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Show THE WONDERS OF CALIFORNIA. 143 creation, as it were, where nature seems to have proceeded on a special plan, too Cyclopean for the common world outside. Of course, the first object for to- day is the great fallen tree and stump, the latter now covered with a handsome summer- house, and fitted up as a pavilion for dancing. The tree as it stood was 302 feet in height, and 96 feet in circumference 3 feet from the ground. But there is a little of the " brag " in this measurement, as most of these trees spread greatly near the ground, and do not assume a symmetrical SOMETHING OF A STUMP. and tree- like shape before reaching the height of ten feet or more. The bark was eighteen inches thick, and the total diameter 28 feet. Five men were twenty days felling it, the object being to have it sawed into cross- sections to be shipped eastward and to Europe. The wprk was done Avith long augers, boring it off little by little ; but when en-tirely severed, such was the perfect plumb of trunk and branches, that, to the amazement of spectators, the tree merely settled down and still stood as if refusing, conscious of its majesty, to bow to human endeav-ors. Vast wedges were then inserted on the northern side, and driven little by little till, heaved beyond the line of gravity, the mighty growth came crashing to the ground. It would seem that nature must have yielded an audible groan at this desecration. A bowling alley was constructed upon the upper portion of the trunk, but not proving remunerative, has been removed. The " butt cut" of the tree lies as it fell, the top reached by means of a ladder |
