New-York tribune., 1902-11-24
ORIGIN OF THE CARDIFF GIANT.
A CORRESPONDENT SAYS IT WAS CHS
ELLED BY EDWARD BURKHARDT,
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: To many II Will seem proper that the origin
Of the famous Cardiff Giant should be liked with
historical accuracy. The late George Hull has
recently been referred to in The Tribune as the
man who carved with his own hands this remark
able fraud OF thirty years ago. Exploiter OF II
he doubtless was. but the figure was made by the
late Edward Burkhardt, Of Chicago For many
years Mr. Burkhardt well known marble
dealer in Chicago, and a sculptor OF some aolIlty
His business partner for sore time was John
Feeney who afterward removed to Nebraska q
think TO Hastngs), an6 there died. Ny fatner
long had intimate business relations with Mr.
BUrkhardt and esteemed him highly. as believe
all did who knew him
Some time in the seventies Mr. Burkhardt told
my father in my presence that he (Burkhardp
made the Cardiff Giant. and allowing for slight
possible lapses in my memory in minor particulars
(for instance; Did two men or one make the bar
gain? And was the stone gypsum0, related the
facts substantially follows:
TWO or three years before the discovery" Of the
giant Burkhardt approached by two men-total
strangers to him-who asked If he could carve the
figure Of a man from a block Of stone that would
be furnished, it being understood that absolute
secrecy should be maintained Burkhardt said he
could. and named a price, which Wss accepted.
He asked no questions, and no further Information
was given him. No special instructions were
given him to posture size. These were de-
termined later by the size and shape of the block
brought to Mr.. Burkhsrdt, which he had taken
TO an unused barn at his residence. Here. with
out telling his partner and satisfying his
wfe's curiosity with some plausible reason, behind
locked doors he worked at night with mallet and
chiseL With old currycomb found in the
barn. he scratched the surface Of his statue. and
then improved this by driving needles through
thick leather, and going over the body impaired
those fine natural looking lines that convinced 50
many people that the giant had been man A
bath of acid harden the surface and remove the
look of newueSs. and the tresome Sob was done:
The original stranger now appeared and accepteo
and paid for the work. only stipulatng that Burk-
hardt should box it tightly and strongly ana ue-
liver II TO certain cargo steamer lying IN the
river and bound for Buffalo. which he did
Two three years after this the Cardln Giant
dug UP in New-York State, and in due time
was exhibited in Chicago. Among the thousands
who crowded TO see the petr0ed remains or the
prehistoric giant Burkhardt. who saw before
him the unEnistakable work Of his own hands.
He. however. held his peace Not only was he
pledged to secrecy, bur dislike 70 have his name
mixed up with such gigantic fraud kept MIN
silent at the time. and after the hoax was e&-
posed he told only few intimate friends the facts
as here set down. Probably all the persons I'M
mediately concerned are dead. but there must be
others than myself still living who have heard
the story from Ed Burkhardts lips.
CHARLES a. FIELD.
Mesila Park, y. NJ, Nov. S, 1902