The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-01-30
AN rNDIAEA WoNplER.
a Silver MeDla TaIxaa IknE,l Ga Z
Ecuao BpiFe and 1tlnertaItes.


| Greensburg Is a beautiful little civ 0g
four Thousand inhabitants, located in
sontheastern Indiana. 1t is the county
seat of Decatur County, and both city
aud county were settled mostly by nef.
sons hailing from Pennsylvania ana the
blue grass regions OF Kentucky. The
name GreeDsburg was given VIXEN The
site was located by Mrs, Thomas Hen.
bricks, aunt of Hon. Thomas Hendfickg.
late candidate for Vice President, in
memory Other native place, Greenaburg,
fennsylvsnia. There were several con.
Pas,aors for the honor: Of giving tbs
name, but the matter was decided BY a
vote, As Mrs. Hendricks had several
conieiy grown daughters, and as such
we're scarce IN the new settlement, her
wishes carried the day.
Time passed, aud the county, having
passed through its stage Of log and brick
court house, must needs have one q, eor-
respond with the Intelligent and y3eglthv,
population to which 1t had attained @a,
the Commissioners went to work. and in
1862 completed temple of Justice which
Yves at that time the finest and most cost
ly In the State. It occupies the Hpublio
square" Ia the centre Of the city, and ia
surrounded by grove of beautiful forest
trees, incloaed with an iron fence. The
principal front or the b. :ufne 10 eask.
and from that point there sprisys a. tower
which reaches height of ora hphdeed
and forty feet. One. hundred and five
feet from the ground Is the wGter-sheet
OK the tower, and above that it is covered
with dressed stone, made to fit closely
10 slabs two by Eve feet, inclining &c M,
angle of about thirty degrees from
upright. - :
| In tue summer of 1870 citizen of The
place was examining the tower will. q
glass when he observed, springing from
the third cfevice about the water.sheet
on the east aide of the tower, 10 feet
from the ground, little twig, But lit
tie was thought oft, and It was scarcely
discerhible with the naked eye. The
| next spring some interest was exhibited
TO know If the miniature tree in its
strange and exposed position had sur
yived the wintry blast. It had survived.
and when sun and spring showers came
on, put out its leaves plsntifuliy and
grew luxuriantly oil the season. Bys
this time it was easily seen with the eve.
but as 1t could not be approached in any
ordinary manner nearet than from thn
roofs Of buildings on the opposite sides
ofthe street, its species conld not be as
certained. The third spring it put forth
again with renewed life, vigor and size.
Instead OF dwindling and dropping from
| t1e eueCtu OF Tie winters cuidor Efie sum-
mer's heat and drouth, the atmosphere
OF Justice tTom below seemed TO CAUSE.
IL TO flourish extraordinarily. his sea-
son at was decided to be silver maple,
sprung, no doubt, from O seed carried
by bird or whirlwind. and lodged IN
that exalted place. : (.
BY this time the tree had become IN.
nous. Accounts of It had appeared ia
the papers, but the story gas not peii.
orally believed. But, nevefthelesg. tho
tree lived and grew. Twas there. and
no mistake, And SO 1t has continued
until this day. It is now more tI1nn
twelve feet high, and it is th4aEht to be
three inches in diameter. The ton
is quite Dushy, and, In the summer sea-
con, the lesves are numerous and lux
urIont. 1t can be seeu for many miles
around, and tho stranger approaching
'irst sees the tower, and then this strange
phenomenon beckoning him over. Pas
aengers passing on the train, who have
heard ofths wonderful tree, ask fre-
quently concerning It, and trains have
even been stopped by ac5ommodatingf
conductors until the skeptical could be
convinced. The rapid growth Of the
tree 10 forcing the stone apart. This
can readily be seen with glass. Z
Ere long the ambitious maple will
have to be brought lower, or damage "a
the building follow. Tho Sheriff hes al
ready had several applications from ex-s
pert climbers to sake it down, bat the
people will not permit their tree to iIe
removed yet. An artist representing
G New York illustrated paper called tos
of. and he postponed It until mora fa.1
voFabfe tiais. Persons approaching the
place from Cincinnati get D good view
OF it by looking from the EsFih wintlcws
as they draw near Greensburg. Os.
course 1t appears to much greater advanl,
tage when In full leaf. and &c arcli d
time it is indeed @ arrange curiosity
Chicago 2Eales Greensbarg Letter.