Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-03-28
BIGGEST TREE IN THE WORLD.
%Petrihed Trunk in Northwestern NevadJ
Said to Be CGG Feet In Length.


Said to BE cGG Feet In Length.
The largest tree in the world lies
)rOken ard petrified at the end of a
defile in Northwestern Nevada. Its
dimensions are so great that those
who know Of its existence hesitate tC
tell the story because they hardly eX-
pect to be believed, hut there is sulIi,
ciet evidence to give the tale credit,
improbable though it may seem.
This tree makes the monarchs o. the
1l,ri pOso grove seem like impOs-
tiers, and compar d to 1.-THE tallest
pine grown on Norwegian hills to he
the mast OF some great admiral is
but wand" As for the story of
its discovery, it was thus told to a
writer for the San Francisco Exam
iaer by Dad" Lynn of Fresno, and
supported DY other equally well
known people:
Back in 1850 a company of about
forty-6ve lie Red B!uH TO prospect
the unknown country beYOnd Honey
Lake and Surprise Valley. There
were in the part LAWYERS, butchers,
and shoemakerS but we were one.
sided on one point; e2cl individual
felt positive that this was the turn.
ing point of his existence, and that
the bright shining gold in unlimite (
quantities would reward the rather
unpleasant iaunt The Indians-we
called them BannCCkS-were at that
time raising hair, and very many sud-
den moves were at times necessary N
order to get rid of their unweIcome
attentions. Finding but little gold
in this section we Travelled toward
Baker County. Oregon. through g
country entirely denuded of timber,
exc pt few dwarf cottOnwoods along
the waterways. Close to the Baker
County line we came to an opening
in the rocks about wide enough fol
our wag Us TO so through, and on
either side l0omed p.ecipices 500
and coo feet high. The crevasSe
was about afteen miles long, and at
its end, just at the right of the trail.
we found number of petrifled tree
stUmps of di.Tereut heights and sizes.
In their midst on the ground lay
IA monster tree, somewhat imbedded
in the soil. 1t was completely pet.
riie1, and from the c,can-cut
fractures of the trunk seemed to
have fallen after its petrifaction. At
its butt this tree was sixty feet in di-
ameter We measured its length
with ia. line. 1t was just 66t
feet long. No limbs remained, but
in the trunk were clefts where ap
parentIY limbs had broken of. Am
berliKe beats of petritled Pitch OF
gum adhered 10 the sides OF the
trunk for a distance OF 100 feet OF
more. When the huge tree was
broken siuarely OF the center
seemed trans aren't, and the growth
marks showed in beautiful COncentr c
rings. Its natural appearance was
handsOmer than any dressed marble
or mosaic l ever have seen, and we
all expressed the opinion that il
, would MAKE Il wonderfully beautiful
floor and interior finish for some
grand build ng.
II don't often tell this story be.
. cause people don't believe it, but [
, could go to the place now without the
, least trouble and point out this won
der Judge Courtney Talbot of Tu-
! larc, was one OF our party, and here
is an extract from letter l recently
received from him which corrOboratcs
my tale:
TuLAEE. JAN. 8, 1894. M Dear OlI FTieaa
: | have scarcely even told about that tree.
once met our old companion. Mr. White
sides, ana told him my recoIle 3tion about
the tseo-that it was 60 feet in diameter and
perfectly petrified. told him 1 scarcely
ever mentioned it. the story being too big
for crcdence. He said:
Tell it when and where you please.
stand ready 10 make affidavit to those
figures"
uttcrward met old Allen Hardin, and he
said the same thing. l can call to the stand
to verify the statement Col. Mckinsey. Holt
!. Fine, sam King. L. Q. Shirley yOU self. and
any member Of our company that may be
within reach. / have often wondered why
a great curiosity like that should remaiT
UuOhserved so long
"NOw | stand ready to prove this
to any Doubling Thomas who wishes
to look upon one of natures grandest
freaks and who will pay the expense:
VI the trip"