The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-25

nhssuary-Tae Boston Eitn.
.Tne Ro>,on newspapers Of last "Wednesday
~vere exeee dnely historical, and not q little
sentInsental. The famous elm tree, the
bride Of Boston Common, which Is In Its turn
the pride Of Boston, was upon the previous
evening blown down by the gale-tne
windiess catastrophe siuee the destruction OF
Mr.. G;lmore's Coliseum. This tree was one
OF the net objects Of the town. There have
hecn MANY controversies about its age, but
ali the combatauts admitted that 1t was
very old. It figured upon the oldest msp
of the town, which was engraved 10
5T22. and there sre those who hon
thst e was growing before the arrival OF
fhe first settlers, in 1880. 1t was snec'
f;onately s,oken Of as "the oldest iHhae'
liant OF Boston" Skeptics declared that 1t
was pianted by Captain Henchman IN 1915
n shelter the Ancient and Honorable Arts
iery Company which be commanded. This
legend. however, vas exploded By DR.. War
rem. who printed 8 monograph OF the great
tree. and proved that 1t must have been lso
wears old 10 1929 One hundred and ninety
rings were counted in branch broken of 10
1850, which must have been consider.
ably younger than the tree itself
It belonged to species known as
the q American or White ELM" LIS
first catastrophe was IN the summer OF 1882
when gale partially broke OF four OF us
larger limbs. They were, however, restored
BY careful surgery, bolted into their orlginal
places, and are said to have grown BACK isto
The tree again. In June, 1860, 1t lost limb
measuring forty-."o inches IN clrcumiel"
epee. Stu it continued to grow. According
TO the latest measurement, in 1860, the follow.
ing were its proportions: Girth at the
ground, a feet at three feet above 1t was
lsl feel at Eve feet above, l63 feet.
This tree has been very useful one IN ITS
day. It Is supposed that William Robinson,
Marmaduke Stevenson, and Mary Dyar, The
Quaker martyrs, we're hanged from 1t. ln
1876 an Indian captive was tied to itand put
TO death. In 1928 duel was fought under
il by two young gentlemen who were 10
love with the same lady. Benjamin Wood
bridge was left dead on the field, while
Henry Phillips, bis antagonist, escaped TO
Europe. The Revolutionary associations OF
the old tree were not numerous. IL must hot
be confoupded with the Liberty Tree at the
corner OF Washington and Essex streets,
which was cut down by the British soldiers
during the siege OF Boston. The old elm, how
ever. 1uripg the pre-Revolutionary period was
place of resort for the Sons OF Liberty, and
was frequently illuminated on festal occa-
sions. Muny tories were hung In efhgy from
its branches, and several members, we be-
lieve, OF the British Ministry. In 1904
Mayor Smith, who was by profession sur,
geop, took great interest In pruning ana
other " ise caring for the tree. He protected
it BY q handsome iron fence. Before TINS
the great hollow in the trunk bad received
fifteen barrels of clay, and was covered WIN
canvas fastened around it. Dr.. Smith also
out up an appropriate inscription, which
stated among other things that the tree
- had been standing for an unknown period"
AN offsboot was discovered in 1860, OF which
great care has been taken.
The final catastrophe Is described with
affectionate minuteness in the Boston news
papers. The wind was first w., and subse'
quently S. The moment OF Its fall was 10.
Inn. P. NJ, and was marked BY a crash
alike the sound of cannen." As may be
supposed, the relic~hunters were at once
busy, and had carried off much OF the wood
wien the police interfered. What was LETT
of the remains was taken possession OF by
the city authorities. Up 10 this time, the
news being spread rapidly through the city,
people were arriving constantly, as we are
told, "with saws, batchets. and Knives
Much satisfaction was expressed that the tree
had lived until the centennial year mucn
regret that it could not have fallen upon the
Fourth of July proximo.-Ne,o York Tn