Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-16
THE JUMBO OF TREES.
A Petrified Monster Sixty Feet Through
and 600 Feet In Length.

A Fortified Monster 5ixty Feet Through
and 600 Feet in Length.
The largest tree In the world lies broken
and petriGed IT the end OF a defle I'm
Northwestern, Nevada. Its Dimensions are
SO great that those who know OF its ex-
istence hesitate TO tell the story because
they hardly expect to be believed, but
there Is sufficient evidence to give the
tale credit, improbable thought 1t may
seem. says the San Francisco Examiner.
This tree makes the monarchs of the
Mariposa grove Seem like imposters, ard
compared to II 1.-THE tallest pine grown on
Norwegian hills to be the mast OF some
great admiral is but wand. AS for the
story OF its discovery. 1t Is thus told by
Dad" Lynn, OF Fresno. and supported by
other equally well-known people:
Back in lSCO a company Of about forty
five left Red Bluff to prospect the then
unknown country beyond Honey Lake ard
Surprise Valley. There were In the party
lawyers, butchers. and shoemakers, but
we were one-sided on ore point-each In
dividual felt positive that this was the
turning point OF his existence, and that
bright. shining gold In unlimited quanti-
ties would reward the rather unpleasant
launt.
",rhe Indians--we called them Ban
nacks-were at that time raising hair,
and very many sudden moves were at
times necessary I'm order to get rid of their
unwelcome attentions. Finding but little
gold I'm this section, we travelled toward
Baker county, Ore, through country
entirely denuded OF timber. except few
dwarf cottonwoods 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 loomed precipices SOD and
coo 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 ard sizes.
I'm their midst on the ground lay a
monster tree, somewhat imbedded in the
soil. 1t was completely petrifed and,
from the clean-cut fractures OF the trunk,
seemed to have fallen after its petrifica-
ton. At its butt this tree was quite sixty
feet in diameter. We measured its length
with a tape-line 1t was Just GG6 feet long.
No limbs remained. but in the trunk
were clefts where apparently limbs had
broken off. Amber-lke beads of petri-
fled pitch or gum adhered to the sides
of the trunk for a distance OF 100 feet or
more.
where the huge trunk was broken
saIarely off the centre seemed transpa-
| rent, and the growth marks showed in
| beautiful concentric rings. It's natural
appearance was handsomer than any
dressed marble, or mosaic | have ever
seen, and We all expressed the opinion
that II would make a wonderfully beauti-
full floor and interior finish for some grand
! building.
oil this haqamgp
| people do not believe 1t. but / could go
! TO the place now without the least trouble
and point out this wonder Judge Court
ney Talbot, of Tulare, was one OF our
party. and here is an extract from LETT
| ter | recently received from him, which
corroborates my tale:
'TULARE, January S, 1891.
".My Dear Old Friend,-l have scarcely
ever told about that tree. | once met our
old companion. Mr.. Nhitesides. and told
him my recollection about the tree-that
was sixty feet in diameter. and 66j feet
long, and perfectly petriiied. l told MN
| scarcely ever mentioned II, the story
being too big for credence. He said:
""Tell II when and where you please.
I stand ready to make affidavit TO those
figures"
81 afterward met old Allen Hardin. and
he said the same thing. / can call to the
stand to verify the statement Colonel
McKinsey, Holt Fine. Sam King. I. q.
Shirley, yourself and any member OF our
company that may be within reach. !
have often wondered why great curl
osity like that should remain unobserved
SO long.
Now, | stand ready TO prove all this 10
any Doubling Thomas who wishes to look
upon one of natures grandest freaks
and who will pay the expenses Of the
/ trip"