Daily national Democrat., 1860-06-12
incidents Of the Stevens Expedition.

Incidents of the Stevens Expedition.
Capt. J. E. Stevens, who took out an ex-
peditiOn to the Black Rock country, short
time before the late outbreak of the Indians,
on the margin of the Eastern slope, called on
US. yesterday. He informs us that he saw
but little silver; but that the region he ex-
plored presented wonders which well repaid
him for his trouble.
Among other curious discoveries which he
mentions, is that Of petriied tree, lying in
a desolate region, about GO miles north of
Black Rock, and near what is called High
Rock Canon. 1t lay across several small
gulches, and was partly buried in the soil.
Its length. as far as measured, the top being
deep under ground, was 6G6 feet, and the
general opinion of the Company. looking at
it, was that it was from 40 to GO feet in di-
ameter. Enormous tree Capt Stevens
thinks it is of the same species as the trees Of
Mariposa. Fragments of other trees of the
same kind, but smaller, are visible, here and
there--stumps and butts Of thirty feet length
oil petrified. And it is more than probable,
that little excavation would discover a vast
primeval forest there buried. This tree lies
exactly where it fell, centuries ago, for there
are the up-turned roots, in just the position
they would most naturally be, and the prone
trunk bears no evidence Of having been dis
turbed
1t seems strange that the remains Of great
forest should thus be found in a country now
wholly destitute of any sort of living growth
whatever, except sage brush and greasewood
for a hundred miles around.
What races went to the dust, during
the growth of that gigantic tree; who can
tell Not less than FIVE thousand years
did it take such giant to mature, and
what deeds were done beneath its shade
what deeds of glory or of shame of love or
hate, in the long line of the generations
gone, there comes no narrator from the dim
past to tell. Is there the greyest old Pah
Ute, that, underneath his brush tent on the
borders of the Pyramid Lake, smokes his pipe
and recounts to the young men the traditions
of his tribe, can say what people saw the sap
ling youth of that gigantic tree, or heard the
thunder of its fall Not one
A specimen of the petr6cation may be
seen at the Office Of Dr. Thompson, taken
from the tree at distance of 200 feet from
the base. 1t is only q Lalf inch thick, but
contains the marks of six years growth.
A portion of Stevens Company, as he in
forms us, went to Carson City, via the Hum
boldt River. When near the river, and l5
miles from the battle ground, of the Pyramid
Lake, they saw band of Pah-Utes on foot
driving herd of stolen cattle. Making
descent upon the band, they killed two In
dians, and captured IS head of cattle, which
they drove into Carson City, distance of
100 miles, in 4s hours.
Capt. Stevens intends to rejoin his party
at Virginia City, in about two weeks, when
he will proceed on prospecting tour in the
direction of Mono Lake and the Southern
Silverado.
He will keep US posted of his whereabouts
and proceedings, at every convenient oppor-
tunity. and we shall take pleasure in laying
his communications before our readers
P. s.-since penning the above our friend
Champlin member of Capt. Stevens Com
pany. has called on US, and shown US speei
men Of the big tree alluded to. 1t is very
curious to look at. The petrifcatlon in the
specimen before us, plainly indicates the part
! of tho trAA from which it talon it heino
the sap and the rings next to it. He showed
us also petrifcation of fat pine, which he
struck from petrifed stump in the same
vicinity. 1t looks so natural that you can
almost fancy that you smell the resin, when
you put it to your nose. 1t is certainly a |
marvellous preservation, material record as
durable as time. In the same place, the |
Company found the shin bone of man, pet
ri6ed, and the upper jaw of a grizzly, but
twice as big as the jaw Of any grizzly ever
seen in modern times. Mr. Champlin brought
with him some very pretty agates picked up
few miles off from Black Rock.