Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1875-06-03
The Petrifed Forest.
Description of one of the Won
derS of California.

of Stone and Timber of Metal
} Romantic Mountain Scenery.
SANTA Rosa, March 16, 1875.
Among California's most nota-
Bile wonders may be mentioned
the Petrifed Forest, situated in
the most romantic scenery of
mountain wilds, about half way
b.tween two celebrated SumlRer
resorts, Mark West Springs of
Sonoma county and Calistoga
Springs in Napa county. In
speaking of these wonderful
specimens of petrified wood, we
fain would connect them with
some mysterious designs of ma
ture-for what purpose is left
with man to conjecture. Here,
III a mountainous region, wild
and weird, where rugged bluffs
Of volcanic formation, separated
by deep and gloomy canons,
studded with a dense foliage Of
modern growth, the tourist pur-
sues his uneven way among the
ever-varying and romantic
scenes Of a winding road, cut
in the steep and rocky side of
high mountains, between which
Mark West creek winds its way,
spIashing and tumbling over and
around the rugged edge Of some
immense boWlder that has in
times past occupied a more ele-
waited position on the mountain
side.
But in some storm of wind and rain
Lost its poise and Leadlong leapt without
restrain,
With awful bound into the Winter swollen
stream,
Where ne'er did reach moons pale ray or
sunny beam.
ARRIVING AT THE FOREST,
One is surprised at its quiet, or,
rather, spell-bound appearance.
The team is secured to a hitch
ing-tree, from an overhanging
branch Of which swings a sim
: pie board, whereon in plain let
ters one may read: "Pctrified
Forest. G. Evans, Proprietor"
/ On either side of thc way is a
| neatly-built, whitewashed cabin,
a hen-cOop or two, number Of
specimens Of petrifed wood,
fragmentary sections of the
trunks Of trees now stone.-
The only living occupants Of
the place is the man Evans,
grave in appearance, quiet, and
in good keeping with his sur
roundings; so years of age, yet
not to be taken for more than
10; no sign of gray hairs or of
any decline in his robust per-
son; he has no family with whom
to share his solitude-his only
living companion a snow-white
goat, with long horns and fow-
ing beard pendant from the
; chin; a sedate hound, and a
horse so tame as not caring
to move out Of the visitors way.
Here, indeed, little folks may
have a little ideal Of what Rob-
inson Crusoe's existence was.--
In the reception room, or cabin,
one finds a collection Of beauti-
full and rare specimens Of wood
turned to stone, some pieces
studded with glittering quartz.
The furniture consists Of a bench
> or two, chair, and table where
on a register Of arrivals is kept.
Under the arrivals for the day
we noted the words, from some
one dead to Natures charms:
There's many a slip twixt the cup and lip,
So we tho't in looking for this wonderful
forest.
Hore is another from an equally
unromantic mind:
Distance lends enchantment to the view,
We think so; visitor do not you?
Having satisfied our curiosity
: in looking at the specimens men
S toned, the natural query asked
s is, "Where is the spot that these
are found?" "Come and see,"
e will be the answer of Mr.. Ev-
: ans, as he leads the way up the
!; ! hillside through an arched gate
d way. We enter feeling as if
e we were treading the cemetery
4 Of
d AN ANTEDILUVIAN FOREST,
Whose stateliest trees were en-
2 balnled to last forever, while
: those of smaller growth were
allowed to nix again with moth
It er earth and lose their identity
: What at a little distance is seem
Z ingly tree-stump proves on
: examination to be a broken Sec
$ ton Of the body of some pros
trate pine, petrifed. Every Cir
S Gle or years growth is easily
discernable so that the exact du-
ration of the trees existence