El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-06-08

Religious Superstition and
Credulity of Public Caused
It's Creation.
LOST IN Ell PASO
A FEW YEARS AGO

One Of the greatest and most sue
cessfu1 fakes in the history OF this
country was the socalled Cardiff
giant which was first brought to
light October 1e, 1863. It was pro-
nOunced genuine petrified body by
many noted scientists ana for a time
it fooled thousands Of people who
paid an admission fee Of 81 each to
view it. 1t aroused the envy Of p T.
Baruum, who resurrected from some
source the alleged petrlfied remains
of another giant, which he exhibited
over the country in competition with
the Cardiff man. What finally became
of the Cardiff giant IS not known
The Barnum counterfeit, made of ce-
ment, finally found its way TO FL PasO.
where its owners went broke. Col
James Mari, who was in the transfer
business, held Il for long time for
transfer charges, taking it 20 New Or
leans at one time for exhibition. Bring
ing it back here, he gave it to James
Sattherwaite, who gave it to the Nc
Ginty club A few years ago. one leg
broken off, and arm broken and other
wise disfigured, the Giant" was in a
back yard on Hills street
Michael FOIey, the man who quar-
RED the stone for the Cardiff giant,
was one Of the three promoters and
proprietorS Of the hoax. Foley died
at his home in Fort Dodge, Iowa,
eight years ago at the age of s.
years The fake TO which he was
party in his earlier life was the means
of laying the foundation for a fortune
which he left upon his death The
other or -inal parties to the hoax were
George Hull of Binghamton. Y. y
and H B. Martin. Of MarshaIItown
Iowa When the exposure Of the fake
came Foley made public its whole his
tory
The Origin OF "The Giant"
George Hull of Binghamton, n Y,
was travelling through Iowa one win
fs-- 50 7rrf7 In vii
lage OF Ackley, in Hardin county. In
the house at which ne applied for
lodging one benjamin ogden lay III
In bed A clergyman Of Ackley. Rev
Mr.. Turk, was a watcher at the bed
side The three fell TO discussing
theological subjects, ending in a Ions
argument as to the reputed gigantic
Sons Of Anak. HUI retired, excited
by the dispute, and convinced OF the
inordinate cfedulity of the average
man, especially regarding anything
with a scriptural origin or bearing
II was in this state of mind, unable
to sleep, that Hull conceived the idea
Of manufacturing 2 giant which could !
be BURIED and unexpectedly discoT- I
cred in the earth, and which would 4
pass for a petrified man. Re believed 4
be worked on 70 such az extent that /
the perpetrators OF the fraud would I
reap a rich reward.
The PIans For the Manufacture.
Filled with the quickly made plans,
Hull proceeded on his way the next
day. reaching MarshalltOwn. - Ia, that ]
night. He confided his ideas to a
friend, II. 3. Martin, who Joined forces Z
with him Where TO obtain the rock
was the first problem to be solved
It was at this suncture that Mar 4
tin had an inspiration The largest ]
gypsum beds in the country lay at Z
Fort Dodge. not many miles away Z
Why not so there and endeavOr 10 /
quarry a piece which would permit of I.
a gigantic statue being hewn out in .
one great block, which would defy .
detection rs 20 arIficiality2
The next day the two men went to 8
Fort Dodge AMI insrrct=i the gypsum F.
beds.
The result was that an acre OF +
quarry land was purchased from John 1
3IcDermott for S10O. Huge masses I
OF the soft gypsum lay ready for eX- 1
traction The problem seemed about F..
to be solTed- j WIS not until after .
several days search Tor q block suf- /
large that Hull and Martin I
decided the scheme was going 10 be I
hard OF cOnsummltiOn after all Be 4
sides, by this time the good people /
Of Fort Dodge had become suspicious !
Who were the mysterious men who 1
prowled about gypsum beds and mum /
bled of gigantic blocks and prehistoric /
men, yet who refused to ask or accept !
Continued on Next Page) /