Page 62 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

60 WISCONSlN BISTOHlCAL COIILECTLOSS.
" This remarkable curiosity was presented to us by the dis-
coverer, GEORGE S. HANDY, Esq. $is gentleman, who resides
about seven miles from this villago (Baraboo, Sauk Go.,) in the
town of Freedom, preparatory to cutting down a large white-
oak, about two feet in diameter, situated in an oak opening
about a half a mile north of the Baraboo river, cut off as he
supposed o short dead limb, which projected from the truik at
a height of about five feet from the ground. Pinding it uncom-
monly hard, he examined it, as well as two other similar projec-
tions, and ascertained them to be bone or horn. He took pains
when the tree was cut down, to split the trunk carefully, and
found therein completely imbedded in the heart of the oak, a
large horn, which is pronounced by hunters to be that of an elk,
with antlers projecting on one side, and the main body of the
horn on the other. The horn was about four feet long, and was
accidentally broken off; the stump, about eighteen inches long,
which remains partially imbedded in the wood, measures in
diameter two and a quarter inches one way, and three the other.
The horn was that of an animal about four years of age, and
has served as a lnonunlent to some hero of the forest, in a man-
ner no less surprising to us, than unexpected to himself.
"Horn did it come there? When did it get in? How long
has it been there? These arc the first qllestions that spring up
in the minds of all who hare seen this most singular combi-
nation.
'' The tree parted into two limbs'at a height of about eleven
feet from the ground, and the butt of the antler which was
upper~l~ost, was only about seven fcet high. The heart of these
two limbs unite about fifteen inches belom' the point where the
secorltl nntlcr branches out. The heart of these two limbs
unites about fifteen inches bclow the point where the second
antler branches out. Eetween the bark and the butt of the
horn, which seemed to occupy the place of the heart of the tree,
over one hundred rings in the wood were counted, after which
they were indistinguishable. The tree was perfectly sound, and
tho wood the most solid description of white oak. These obser-