Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-07-01
The Mammoth Tree Grove.

The following is description Of the
i" Mammoth Tree Grove, of Calaveras
County California:
:" Ii you have seen the trees which COM
pose this beautiful Grove, You will reinem-
Der with pleasure their sublinity and gi-
gaIltic proportions. If You have not you
cannot fully conceive the beauty and
grandeur of the scene, as the shadows of
these forest giants fall upon the landscape.
They must be seen as they stand within
their dark forest home encircied by their
smaller relatives, 10 be appreciated.-
These giants OF the forest are situated fif-
teen miles from Murphy's Camp, GA a
ridge between the san Antonio branch OF
the Calayeras River, and the North
Branch of the Stanislaus river, In latitude
/ IS deg. n and longitude 100 deg. W.
The altitude II the grove is 4,j5U feet
from above San Francisco, , 400 above
Murphy's Here, within an area OF lif-
" acres, tower high above the surround
ing forest eighty-iiye Of these giant mon
sters of the vegetable kingdom.
As there are none like them known to
man upon the face Of the globe, natural
lists have been at n loss 10 know what APP
pcllation to give them; and with what or
der to class them, their wood being of the
nature of redwood or cedar, aid their
fruit Is similar to ,ha, Of the yellow pine
The English naturahsts have termed
w ellingtonia Gi@antea; the Yankees,
not being willing al all o admit that name,
have ternined them 'NNashing,onia Cd
gantea, which appeilatlon more properly
belongs to them. There are % of these
trees that will average over twenty feet
in diameter al their base.-The largest
of perfect standing tree. is surrounded by
a variety Of other large trees of different
species. II is called the mother of the
forest and has been deprived of lis bark
to the height Of ito feet, and at that
height measures 80 feet inches in cir
cumference. 1t resembles a mighty pyr-
amid, whose apex towers IN the heavens
to the distance Of 80 feet. The average
thickness of bark Is one foot. and was sold
to Mr.. George Gale, who removed it, for
the purpose of exhibition in the Atlantic
States and Europe. TINS tree contains
100000 feet of inch lumber
The stump OF the Big tree which was
cut down about two Years ago, is eirht
feet high, and measures at that height p
feet in diameter, without the bark.-A
saloon has been erected over this stump.
the stump being It's floor, on which large
cottilllon parties, and others Who delight
IN such exercises, amuse themselves. 1t
took five men twenty-five DAYS 10 fell this
tree, which tney accomplished chiefly by
! boring.
There are other trees of the same spe-
I cie III this evergreen and ever memora-
bic forest, as large as this one, but none
so beautifully erect and symetricalin every
proportion.
There are various other trees in the
forests which cannot here be described.
The father of the forest, which lies pros
trate and buried one-third in the earth.
measures at the base 10 feet in circuln-
ference. 1t is 200 feet 10 the first branch
/ the whole of which IS hollow, and through
! which person can walk erect, and In
/ which IS neVer-lailing spring of water,
+ large enough to float a cauoe.-The es-
umated height is 400 feet. The "burat
tree, Is also PROSTATE and hollow, through
! which a person can ride 90 feet on horse
back. As we gaze in admiring won
! der on these ancient Californians. that for
I 5000 years have withstood the storms,
earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions of this
mysterious land, we burn to be instructed
IN the fearful past, and auxiously inquire,
who will tell 10 Us its history I'D. y.
Plecker.