The Cardiff ''Giant''

By Crusader1307

An Oldie but Goodie story that is the apex of Cryptid Hoaxes in America (possibly more famous than The Fiji Mermaid). The story involves the discovery of the petrified remains of an actual Giant. 10-feet tall and perfectly preserved , the discovery was by New Yorker William Newell in 1868. A group of workers (hired by Newell), were commissioned to dig a new well on his property. They discovered the petrified remains of the behemoth human. Tying the find to Mormon (and Christian) stories of Giants that lived in America thousands of years ago Newell put his find on display, charging 25 cents (USD) to see. Hundreds, upon hundred flocked. Making National news (and getting the interest of the Scientific community) he raised his rate to 50 cents. This also earned the attention of Showman P.T. Barnum (who told Newell he would pay $50.000 (USD) to get The Giant).

Newell refused and Barnum had a wax replica made and displayed in his New York Museum. Barnum stated that his Giant was the real one (and Newell's was fake). This lead to a lawsuit filed by Newell to stop Barnum. As the Case, progressed the truth came out. Newell admitted that he had his Giant secretly carved (in Chicago, under the premise that it was a statue to honor Abraham Lincoln). Paying off the Sculptor Newell had his Well Diggers plant and tell their story . It was from Newell that the phrase There's a Sucker Born Every Minute , derived (falsely attributed to Barnum). The Judge ruled that Barnum could not be sued die to a fake Giant against another fake Giant held no merits. The wax version was lost during Barnum's Museum fire of 1878. The original Cardiff Giant is still on display in the Town of Cardiff, New York (although it costs more than 50 cents to see!)