WARRANT FOR ARREST

The August 28, 1902 edition of the Evening Transcript of San Bernardino was emblazoned with the following headline “WARRANT – For a Millionaire Charged With Obstructing United States Mails.” The millionaire in question was Henry Cowell. The lime baron was logging his vast possessions near Big Trees Grove and adjacent to the railroad tracks. The warrant for arrest was issued because large redwoods were being cut by Cowell’s workmen and falling across the railroad tracks, delaying the trains. Mr. H.P. Thrall, superintendent of railway mail initiated the protest of Cowell’s actions. In reply, Cowell claimed he’d “… granted the right of way to the railroad company with the understanding that his tree cutting business was not to be interrupted by the trains” and that the railroad would just have to wait if any of the Big Trees happened to land upon the tracks. Superintendent Thrall insisted that Cowell’s logging operations were delaying the United States mail. Trains were reportedly delayed Aug. 14, 15, 16 and 22 for several hours. Superintendent Thrall alleged that the mails were, on one occasion, delayed four and a half hours. The superintendent, along with Postal Inspector Munro sought the warrant for the millionaire’s arrest.

Author's Personal Collection

Cowell was brought before United States Court Commissioner E. H. Heacock on the “charge of obstructing the United States mails by causing or permitting his employees to fell large redwood trees across the Narrow Gauge railway track at the Big Trees station, between Felton and Santa Cruz … The prosecution, conducted by Assistant United States Attorney Banning, proved that the mails had been delayed in the manner stated. The defense, conducted by E.S. Pilisbury, proved that the bank adjoining the railway track at the point of obstruction was so steep that it was impossible for the most experienced workmen to prevent the cut trees from rolling down upon the railway track.” 

Judge Heacock dismissed the case on the grounds that Cowell had a right to cut trees on his own land, so long as there was no intention on his part to obstruct the railroad trains or the mails.

According to the September 4, 1902 Santa Cruz Evening Sentinel, “No one in Santa Cruz is surprised at this decision. It has always been known that Cowell owned the timber along the railroad, and that when the right of way was given to the railroad company that he reserved the right to cut it."

Cowell’s logging operation was in full view of visitors making their way to the Welch family’s Big Trees Grove resort. One visitor in 1903 described his feelings upon crossing the suspension bridge between the Cowell and Welch properties. “[The] righteous anger against the rich old sinner who had devastated this region melted after we crossed the line of his vast possessions and entered his neighbor’s territory, [Welch’s Big Trees Grove] where redwoods in all their primeval grandeur still stood.”

So why is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park named for the man who cut down the trees?  The answer comes from the succeeding generation. Henry’s last remaining heir, Samuel “Harry” Cowell, was an avid outdoorsman. It was Samuel’s donation of land once logged by his father, combined with the former Welch’s Big Trees Grove [sold to the county by the Welch family in 1930] which gave us the park we enjoy today. Samuel’s generous gift gave him naming rights for the new park in 1954. The son honored his father and in doing so gave our park the irony of being named after a man who probably cut down more redwoods in the San Lorenzo Valley than anyone else. Unfortunately this naming overlooked the pivitol role played by the Welch family, who were the first to preserve this grove of coast redwoods.

Sources: “WARRANT For a Millionaire Charged With Obstructing United States Mails,” Evening Transcript [San Bernardino], August 28, 1902; “Henry Cowell Discharged,” Los Angeles Herald, 3 September 3, 1902; “Henry Cowell Justified in Cutting the Trees,” Santa Cruz Evening Sentinel, September 4, 1902; Six and a Half Tenderfeet: Toward the Sunrise on “The Sunset.” The Record of a Journey in the Land of Sunshine, 1903.