Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-24
THE JUMBO OF TREES.
A Petrifed Monster 90 Feet Through
and 600 Feet in Length.

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From the San Francisco Examiner.
The largest tree in the world lies broken
and petrided at the end Of a defile in north
western Nevada. Its dimensions are so
great that those who know Of it's existence
hesitate to tell the story. because they
hardly expect to be believed; but there is
sufficient evidence to give the tale credit,
improbable though it may seem.
This tree makes the monarchs of the
Mariposa grove seem like imposters, and
compared to it 1.-The tallest pine grown en-
Norwegian hills to be the mast of some
great admiral is but wand. AS for the
story OF its discovery, it is thus told by
LAD Lynn of Fresno, and supported by
other equally well-known people:
Back in 1860 company OF about forty
nVe left lied Bluff TO prospect the then I'M
known country beyond Honey Lake and
Surprise Valley. There were in the party
lawyers, butchers and ShOemakerS, but we
were one-Sided on one point: each individual
or his existence, and that bright shining
gold in unlimited quantities would reward
the rather unpleasant jaunt.
The lndians-we called them BannackS-
We're at that time raising hair, and very
many sudden moves were at times necas-
sary in order to get rid Of their unwelcome
attentions. Finding but little gold in this
section, We Travelled toward Baker county
Oregon, through country entirely de-
nuded Of timber, except few dwarf cotton
woods along the waterways. Close to the
Baker county line we came to an opening in
the rocks, about wide enough for our
wagons to go through, and on either side
doomed up precipices 500 and 800 feet high.
The crevasse was about fifteen miles long,
and at its end, just to the right Of the
trail, We found number of petrified tree
stumps of different heights and sizes.
In their midst on the ground lay a
monster Soynawhaf iyr,ha 1Ha6 in rha
soil. 1t was completely petrifed, and, from
the clean-cut fractures of the trunk, seemed
to have fallen after its petrifaction. At its
butt this tree was quite sixty feet in d.
ameter. We measured its length with a
tape line. 1t was just 666 feet long. No
limbs remained, but in the trunk were
cleftS where apparently limbs had broken
Off. Amberlike beads of petrified pitch or
gum adhered to the sides Of the trunk for a
distance of 100 feet or more.
here the huge trunk was broken
Squarely off the center seemed transparent,
and the growth marks showed in beautiful
concentric rings. Its natural appearance
was handsomer than any dressed marble or
mosaic l ever have seen, and we all ex-
pressed the opinion that it would make a
wonderfully beautiful floor and interior
finish for some grand building.
Il don't often tell this story, because
people do not believe it, but / could go to
the place now without the least trouble and
point out this wonder. Judge Courtney
here is an extract from a letter / recently
received. from him, which corroborates my
tale:
"'Tulare, Jan. s. 1894.
My dear old friend: have scarcely ever
told about that tree. l once met our old
companion, Mr.. Whitesides, and told him
my recollection about the tree-that it was
sixty feet in diameter and 666 feet long
and perfectly petrified. / told him ! scarce
ly ever mentioned it, the story being too big
for credence. He said:
Tell 1t when and where you please l
stand ready to make affidavit to those fig
ures'
I afterward met old Allen Hardin, and he
said the same thing. 1 can call to the stand
to verify the statement, Col McKinsey,
Holt Fine, Sam King, T. Q. Shirley, your
self and any member of our company that
may be within reach. have often Won
dered why great curiosity like that should
remain unobserved so 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"