It has been explained that the hemlock had been growing with its roots entangled in rocks. When the tree fell into the lake, large rocks were still trapped in the roots, causing that end of the log to sink down into the water. In 1938 the movement of the 'Old Man of the Lake' was charted for three months. It traveled a total of 67 miles, as much as three miles in one day. The first record of a floating, upright log in Crater Lake was in 1896, reported by a man named Dillar.
Mountain hemlock is a long lasting wood.
The cold waters of the lake would add further to preserving wood. The 1890 census was to utilize the most modern methods. Census counting would make use of the recent development in electricity. The census collector was to call at each home with a printed blank. The answers to questions were to be written in the usual way.