Cheyenne record., 1920-07-15
Men OF STATURE
Only a Few Have Been "Giants
IN the Land"
Jehann Van Albert, Recent Importa-
tlsn From Heftand. the Taiisst
Specimen o. Humanity Ever
osen In Medeen Days.

When Johann Van Albert stepped
from the gangplank on recent ar
rival Of the Aauretania he had the
distinction Of being the tallest man
who ever entered the United States.
His 8 feet inches Of height required
that 4 special berth, made up Of two
cots placed end to end in large com
panionway, be fufnished for the trip
from his home In Amsterdam. Holland.
Since Johann has left his quiet home
out among the nearby wi2dmills OF
Amsterdam and fntends to seuter the
show business over here. 1t viii be in
teresting to dig up some giant history
and nee how he compares with previ.
ous competitors who used to be great
attractions. Probably no living giant
in the United States ever exceeded the
8 feet attained by the late Captain
Bates, who was q native of KENTUCKY.
/. The word ''living" II used here be-
cause Of the fact that for some time
during the year 1859 the famous Car
diff giant led many people to be-
lieve that 1O-f0ot man had once lived
in Onondaga. County. N. 7. 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, Ia. when an adventurous
fakir purchased a huge block Of gyp-
sum from a quarryman Of that place.
The block then was shipped to Chi
cngo, it being taken in charge by
sculptor, who chiseled 1t into 1O-foot
giant. The surface was pricked with
needles to give It the appearance OF
pores in the human skin, and then
treated with a 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. y,
where the owner claimed 1t, loaded the
bnlky box upon large wagon and
hauled It 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 a well by tho
promoter Of the fraud.
This great discovery was made on
October 16. 1869. and news Of the won
derful petrified giant spread all over
the country. The lucky finders cover
ed it with tent and put 1t ON exhibi-
ton, while special trains were run
from New York city and other nearby
points 80 that the clamoring multitndes
could see the astonishing remains at
the earliest opportunity.
Until the deception was discovered
II is estimated that more than 6O.-
600 persons jostled each other In
order to view the wonder. paying
dollar apiece for the remarkable priv
ilege.
But, passing on from this greatest
hoax, 1t IL found that Captain Bates
was the tallest Of our modern Ameri-
can giants, although his S-foot height
was slightly exceeded BY that Of Anna
Swan, a native OF Nova Scotia. Going
further back into giant history we hnd
that Queen Elixabeth's head porter
was 2 feet 9 inches high. probably BE-
ing given this exalted position on ac-
count Of his ability to see what was
going on at all times.
Among royalty itself It is claimed
that one Of the Roman emperors was
nearly 9 feet high. but the measure
ments of those days may have allow
ed him considerable more height than
he would be entitled to at this time.
though no doubt he was q person OF
great stature for history to make note
of the fact.