New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-07-16
MEN OF STATURE
Only a Few Have Been "Giants
in the Land"
Johann Van Albert, Recent importa.
ton From Holland, the TaIIest
Specimen Of humanity Ever
Seen In Modern Days.

When Johann Van Albert stepped
from the ~gangplank on a recent ar
rival of the Mauritania he had the
distinction of being the tallest man
who ever entered the United States.
His 8 feet 5 inches of height required
that a special berth. made up of two
cots placed end to end In a large CON-
panionway, be furnished for the trip
from his home In Amsterdam. Holland.
Since Johann has left his quiet home
out among the nearby wi1dmills of
Amsterdam and intends to enter the
show business Over here, II will be In
teresting to dig up some giant history
and e how he compares with previ-
u competitors who used to be great
attractions. Probably no living giant
In the United States eve exceeded the
8 feet attained by the late Captain
Bates. who al q native Of Kentucky.
The word "living" Is used here be-
cause of the fact that for some time
during the year 1869 the famous Car
din giant led many people to be-
lieve that a lO-foOt O had once lived
In Onondaga County. N. Y. The story
Of this mOnstrous fraud perpetrated on
the American public makes such un-
usual and Interesting reading that 1t
will bear repeating.
The idea had its inception out In
Fort Dodge. H.. when an adventurous
fakir purchased a huge block of gyp-
sum from a Quarryman Of that place.
The block then was shipped to Chi
cago, II being taken in charge by a
sculptor. who chlseled 1t into a lO-fOot
giant. The surface was pricked with
needles to give 1t the appearance of
pores IN the human skin. and then
treated with n variety of acids which
made the entire statue appear OF
ancient origin. After completion the
GIANT was securely packed in an iron
box and shipped to Union. N. T.
where the owner claimed II. loaded the
bulky box upon a large wagon and
hauled II fifty miles to a farm near
Cardiff. The giant form was then
removed from the box and secretly
buried. remaining under the ground
nearly a year. until It was accidental
ly" discovered by some workmen who
had been engaged to dig . well BY the
promoter Of the fraud.
This great discovery was made on
October 10. 1869. and Jews Of the won
derful petriHed giant spread all over
the country. The lucky finders cover
ed II with n tent and put II on exhibi-
ton, while special trains were run
from New York city and other nearby
SO that the clamOring muftitudes
could see the astonishing remains at
the earliest opportunity.
Until the deception was discovered
II Is estimated that more than Co.
900 persons jostled each other In
order to view the wonder. paying a
dollar apiece for the remarkable priv
Ilege.
But, passing on from this greatest
hoax. II Is found that Captain Bates
was the tnllest Of nj modern Ameri-
ran giants. although his S-foot height
was slightly exceeded by that Of Anna
Swan, n native Of Nova Scotia. Going
back into giaIt history We Ind
hat Queen Elizabeth's head porter
was Z feet 6 inches high. probably be-
ng given this exalted position on &C.
count of his ability to Q what was
yoing on ut all times.
Among royalty itself Il IL claimed
hat one OF the Roman emperors a
nearly 0 feet high. but the measure
nents OF those days may have allow
d him considerable more height than
he would be entitled to at this time,
hough no doubt he was a person OF
rent stature for history to make note
4 the fact.