HANGMAN'S OAK.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 2852, 22 June 1896, Page 1

HANGMAN'S OAK.

A Tree ou which Forty Men were Hanged,

Thoro is in California, in Calaveras County, a tree from which forty mon havo been banged. Hangman's Oak, as it is called, is on a level tract of laud close to tho side of tiro old road between Milton and Copperopolis. It is naturally ono of tho most famous monuments of that part of tho country. Tho tree stands by tho roadside and a groat branch stretches over tho highway, brown and bare, save for a little clump of foliage at its end. According to tho San Francisco Call, when the tree first sprang into fame Stockton was known to tho minors as Tuloville, and tho hills around Copperopolis were filled with camps that boro musical names, such as Kagtown or Whiskey Chute. Tho tree was an old ono then, so that it must by this time have soon nearly a century of life. There was no more ceremony attending an execution on the Hangman's Oak than was gone through with in other parts of tho State at about tho same time. The culprit was taken to tho spot in the handiest way. Sometimes in a waggon and at others ho was compelled to sustain his balance on tho soft side of a rail carried on the shoulders of tho executioners. When tho spot was reached tho man who was to be made to “ shuffle off ” was placed on tho end of a waggon with a rope around his nock, one end of which was fastened to tho limb above his head. Sometimes, when they wanted to give a man a good “ drop,” lie was made to stand ou a box or barrel placed on tho end of tho waggon. The most famous crop which the “ hangman’s tree ” has over borne was reaped in tho early fifties. On this occasion a man had been executed just us a party of friends, who believed him innocent, came up to rescue him. A fierce fight ensued and tho rescuing party, being the best shots, camo off victorious. Twenty men shed their blood on this day. At the end of the fight five of tho hanging party who executed the first man were left alive. They surrendered and asked for mercy, but were not given it, and in less than five minutes their bodies wore swinging beside that of their victim. Fourteen dead bodies strewed the ground around tho tree. At least a dozen fights of this kind have taken place beneath the old tree, and people say tho ground is “soaked with blood.”