The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1915-11-03
HISTORIC HANCMAN'S TREE
FALLS VICTIM TO FLAMES
Famous Old Landmark of Grewsome
Fame Probably Destroyed BY
Fire of Unknown Origin.

Hangman 8 tree, a cottonwood of
unusual size standing alongside the
old emigrant trail near the A. M.
Trolson ranch, caught fire in an un-
known manner last Friday and was
partially destroyed. The incident is
made worthy of mention by reason
of the fact that this particular tree
has antecedents of historic import
ance. Standing as a lone sentinel by
the path of the early day argonaut
1t pointed the way westward to a
multitude in search of California
treasure. Many of these people
sought its shelter in those days
from the hot rays of summer and
under its spreading limbs thousands
of campfires cooked viands steaming
hot for hardy spirits who welcomed
its benign Offices. For many years
it served useful purposes and was
only isolated from cross-the-conti-
nent travel when Leland Stanford
and his associates completed the rail-
way link that brought the two sea-
boards into direct communication
by steam.
But this beacon of early day west
bound traffic served other and more
sinister purposes. II is recorded
that its largest limb, pointed before
Fridays fire toward the Carson riv-
er, was girdled on three different oc
casions by a hangman's moose by
means of which the authoritative
element hereabouts wreaked sum-
mary vengeance in pioneer days on
three different parties alleged to be
guilty of horse thievery.
The presence of hangman's tree
and the tragedies that occurred
within its locality undoubtedly had
salutory effect ON many individuals
of evil design, who as hardy in
spirit as the gold seeker bat lacking
his honesty of purpose, were swarm
ing across Nevada In those days in
search of dishonest gain.
This particular tree, like the men
who used its shade, was q pioneer in
these parts and was yenerated as all
pioneers should be. There is un-
published tradition woven about its
earlier life that would form incent-
i've for a lurid yoluasle. At was among
the first of the cottonwoods that
were flung down into tho desert S
bosom from more fertile stretches
upstream. II appearances count for
anything, the tree attained its pres
ent growth with no affinity nearby,
and as we are told that trees have
sexes and thrive best in company the
old cottonwood may have been as
| lonely as it looked, which surely was
loneliness of the boiled down varie-
| ty, for early day settlers assure us
that practically all of the tree life
of this valley has been attained
It came as a hardy adventurous in
dividual, to point the way for others
of its kind, and with a vigor char
acteristic of its species, it will un-
doubtedly arise from its misfortunes
and again send out limbs and as
sumo something of its former grand
proportions. And there will be
many western people who will learn
of the partial destruction of this
landmark with an interest that will
be tinged with sadness for its pass
ing will mark in their minds a period
in their lives when things were vast
| ly different than they are now. Days
when hospitality was free and prof
fered, although a transgression of
the rigid rules necessary for the pro-
lection of life and property was
marked then by the incidents that
gave hangman' tree its more or less
Objectionable name.