Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1889-05-10
TREES OF CALIFORNIA.
THE WONDERS OF NATURE IN THE
GREAT YOSEMITE PARK.

Giants OF the Forest Measuring Thirty Feet
in Diameter-A Coach and Four Driven
Into Hollow Log-Each State in the
Union Represented by Tree.
The story of the ''Fallen Pine" doubtless
comes from a suggestion made by one of the
"big treesn in the Yosemite region of Cali
fornia Those "big treesn are among the
most sublime Of the natural wonders Of the
world. One who bas never seen them can
have no conception Of their immensely. The
largest of them are over 80 feet in diameter
10 feet from the ground, and the tallest are
over 300 feet high, The principal ones in the
Yosemite park have distinctive titles or
names. Each state Of the Union has its tree
specially designated; and many of the his
toric characters Of the nation are honored
with the tree. The name in each instance is
handsomely painted on a broad board and
nailed fast to the tree.
The tree | have referred to specially above
is known now as 1.-THE Fallen Monarch It
was at one time called, in derision, 1.-THE An
drew johnson" tree, after the rupture be-
tween the late president and his party. But
the title "Fallen Monarch is so appropriate
that by an universal sense the name lives,
and will live as long as the language lives,
or until the tree has passed away into dust or
ashes.
CONTEMPORARIES OF NOAH.
This tree was one of the grandest in the
grove As It now lies PROSTATE upon the
earth, Its diameter averages over twenty
feet for more than a hundred feet Of its
length. The top and part Of the butt end
have been destroyed by fire How long the
tree has lain there Is unknown; it may have
been there for more than a thousand years.
The wood Of the "big trees" is a species Of
cedar, and it is well nigh imperishable in at
mospher1c influences. Fire, however, has
been the great destroying element in those
wonderful relics Of the past
say relics Of the past for these big trees |
appear to belong to a very remote age The |
commonly accepted evidences show that they |
are, or at least many of them are, over 4, 900 |
years old Indeed they are supposed to be /
Of Noah, having survived the
deluge, it being believed also that the ark it
self was built of the same species of wood.
You climb to the crest of the Fallen Mon
arch" by the aid of a ladder of some ten
rungs. You can have no just conception of
the immensely Of the tree until YOU walk
along its mighty back for over a hundred
feet.
Near by are some more wonders. l give
your readers some idea of some Of them.
THE General Grant" tree is not far of, a
huge and grim specimen, looking as stern as
The great warrior ever appeared. There is
'ne known as "The Grizzly Giant" a mon
ter q feet in diameter, feet from the
sround. AT the height Of just 100 feet the
inst limb comes out; that limb is g feet in
uameter This tree gives you a deep sense Of
I'VE as you gaze on its sublime yet grizzly
spect.
Within close walking distance is 1.-THE Tele-
cope Tree" This is about 100 feet birh. the
op of it above that height having been de
troyed by fire. This tree is a hollow tube
rom the base you look up through this tube
lto the deep skies above. You can ride on
orseback into the opening below.
THROUGH a KNOT HOLE.
Not far away Is another hollow monster
rostrate on the earth. You can ride in at
he lower entrance, and go 100 feet, and out
t a knot hole. G
The most conspicuous and most celebrated G
the trees is one that stands directly astride
the broad avenue made for driving through {
10 park. The avenue, a highway, makes d
rectly toward this tree, and an opening for L
le road bed is cut directly through the heart u
the very tree itself. You drive right in Il
lder the archway Of solid wood. and the g
liver stops, the great stage and four horses a
/ covered by the sheltering tree; and there n
furthermore, ten feet of solid wall ON J
Their side of the wheels of the coach. The
ee is about thirty feet in diameter at the
light Of the stage top
On the occasion Of my visit there we had | Il
g coach stopped, and were allowed several il
inutes' time to comprehend this sublime
ork Of nature, turned to such an abiding a
terest TO the tourist. In our party were te
7eral Australian and English gentlemen Il
ID they said that in all their travels around
e world there was nothing so grand as W
csc wonders of the Yosemite. re
These California parks are owned bv the in
neral government, but are held in trust bv
state Of California, which has expended in
mense sums Of money in making roads and in
Ter improvements in these wild. pictur-
Iue regions sa
ne state also keeps strong guard Of DO Ike
emen In all the parks, and no one is allowed pl
cut even cane or twig, or pluck bunch Of
leaves from one of the trees. The LARGEST
the parks contains about $500 acres: It is II
OF the high plateaus that run out west Y
rdly from the summit of the Sierra Ne
la mountains. The soil is exceedingly
b, though the altitude is so high that there
nut little vegetation except the big trees an
cedar growth. saw one tree there $50 NJ
{ high and 8 feet In diameter Il stands p,g
The center Of room in one Of the Yose- br
70 hotels, and the room is known as t'the FRI,
tree room Cor. Atlanta American. go,