Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-12-26
THE BIG TREES OF CALIFORNIA.


a responsible condemnation California assures
US that the following is the most accurate descr1p'
ton of the large trees growing in that State that
he has SEEM 1t will be found highly interesting:
j WASHINGTON MAMMOTH Grove,
/ May u, 1855.
4. EDITOR REPUBLICAN Last Wednesday morning l
/ left my residence in San Joaquin county, and took
I'D NV line of march for this locality, and arrived
here about p m, yesterday. On my way hlther
| passed through Sonora and Columbia, crossing the
! Stanislaus at 'Abbeys Ferry in the mountains
The road from Sonora to this place (Bg Tree) is in
splendid order, and can be travelled with perfect
safety in buggy or carriage. The distance from
| Sonora via Murphys camp is twenty five miles, On
arriving at this place. was much surprised to hnd
a firs-class hotel with every convenience OF SINH
lar establishment in large city. 1t is we'll fitted up
for the accommodation of ladies, being amply sup
| piled with bedrooms, parlors &C.; there is also a
commodiouS stable on the ground which Will accom-
| modate some forty horses.
On the body of the Big Tree there is a house, IA
by 80, which contains two fine bowling alleys. The
! siumD of the tree is intended for ball room.
| measured the stump myself at a distance OF eight
feet from the ground, and found it to be twenty-sIX
feet in diameter at the narrowest place L am IN
debted to Mr. Charles S. Stevens for his kindness in
guiding through the forest and Tor giving me
the names of the trees.
The Mammoth Tree Grove contains in its valley
eighty five monster trees in an area OF fifty acres
The Big Tree is not the largest tree in the grove,
but it is the largest perfect 1t Is 80 feet IN cir
conference and measured, after it was cut down,
800 feet in length, the stump standing eight feet
high 1t is estimated by the grains of the stump to
be 5000 years old: Five men were occupied TWEEN
ty-five days in telling it (Which done by boring)
and three weeks to strip off its bark to the height
of 90 feet.
The I" Miners Cabin " is so feet in circumference,
and nearly 800 feet high it is open in front about
II feet.
The "'Three Sisters" are group evidently grown
from the same root about 500 feet high and 90 feet
in circumference. They are perfect, and the most
beautiful ones in the whole group.
The "Pioneers Cabin" is $50 feet high where
the top is broken off it has small opening through
it.
The s'Old Bachelor" is quite forlorn-looking
gentleman, having many rents in his back, and the
roughcst-looking bark in the whole group, and is
800 feet high and 60 feet in circumference.
The " Husband aud Wife" are about $50 feet
high, and each sixty feet in circumference They
seem very afectonate, leaning toward each other at
the top.
The "Famy Group" consists of twenty-siX trees,
the father, mother, and twenty-four children. The
father, from appearance, was blown down many
wears ago. This tree measures III feet in circum-
ference and the supposed height while standing was
$50 feet the remaining length, where it was broken
off by falling against another tree, is 300 feet 1t Is
hollow the entire length and large enough to ride
into on horseback Nearly half of the trunk is en-
bedded in the ground. and measures % feet in di-
ameter above the surface.
The Hermit" stands entirely by ITSELF and is
$50 feet high and rs feet in circumference exceed
ingly straight and symmetrical.
The g Hercules is $50 feet high and 1O7 feet in
circumference; this is the largest standing tree in
the grove, and would make 900 feet of lumber;
it, like many other large trees, is imperfect being
burned side S feet.
The Mother" is 81 feet in circumference and
327 feet high.
The "Pennsylvania," so called by two young Ia
dies of Philadelphia, is "a feet in diameter and 315
feet high
The North Carolina is 81 feet across the base
and 80 feet high.
The ''Green Mountain State" is % feet in dame
ter and 800 feet high
The "Three Sisters ~ are group evidently grown
from the same root; they are about 800 feet high
and 90 feet in circumference; they perfect, and
the most beautiful ones in the whole group. ,
The Mother and Son are together SO feet in :
the Mother is 325 feet high and the
Son 500 feet.
The "Siamese Twins and their Guardian" The !
twins have trunk, but their bodies separate
at height of 40 feet. They are 800 feet high. The
Guardian stands by their side, and is 80 feet in Cir
conference and 325 feet high.
The Old Maid " stands single in her grief; her
head unlike any other trunk in the grove, is en-
tirey bare, and slightly bowling. Her height is $50
feet, and the circumference 90 feet.
The "Adie and Mary" are named after two young
ladies' who made the first buggy drive to the grove.
The trees nearly 500 feet high and 60 feet in
aid are very handsome.
The " Horseback Ride" is an old fallen hollow
trunk of $50 feet in length it is separated into two
parts The space ridden through is 70 feet, and is
3 feet in diameter in the clear.
"Uncle TOMS Cabin is about 300 feet high and
70 feet in circumference. The cabin has a narrow
two and half feet in width, and will seat
twenty-five persons; and is 10 feet high
The Bride of the Forest" is not the largest tree,
,ut is noted for having the smoothest bark of any
the grove 1t is 28O feet high and 70 feet in Cir
umference.
The Beauty of the Forest" is 65 feet in circum-
erence, and full 800 feet high; it is very straight
nd slender, and nearly free of limbs; the top is
with beautiful and regular green cap
The altitude of the grove is $500 feet above San
and 2, 400 feet above Murphy's Camp
had nearly forgotten to mention that it showed at
MS place last night to the depth of six inches, and
t the time am writing it is raining very hard.
1t is the intention of the proprietors of this grove
make it one of the most agreeable summer resorts
be found in the State, and from the manner they
ave commenced have no doubt that all who visit
lie place will find their words true. l shall leave
ere to-day for Cave city, when [ will write you
gain
remain yours, &C.,
OBSERVER.
The KANSAS LEGroN.-Foowing the pernicious
,ample of -nothingism, says the N. O. Cou-
otiacf for