Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-05-05
TO DO continusAl
THE JUMBO or TREES.
4 Pctrihed Monster 90 Feet Through and
600 Feet La Length.

The largest tree in the world lies
broken and petrifed at the end of a de-
file in northwestern Nevada. It's dimen-
sions are so great that those who know
of its existence state to tell the story
because they hardly expect TO be be-
lieyed; but there is sufficient evidence TO
give the tale credit, improbable though
il may seem
This tree makes the monarchs of the
Mayi6ae@ grove s-seem like impostors,
and compared to- it "the tallest pine
grown on Norwegian hills to be the
mast Of some great admiral" is but q
wand. As for the story Of its discovery,
it j. thus told by "Dad' Lynn OF Fresno
and supported by other equally we'll
known people.
Back In 1860 a company Of about
forty-fve left Red Bluff to prospect the
then unknown country beyond Honey
Lake and Surprise Valley. There were
in the party lawyers, butchers, and shoe
makers, but we were one-sided on one
point; each individual felt positive tha,
this was the turning point of his exist
ence and that bright, shining gold in
rather unpleasant jaunt.
The Indians-we called them Ban.
nacks-were at that time raising hair,
and very many sudden moves were at
times necessary in order TO get rid OF
their unwelcome attentions. Finding
but little gold in this section, we travelled
toward Baker county, Oregon, through
a country entirely denuded of timber,
except few dwarf cottonwoods along
The waterways. Close 10 the Baker
county line we came TO an opening in
the rocks, about wide enough for our
wagons to 60 through, and on either side
loomed precipices 800 and 600 feet high.
The crevasse was about fifteen miles
long, and at its end, just TO the right OF
the trail, we found a number of petrified
tree stumps OF different heights and
sizes.
In their midst on the ground lay a
monster troe, somewhat imbedded in the
soil. 1t was completely petIitied, and,
from the clean-eut fractures of the trunk,
seemed to have fallen after its petrifac-
ton, At6e quit this tree was quite
sixty feeb&n diameter. We measured
its length with a tape line. Ii was just
Cot feet long. No limbs remained. but
in the trunks were clefts where appar-
emily limbs had broken off. Amberlike
beads of petritied pitch or gum adhered
to the sides Of the trunk for distance OF
100 feet or more.
Where the huge trunk was broken
sqHarely off The centre seemed transpar-
ent and the growth marks showed In
beautiful concentric rings. Its natural
appearance was handsomer than any
dressed marble or mosaic ever have
seen, and we all expressed the opinion
that il would make wonderfully beauti-
full floor and interior finish for some
grand building
Il don't often tell this story, because
people do not believe 1t, but / could 60
TO the place now without the leas,
trouble and point out this wonder.
Judge Courtney Talbot of Tulare was
one of our party, and here is an extract
from letter recently received from
him which corroborates my tale:
Tulare, Cal.
NY Dear Old Friend: have scarcely ever
panion. MIR. Whitesides, ans told him my
recollection about the tree-that IL was 90
feet I'm diameter and 636 feet long aud per-
fectiy pe,rlfed. / told him | scarcely ever
mentioned H. the, story being too big for
credence. lie said:
Tell Il when and where you please. |
stand ready to make affidavit to those fig
ures."
l afterward met old Allen Hardin, and he
said the same thing. | can call TO the stand
To verify the statement Col. Mcklnsey, Holt
Fine, Sam King. I. =. Shirley, yourself, and
nny member OF our company that mag be
within reach. have often wondered why a
great curiosity like that should remain un-
observed 81 long
"Now stand ready to prove all this
to any Doubling Thomas who wishes to
look upon one of Natures grandest
freaks, and who will pay the expenses
of the trip.'-SdH Francisco Erdmtraer