, 1844-06-29
From the St. Louis Reveille,l
Prairie and Mountain Life.
THE PETRIFTED FOREST.

ihE PEIRlElt.D FORES
"Ohe OF the most remarkable natu
raj curIosltles IN Texas is a petrifec
FOREST, near the head Of Pasigono rIv
er. II Consists of several hundred
trees IN an erect position, all turnet
10 stone! Some trees now growing
are partly Petrifed. This is a start
ing iact for the natural philosophers
ana must cause them to modify the
existing theory of pctrifaction."-
[kcnnedy.l
Many have visited the Rocky
Mountains. who have never seer
these forests of stone, but few
have teen there who have moi
heard Of them, who never believed in
them, and many who have long dis.
believed. have lived 70 be convinced,
either by their own eyes, or by au,
thoTltv too respectable TO leave
iuGther room for doubt. The present
writer heard much of pe,rifed for.
est<. vile among traPpers and old
traders, IN tie mountains. but ALWAYS
with Impenetrable incredibly. No,
ses LIARS, the celebrated Black
Harris. Is IN the habit Of em5eiIi>h
ing the story lie te.!s.about them, with
very surprising touches of magma.
ton. He depo>eS xnd avs. that
dTds are .hsre, sitting on the branch
es. the most hard hearted things Of
ill the feathered tribe. being solidif
ed INTO stone. for all time to come.
Another m0untaineer Wi! fyht n
man WHO wont believe. that lie once
sharpened his knife upon the tail OF
an eagle. tina: was turned into stone
while IN the very &C; OF whettinr is
0Yn TIL upon another rock. The
man who tells this hard story. further
declares, tat he once carried Il stone
SGPiIrg of Pinc. fvc hundred miles
on lis shoulder. while tr vellir . home
on foot: but. being overtakCn by
winter. he dropped the tree. knock
ed oil AMI carried alsng the Ii-d<.
and arrived at Independence. literal
~. with an important part of his per
sonal aTFare! oyerlpw.ug with rocks.
Such Il style Of romaacinr is hnmor-
Jus enough. but. when calculated to
bring any important truth into dis
credit. tie sooner It is set in its prop
fright the better. Eve Witnesses.
Of thorough responsibility. are now
alive. and We'll known in ST. Louis.
who can 81 stantIate the 10, owing
'n'caote is i pam and simple fact:
\ few years since. an extensive
trading party WAS out in the mnun-
tain regions. when 4 forest of Thu
lad WAS discovered. in the vicinity
ui those ranges Of elevation known
- tie black His" Singular e.
rou-h. when considered in connec-
non wi'iI such a stoav as we have
H'w 20 relate. one Of tie party had
a.th him 1T old volume Of the sara
ian Nights" and had made himself
'lghly popular among the simple
hearted yopagVrs and people of the
by reading the fascinating OH
entail tales of that admirable romance
70 ,tem, by tie camp fiGc. ut nights
Do tbs wel. a supply efiigit was
necessary. and 'he men eagerly
Tght every opportunity Of securing
1rne knots TO burn for this purpose.
!: waS. il Eec"i ection Is not ms
ci. IN The year 1925. and somewhere
q the middle Of the first month gf
.utnmn. - re obtain The story. that
20 Of tins party rode awav from
he Inc OF camp. one afternoon. to-
md 4 distant appearance OF timber.
~ The purpose OF getting pine knobs
.r ;se evening. The camp was then
till ~ motion. and the ,wo adven'ur-
meant Il" get ii-eIT Knots and re-
Urn. calculating 10 reach camp about
2 tine ~ the evening haI;. Tnev
p7n relchet cluster Of pine tees.
!aseniiHg every resemblance that
Tss usual. and promising q rirh gath
rirg Of the SOFT Of lCei they wee
n --arch OF. One vas still ~occuri-
j n fastening his animal. when he Fl,
vas startled by an extraordinary
sound behind him and = VOL I
Y of maiedIction=. in denl French.
ami Saxon, from his companion. !
.'-U1lfeEr. - d-mi ToaHere and ,
infer 20 be pay: Wat Is all lis {
WHAT IS tie matter. said tie 9th Z
IT'S some d-m rascal ~itckr'r re- ,
led the Frenchman, half muite.isg !
4 solIloqUy OF establishment. p
-Whai Is he maiier!" en9uired =
Il other again. {
BY d-m. do you les look sack =
.reT Sad The astonishei Gaul. pick :