to communicate with
each other and keep their hold as divi-
rers, magicians and oracles, over the
common folk. Runic characters are
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15

picturesque one. Thirty years ago, q
farmer living near Cardiff, which is
near Binghampton in New York state,
announced that while blowing his farm
he ran against an obstacle which he
unearthed with much difficulty and
found to be an immense stone man.
The ublic eagerly paid it's half dollars
to see and acquiesced in the first eX-
PLANTATION carefully engineered by the
giants guardians, that he was the pc
trifed body of giant from some pre-
historic period. Among the crowds of
curious came scientists, poe's and phi
losophers, as well as ordinary folk, sill
believing in the giant. John
Hall, an eminent scientist tes-
tefed as to its antiquity,
Ralph Waldo Emerson saw it and de-
-clared it beyond his philosophy. DR..
Oliver Wendell Holmes whowas usual
ly shrewd believed and admired it's
anatomical beauties and for short
while the giant had all his own way,
none doubling his genuine interest.
Scholars were only divided as to
whether he was fossil. stone cut in
the likeness of man three hundred
years before by the Jesuit fathers, or q
Phoenician god. The mob gladly paid
innumerable half-dollars to see the
wonder, special excursion trains were
run out to him and European scientists
began making inquiries concerning this
remarkable stone man.
THE FRAUD DISCOVERED.
However, one day there came a quiet,
keen eyed man who paid his coin and
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15

up again for another prehistoric man
and thus hopelessly I'M ured as far as q
fossil fake was concerned, or ne was
held for debt of 800 that his then
owner, a man named Troop" could
not pay to Col. Mari who moved the
giant about Ell Paso for him. So it be-
came the property of Col. Mari who
found him quite burden on bis hands
and turned him over % a certain sa-
loon on Overland street. There for
many weeks General Stoneman" was
the Ell haso joke that was worked of
on every unsuspecting individual.
DRINKS WE'RE ON FALvEY.
The story is told that Judge Falvey,
then of the district court. who had
come from eastern Texas where he al
so had worn the dignity of the ermine,
was one of the first of the victims. The
very fact that the judge had reputa-
tion as being afraid of nothing on the
earth or above or below it, made the
success of the Joke more complete. In
the first of the days when General
the saloon, an acquaintance of
the judges met him and
remarked quite casually that there was
afellow named Stoneman who had come
from east Texas where the Judge had
lived and was telling that he had known
Falvey hack there, that he was a rascal
of the hlackest dye, that he did not
pay his debts, was corrupt in his Of
fetal position, and as executor of
friends estate he had robbed the
widow and children. Falvey asked
where Stoneman could be found. His
friend warned him that Stoneman was
a big fellow over elk feet and heavy
weight. Falvey said that it did not
N ske any difference what his size was,
he wanted to find that Cen
erel Stonemau. His friend
urged that Fslvey take care to arm
Stoneman was always
armed. Falvey ssid he could lick him
if he was in steel armor and armed
with every possible kind of shooting
and cutting apparatus and all he want
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15

Here however entered Reverend
Alexander McWborter upon the
scene to defend the stone man in
whom he implicitly believed. Mr.. Nc
Whorter was a Yale graduate, a form
err professor in the Troy Theological
Seminary, man of much antiquarian
knowledge and of wideiy-acano wledg ed
reputation for scholarliness. OF all
the theories that animated his active
thoughts, the favorite was that this
stone giant represented a time here in
America, when long before Colum bus
sailed the seas or Lief Ericsson sough
far away shores, the venturesome
Phoeniciaus had come to the coast and
had inhabited our country. To him
the giant was no fossilized mao but
greas god of those early
peoples. He lectured and preached
bout it ell of the time and WAS as de-
vout priest to this stony man as the
giant could have ever had from those
peoples whose god he was guessed tn
be. McWhOrter opposed Prof. Marsh
with contin ual vigor, Marsh as stoully
affirmed that the giant was a fraud.
Naturally the proprieters took their
cue frcm McWhorter and worked ON
his ideas. They quit calling their
prize petrifed man; he became q
Phoenician deity and in the secret
watches of the night they cut some
heather Inscriptions under their giants
arm, announced that Yale professor
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15
INTERNATIONAL INTEREST

statement had threatened.
INTERNATIONAL INTEREST.
McWhorter was invited to examine
the giant closely. He found the 10
scription, declared the characters
Phoenic an, and actually translated
them as saying 'Tamur, God of Gods, i"
which of course WAS very impressive.
So the scholar lectured to the Yale
faculty on the giant and Phoenicians,
and produced charts TO prove his be-
loved theory. He also wrote an ar
ticle for the Galaxy. 1t was fully IL
lustrsted and very profound, aud
though the giant was beginning to
be joke to the knowing ones here,
McWhorter's article was taken in all
seriousness abroad and Berlin scientists
began trying to account for the Cardiff
wonder. A well known authority in
Berlin was particularly impressed with
the Importance of this find in explain
ing the history of man. But even Mr..
McWhorter in time had to reaiiZe his
n, istake and to see how COMPOUNDED
were all his hopes of establishing his
theory of the wanderipgs of those
Phoenicisns: New England and New
York turned to new wonders and Cen
eral Stoneman's career in the east was
ended.
HISTORY OF THE HOAX.
General Stoneman's true history
seems to be that he was conceived in
the mind of a certain very quiet Mr..
Rankin, of wi HON one can only say that
he had no iutimates; that he was stone
time mayor of Bingham pton, just be-
fore the Cardiff discovery: and that
soon after the giant came to light. Mr..
Rankin had a great deal OF money with
no apparent reason that the neigh
bors could see for his increase
of riches. AS far as one can
tell. his scheme was purely
one for making money. If he enjoyed
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15
Especially FOR WOMEN

Written For The HERALD,
| White beading about an inch wide
with black velvet ribbon run through
it, is a favOrite trimming for summer
frocks.
| The skirts buttoned or pinned
down the back are being turned out by
| the hundred by the manufacturers of
cheap suits and are being worn in every
degree of drsgledness and frowziness
SO that the elegants have given them
up entirely and the fashionable skirt
| has only hidden fastenings.
The United States imports some 3d.
600, 900 pounds of frecrackers from
China and is second only to that Celes-
tial Empire in extravaganza of fire
works. OF all that China exports, our
fourth of July celebrations require the
greatest part, England only taking q
small lot for her celebrations. The fire
crackers are made by the coolies.
father, mother, and children often work.
rudest OF machinery and cheapest
paper and powder.
around its crown is no longer the pro-
per headgear even in sailor hats,
Now a days the crown is swathed about
with soft fine white fishnet and q
big stiff eagles feather is stuck in the
side at exactly an angle of As degrees.
When three or four girls sit side by
side in the cars each with her long
neiP boris but otherwise each varying
in every detail of her costume from the
others, the effect is startling.
One of the worlds great beauties is
the Tai Mahal. in Agra Hindoostau.
1t is the tomb of the favorite queen of
Shah Jehan, and is an octsgon al build
ing of the purest white marble inlaid
with jasper, carnelian, turquoise,
agate, amethysts and sapphires. The
tomb is of fabulous cost aud took twen-
men to complete it. Its beauty Is
heightened by the roses that blossom
there aud make fragrant the memory
of this queen so dear to the heart of
her lord.
The attorney general of Colorado is
credited with rather startling deci-
sion. A woman notary in that state
having married wrote to ask her chief
legal authority how she should sign
her name to official documents in the
future. The attorney general replied
that she must sign documents exactly
as she bad before her marriage, that
he knew no authority com polling or
even authorizing q woman 10 drop her
maiden name simply because she mar
ried. In fact that there was no excuse
for changing a name at marriage or
any other time.
Our citizens object to Anna Gould,
countess of Castellane, spending her
money in anti-Republican demonstrs-
tions in Paris, as heartily as they ap-
prove of Helen Gould's generosity to
her fellow citizens. Anna Gould is
said to be hand in glove with the roy
alists who desire the overthrow of the
present republican form of government
in France. Her palace in France,
Little Trianon, built in exact copy of
Marie Antoinette's famous palace and
gardens, is said to be resort for roy
alists, and the count, her husband, was
3 leader in the recent attempt to in
suit President Loubet at the races.
Gossip has it that she greatly desires q
Louis XIX to reign over France. II
she could help to bring it about, her
husband would be a prince in his
court
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15

their wits in other ways. This field OF
usefulness exhausted, the general was
presented to Mr.. Satterthwaite who
had him set up at the Mesa
gardens where for awhile he
attracted some little attention. but now
the gardens are deserted and the gen.
erRl rests his huge linn os, his one great
arm across his mountainous breast, the
other lying easily at his side and slight
ly underneath him in q clever pose. his
eyes looking unblinkingly at the sun
and his side bearing the trail of the
vaudal-the individual who achieves
his small fame by carving his initials
on inappropriate places-the general
being sad proof that we are yet
very imperfect as people, for we can
not deny ourselves this impulse to cut
our initials wherever they may mar.
AT REST.
However we may deprecate the fraud
that the general and his author perpe-
trsted on our scientific and ordinary
minds, one must admit that he is quite
q work of art. He measures nine feet
or more, is of decid eGly heavy build,
has a face with much character in it
though one cannot exactly say what
character it is, and furthermore has a
deli Oh tful look of belief in himself. He
seems to be one of those thoroughgoing
frauds that make this world SO pictur-
esque by never swerving from their
poses Today-after these years of
neglect and exposure. he looks every
inch-that's unbroken-a PhOenician
god or petrifed prehistoric giant
which ever you choose.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15

had declared him q god and worthy of
belief, and collected fifty centses from
the mob as of yore, springing buoyant-
ly from the ruin that after Marsh's
statement had threatened.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-15
A REVEREND CHAMPION

lar drawing attractiveness seemed top
ping.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-03-08
REV. r.. l.. HUNT RESIGNS.


Rev. Emerson l.. Hunt, pastor of the
Congregational church at Ellsworth h
Falls, rendered his resignation yesterday
reading the following letter from the
pulpit:
ELLSWORTH FALLS, March J, 80.
To the Members Of Union Congregational
church and the people Of the parish:
DEAR FRIENDS: In June, 1895, there was
given by you to a humble servant of Christ the
most sacred change that can be given to any
person ON earth. The spiritual welfare of a
community great or small, Is a most responsible
work and a solemn trust. When with that is
coupled the need of Systematic organization
and church building, as well another field
and its burdens mites distant, the task Is one of
more than ordinary significance and care But
to such an opportunity of service you saw tit to
call your ministering servant.
Encouraged by your strong and hearty prom
iees of help, sympathy, love and cooperation
in whatever might be undertaken, the one of
Your choice, believing in Gods power and your
assurances, dared with fear and trembling to as
sumo the mighty work the Lord had seemed to
place in our hands. With a desire ever and al.
ways and only to advance the kingdom of
Christ, with pure motives always with love for
all, and never malice for any or any wish to
serve himself, Your pastor has gone through
these years.
1t is not necessary at this time or place to
enumerate either the successes or failures. 1t is
sufficient to indicate that the honest effort has
been put forth to do good unto all, to preach Il
plain, practical gospel and to upbuild the re
li-ious life OF the community. But as there are
times and seasons for all things, SO IL is true
relative to ourselves, Your pastor Judges that
he has done what he could and all that he
could, and in such case and under existent
circumstances it becomes his plain Cuty to hand
to You the honored trust reposed in his keeping
three years ago.
do therefore tender my resignation to take
effect at the expiration of the present church
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-03-08
Postmistress at Waltham.
Mrs. Nettie B. DeBeck has been ap
pointed postmistress at Waltham.
CHURCH NOTES.

UNITARIAN.
Rer. 4. III. Coar, pastor.
Teachers meeting with Mrs. S. ID. Wig
gin Saturday afternoon at 8 O'Clock.
Sunday morning service at 10 80.
Sunday school at 11.45.
Young peoples class in the vestry Sun
day evening at 7 O'Clock.
BAPTIST.
Rer. c. s. McLearn, pastor.
Friday, p. M, church prayer meeting.
Sunday services-10.30 a. m., morning
sermon by pastor. Sunday school at u m.
\. T. $. &. L. prayer meeting at p. m.
Praise and preaching service at Z p. m.
Tuesday evening, March IA, address on
mI7siuus Dy hev. L. w heIIey, OF buruaI.
CONGREGATIONAL.
Reu. j. N. adams, pastor
Meeting for prayer and bible study Fri
day evening, at 7.30 O'Clock, in the chapel.
The eleventh lesson in the Quarterly will
be discussed, based upon Acts 10 ;23-11 Is,
Goods partiality."
Sunday morning, at 1870, regular
preaching service. Sermon by pastor.
Sunday school at 1l.45 in chapel. All
are invited to attend.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-03-08

had only fourteen. Ward 1-Col. Bur
rill's home ward-dtd better, giving him
a plurality Of nineteen against demo-
cratic plurality of four last year. Col.
Burrill also carried ward 4, which was
democratic last year. Wards and D,
which were democratic last year, went
democratic again this year, but by re-
duced pluralities.
The republicans elect their aldermen
from wards l, 2 and 4, and the democrats
from and s. Tie total vote this year,
1,05i, Is not quite up to that OF recent
years i'll municipal elections. In 1898,
1,O97 votes were cast; in 1897 and 1896 it
was exactly the same, ,l02.
Following Is the vote IN detail, with the
vote for mayor III 1898 for purpose of com
parison:
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-03-08

Monday, in the ninetieth year of her age.
She leaves one daughter, Mrs. Ambrose
Phillips, of Ellsworth. Funeral SER
vices were held Tuesday, Rev. j. M.
Adams, of the Congregational church,
officiating.
E. II. Greedy, of this city, has been
chosen as judge OF the light harness
horses at the Boston horse show. The
Turf, Farm and Home says: "The choice
OF Mr.. Greedy is fittingly bestowed, and
1t calls to mind the fact that he officiated
In similar capacity at the first open air
horse show held in Philadelphia five years
ago. His good work there has not been
forgotten"
The judiciary committee of the State
legislature will have hearing tomorrow
afternoon on the bill increasing the Ellis
worth school committee to five members.
The bill was accompanied by petition
favoring it. No opposition to the pro-
posed change developed until yesterday,
when II. Fremont Maddocks, member
OF the present school committee, put in
circulation remonstrance against any
change.
Mrs. John Cameron, of Charlestown,
Mass, died there last Friday. Mrs. Cam
eron was Il native of Ellsworth, and lived
here until about five years ago. Her
maiden name was Ella Abram. She was
the daughter Of William Abram. She
leaves husband, a brother, William, and
Two sisters, Mrs. Mary Lovett and Miss
Georgia Abram. The remains were
brought to the home of Stephen Mona
CHAN in Ellsworth. Funeral services
were held from st. Joseph's Catholic
church Sunday, Rev. j. d. O'Brien
ofiidiati ing.
The case of Jones s. Kelley, of Hancock,
vs.. Augustus McCauley, Of Hancock, for
damage for loss OF a horse, is being tried
in the Ellsworth municipal court to-day.
McCauley was at work as teamster for
Kelley in the woods at Olamon early in
January. One of Mr.. kelley's horses died,
and he alleges it was from injuries inflict-
ed by McCauley. McCauley was found
guilty in the Oldtown municipal court in
criminal proceedings for cruelty to ami
mails. Mr.. Kelley now sues for damages.
l.. f. Giles for plaintiff, A. f. Burnham
for defendant.
There was a meeting of the Unitarian
society last Wednesday evening. A book
had been prepared for the enrolment of
those Who wished to identify themselves
with the society. There were many
signers. The following committees were
chosen; Mrs. E. B. Wyman, historian;
DR.. Harry w. Osgood, Charles L. Morang,
A. NJ. Hopkins, committee on benevolent
action; a X. Cushman, Embert Osgood,
e. L, Parker, J. A. Peters, jr., Elmer +.
Murch, II. L. Hill, committee on social
life; F. l.. Mason, +. f. Rowe, f. X. Hop
kns, Mrs G. L. Morang, Mrs. Hodgkns,
Mrs. Annie JoY. committed on memhers.