The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1897-11-21
TREE AnsoRes A BRAIN.


singular Freak of Nature Dncovered In
California.
There is a tree over on Bay Farm
island that little addition to Alameda,
into which a man has grown, says the
San Francisco Call. The tree appar-
entity has absorbed the brain OF a man
into its sap veins, and the man who
made the discovery now regards the
tree with a superstitlous awe, as II II
we're partly human The tree is an
ordinary fir tree that has been grow
ing for at least half a century. some
time ago Frank Silva. who lives upon
the island, was digging at the ioot OF
the tree. completing a trench when
ran Just at the base OF the fir. AS he
was working away among the roots
that impeded his work he turned up
some human bones. The unearthlhs
OF a skeleton is always interesting anu
Mr.. Silva directed his search TOT the
rest OF the bones. These he located
after a little work, and he tound
complete skeleton. The bones had
been buried for a long while, for they
were donuded OF every vestige OF hesh
and were bleached and white. From
the position in which the bones were
found Il was very evident that the
body had been tumbled into the grave
without much ceremony, Tor II was
found face down and in crouchlnB
position. as IL the body had been hur-
riedly thrown into its last resting
place. Upon the exposure 10 the ar
! the bones fell one from another'
though they did not crumble into Dust.
They we're all carefully removed from
the hole save the skull. and Mr.. silva
made an effort to remove that. But
he found II impossible TO bring It from
the position in which It lay, because
one OF the roots of the fir tree. at the
base OF which II lay, had grown en-
tirely through the skull. 1t was found
necessary to chop the root away en-
tIrely before the skull could be re-
moved. The root had penetrated
crack IN the skull and had forced JUS
way through the head and out at the
opposite side. When it dawned upon
Frank Silva that the tree had grown
through the skull and had actually
absorbed the brain of a man into It's
wooden trunk he regarded the tree
with awe. He has since refused TO al
low the tree TO be cut in any way
Deputy Coroner Smiley of Alameda
took charge OF the remains, though no
Inquest was ever held.
"The skeleton was undoubtedly that
OF an Indian" said Mr.. Smiley The
bones were found on the south shore
of the island. about fifteen feet from
the bank. beneath a fr tree that mas
been a landmark on the island before
the first settler planted his asparagus
bed. The skeleton was in a crouchins
position and covered by the roots OF
the tree, while clear through the skull
a root almost as thick as my arm had
grown. 1t was necessary TO use O
hatchet TO remove the skull. IL Is
my opinion that the fir tree has been
growing on the island nearly hair
century. The bones had probably
rested beneath the tree forty years, Il
may be that one OF the Indians Wht
we're the original inhabitants OF tb'
island was murdered and buried neal
the young tree. l cannot understand
how the root could have penetrated
and grown through the skull unless
there was hole in II. The skull wa'
! perfect specimen when ] secured II
except that It had been perforated b,
the root ! am not sufficient OF
scientist to express any opinion as L
how much Of the man. II any. grew
into that tree through the root. fo'
have got to ask some OF these scientih'
fellows about that. but II is certain
that the tree must have obtained SOM
; nutriment from the brain Of that man
, II may have changed its form In th'
tree, but ! think that the brain wa
absorbed BY sAA roA"