The union Democrat., 1869-06-12
The Oaks of Oak Flat.

The oak, from which Oak Flat takes its
name was foully murdered. twas one of the
largest trees of the kind in the United States.
perhaps in the world. Its limbs could shade
n mass meeting. In the earlier days, the
miners, the Simon pure residents Of the fat,
strovc to protect it. They were proud Of
their noble tree. 1t pheasant vet to frd this
kind of sentiment in man. 1t is this which
now mainly distinguishes him from the brute,
We say mainly, because naturalists and ex
plorers have gone on investigating and poking
about, discovering this new species, and that
connecting link until they have established
fearfully perfect chain Of relationship between
US and the Gorilla There stands the skele-
ton of that animal in the Anatomical Museum
of San Francisco, very near in appearance
the frame work Of man only the arms are
longer, the chest stouter and the head, we'll
] have seen human heads-but no matter
The anatomical proportions Of the Gorilla are
dreadiully like those of men and women.
Well, when water was brought into Oak
Flat, strange Gorilla SINNERS should say
rushed in. They wished to make their piles
quickly as possible and rush out again
The giant oak then stood green and beautiful
IN SIX or eight feet of soil. 1t was grand
natural Pavilion, free 10 all. The strange
Gorillas dug nearer and nearer its base. En-
countering its widely spreading roots they
cut them of piece by piece. They ran drifts
under il, some who had known the tree in
former DAYS protested against these outrages,
but most every body was too busy in making
money or trying to make money to take IL
decided stand to save the oak. Besides, Oak
Flat had become a town, it was incorpo-
rated. Previously, the miners had kept
straight little matters of this kind. Now
there was no miners law, law which used
to haveone merit at all events: that of quick
ness aad decision. To protect the Oak was
the business of the town authorities, who dd
nothing hut look on and witness the compile
ton of its slow murder. 1t withered and
died, the limbs were cut off for frewood.
Then some one in drunken frolic peeled
from the trunk, the bark, foot in thickness
1t was not enough to murder but Dissertation
must follow. So now, there only stands the
immense bare, dead trunk, as you enter the
town, elevated on moutd left by the WASHING
away of the surrounding soil, silent mou-
ument Of shame against all Gnrlllas.
THE SECOND OAK.
There is another oak. at Oak Flat, hu-
r.an oak, one which has suffered severely
from the storms of time although it still sur
wives. Oak Flat would not be Oak Flat with
out Judge McGehee. lie has not only wit
messed it's rise, progress, ard decline but has
himseH enacted most prominent part in
the history of the place.
$50 much for sleeping in the snow said
ho ho k,t /, -. -. 4
the evening of my arrival. And then far
into the night | sat and heard his recital of
the terrible sutferings endured by Fremont's
party in lS4S of which, he was a menb Der.
when searching for n railroad route on the
3Sth parallel. Fremont went in direction
contrary to the advice of Bill Williams. the
noted trapper, explorer and guide, concern
ing which, In Bills note book was found af-
ter his death the following entry made at the
time: Here our troubles commence And
tLen, as they wandered farther and farther
up the unknown defles of the Siertas the
SHOWS came. There was for q time d struc
gle to get forward, then hesitation and at
last as tue weather became more severe and
provisions scarce, an abandonment of the
idea of pressing through They struck south
for the Rio Grande. The mules became
furious with hunger. BY night they ate off
their larlats and broke into the camp snatch
ing at whatever eatabe lay about and even
thrusting their noses into kettles hot with
cooking victuals. On the march in single
file, they gnawed at each Others tails, sothat
at length every animal bore n raw and
bleeding stump. One hundred and fifty per-
ished in one night. AT last all were gone.
Then came the weary ploddingon foot by the
men: Then taking turns, man after man al the
han NJ fI,n Lra~ l. sl.l- u
snow; The frozen feet aud thetrack dreuch-
ed with blood. Day after dav, thus, they
plodGed, fighting wearily vet desperately for
life. Man after man turned from the track,
exhausted, placed under his head his roll of
hlanSets, bid the boys Good Bye" and
waited foc death. The mule meat gave out
and they gnawed their leather knife belts;
and for some there was other food 4 man.
wild with hunger turned lack one afternoon
declaring he knew where to find something
to eat. They knew by this time of another
frozen corpse in their rear. He was bv the
party never aiterward seen alive. hut an In
dian who had been left behind alone in LODGE
to die, and who miracuiouslv lived the win
ter through, toid how there came To him
maniac white man, he cfering him his ear
nihal meal. There were Others too who car
ried with them forbidden food, but no one
asked questions then.
For two days Judge McGehee encouraged
and supported a young midshipman belong
ing to the party. sinking from hunger and
fatigue. His strength energy and self reli-
ance had departed. lie was helpless bur-
then on the hands of his companion and at
length sank on the fatal track. The Judge
went forward promising soon to return with
assistance. The midshipman wildly begged
and mplored not to be left alone in that ter
riole waste, even for a little season. 1t was
matter Of necessity. Going forward. Nc
Gehee found the remainder of the party in
attitudes expressive of the deepest detection
and despair, gathered about their gloomy
camp FIRE. He urged the yonng mans case.
benumhed with cold, starving, dying by de-
grees the most dreadful of deaths, vet these
men aii not refuse tn act. when every step
was torture. They brought the Young man
70 'ne camp. bnt he was even then in the
death stupor. McGehee shared his blankets
with him; one laid on the snow fnr a he'd the