The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-06-25
JUSTICE FIELDS GREAT OAK.
Said to BE the Largest in California and
to Cover SeYeraI Acres


to Cover Several Acres.
Long before California became a part
of American territory there existed in
the vicinity of Monterey, ans there still
stands there after half century Of oc-
cupation, wonderful specimen of the
live oak indigenous to this state. it
was marvel to the MeXicans OF these
days, and was pointed out as one of
the curiosities of the land to the few
visitors TO the coast.
Among those to whom the natural
wonder had been shown in the DAYS of
Mexican domination was a young
passed midshipman of the United States
navy, whose ship had anchored in
Monterey bay. His name was Timothy
Beals Field. and he is now long since
dead. The midshipman belonged to a
family whose members have been dis
tinguished in science and business. in
the pulpit and in literature, at the bar
and on the bench of the supreme court.
He was so amazed by the sight of the
marvellous tree that he skctched ii and
/ wrote an account of it to his father, Il
clergyman residing among the Bcrk-
shire hills of Massachusetts. This Incl
dent was long forgotten. 1t was only
last year, on the occasion of his visit to
California. that the recollection came
to the mind of Justice Stephen j. Field.
tAparty was made up. The tree was
FOUND. 1t proved to be even more ex-
traordinary than as described by the
young midshipman to his father.
After exploring its lahyrinths, the
party returned to San Francisco. Soon
after Justice Field went east on his
official duties, and while there Mrs.
Field wrote an account of their visit to
the tree which reads.
rounding the lagoon we saw ahead
of us large sandhill with a crown Of
green, and as we passed the hamlet of
Seaside we learned that we were APP
preaching our Mecca. A climb in the
sand and up a few rickety steps brought
us under the sheltering branches of the
largest tree so far known to Califor!
nians-not in height Though its height
is great, but in its capacity to shelter.
remarked that ] thought 500 persons
could stand comfortably beside me, but
learned man in our party said rather
5000. Since the midshipman wrote OF
it the tree must have expanded vastly,
for it now covers more acres than one.
It's trunk is not to he seen; the fine
light sand has drifted in to the depth
of so or 40 feet, and covered and pro-
tected this relic. Its branches remind
one of the LAGOON; it seemed almost
as if they not only could shelter, but
would embrace us, too. Each branch
is the size of an ordinary tree, and there
are numbers of them spreading out
latitudinously, with other branches on
these, shooting upward to the sun, tho
foliage being all on top and very dense.
THE tree is of the variety known as
the California live oak, quercus wren ::
its leaves are small, fresh and crisp, and
of vitality unimpaired by years, and
they do not fall with the seasons.
ut is said that no one has ever pet
seen leaf of the live oak unfold or fall.
The outside form of the tree is beau
ISt8Iul, being entirely circular, and as you
sit under its shelter and admire YOU
cannot but speculate as to its age: its
gnarled and crooked branches proclaim
great antiquity, its lovely green per-
petual youth.
1T may be added that ever since the
rediscovery of the tree it is popularity
known as Justice Fields oak San
Francisco Chronicle.