Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1903-09-18
TIE r,G TREES OF CALIFORNIA.
Capt. Lucas Enjoys Picnicking Among
the Giant Trees.


the Giant Trees.
SANTA Cruz, Cal, Aug. %, 1903.
My DEAR FRIEND STANLEY:
Well, we have been to see the "big
trees" and they are giants sure enough.
a picnic party of 81 went out to the
basin few days ago. We we're invited
to join in the visit and am free to say
never did l spend day more pleasant
ly. 1t was a communion with natures
beauties. AS one stands amidst the
towering monuments of greatness,
striving to gaze to the tops of the i'm
mense trees, he feels his own littleness
and insignificance
About these trees clusters early his
tory enough to make large book. The
beginning is in 1845 when General FIRE.
mont was exploring this part of the
country. Arriving here in the late fall,
he determined to stop and rest his
weary command until spring. His
an we're nearly barefoot, his harness
was worn out and both men and beasts
fatigued until rest was absolutely
necessary. Game was abundant and
fish plenty in the San Lorenzo river on
whose banks the trees tower to the
clouds. Only few miles south and
the bay would afford full supply of
salt water food.
Accordingly the intrepid Path
Finder" Pitched his camp in the midst
giants was hollow from the ground up
ten or twelve feet, in this the general
established his headquarters and spent
the winter There is room enough in
| it for the accommodation of eight men,
| with cooking room. AS sat down in
it felt that | would prefer to camp
outside. and yet all these years it has
stood as a monarch among trees. 1t is
Go feet in circumference and 36O feet
high. Near 10y it stands "Gen. Grant,
o6 feet in circumference and 800 feet
high; "Gen. Sherman" 5S 300; "Y. M
G. A." 96-325, this is group; "Gen
Harrison" 81 $50; ''Teddy Roosevelt .
oS $50; "Presbyterian Church." GO $40
There are many others dedicated tc
governors and other illustrious men
who have visited the basin In the
midst of them is an old tanners vat
hewn out of the body of tree felled
by Fremont's men, in which they
tanned the skins of wild animals killed
for meat, out of which shoes we're made
for the men, and harness repaired
The old vat is we'll preserved, notwith-
standing its 5S years.
The branches interlace so that rarely
can a spot be found where sunbeam
strikes the ground. There is no under
brush to speak of. Indeed it is nature.
temple in which monarchs and giants
preside.
The party spent the day most de
lightfully on the grounds, which are
comfortably provided with tables, seat:
ard dancing platform. A clear noun
tain spring furnishes supply of sweet
water. So when the STAR family g
picnicking l advise you to come to the
'Big Trees"
We like the climate and city NOR,
and more as we see more of it. 1t il
all we expected. The fruit season il
on and every body is busy taking care
of fruit of one sort or another. | hav,
tried my hand at packing pears ant
will put in this week at it. My son
have 600, or more, boxes to pick, pacl
and market and then follows prune
and then apples. They have an i'm
mense crop of apples.
In another letter may tell you abou
the productions of this section. An
growing better all tho time.
Yours as ever, W. LUCAS.
Conference Appointments.
The following are the appointment