 The tree was felled on September 23 during a ceremony attended by between 2 @,@ 500 and 3 @,@ 000 people . Among those in attendance were state forester D. B. Griffin , the president of the Island Creek Coal Company , E. P. Rice , and representatives from other companies that had previously owned and leased the land where the tree was located . In addition to standard cameras photographing the event , two movie cameras were brought to capture the felling and its associated events . Uniformed West Virginia Game , Fish , and Forestry Commission officers , Mingo County sheriffs ' deputies , and other law enforcement personnel were also on hand to provide security and direct traffic . 
