Eureka High School - Sequoia Yearbook (Eureka, CA)

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A more beautiful country I had never seen. There were large park-like meadows, each nestled in a small valley of its own and surrounded by hills covered with thickets and forests. Through this most promising deer country I made my way that evening for miles, and though I used every art of woodcraft that I possessed, I failed to secure any game. The big red sun that had been a torture during the day slowly descended and left behind shadows which I realized would soon change to dark- nessg therefore upon reaching the source of the stream, I at once started on my return journey. The different parts of the country were just distinguishable. The sharp outline of the western hills, the darker splashes of brush and trees that lay checkered over the land, and the large shallow valley trailing its way towards camp, gave me sufficient landmarks with which to pick my difficult course. I was progressing very well and was passing one of those numerous open glades when I saw something about thirty feet away that was vaguely different from the tree life about me and which at first was indistinct but, as I looked, took the mighty form of a bear staring straight at me. I realized, as the monster stood there calmly eyeing me, that here was my opportunity--an opportunity that even a president would not sneer at. I immediately took advantage of the short distance by taking deliberate aim at the animal's neck, hoping luck would favor me, and pulled the trigger. Hill after hill took up the crashing, thundering detonation of my shot as it broke the stillness. The bear, instead of charging toward me as I had expected, fell in a heap. It was with a throb of joy that I comprehended the fact that I had killed a bear. But this soon proved false for the biting and clawing, followed by vicious grunts and growls, showed only too well that the animal was still alive. Even after I had sent several more bullets through the animal's head I still remained somewhat nervous for, in the fast falling darkness, a bear seemed behind every bush and tree. Was that the revengeful mate creeping through yonder brush? What made that noise behind those trees? Wfhy did everything else seemed so intolerably quiet? These and similar questions thronged through my brain. . As soon as possible I built a large fire and signalled, by firing two quick shots between timed intervals, for one of my companions If I should base my beliefs on that one experience I would say that a bear like a snake does not die till sundown. VVith the help of my partner, who came a short time after dark, the hide was duly dressedg and about eleven o'clock the stars, the moon and all the remaining bears that were interested beheld two weary hunters feeling their way camp-wards to be welcomed at the end of their rough walk with a hot supper and a roaring fire. ni: :qc 5'2 u'.:.g's 'cf w-X M1 NM n- 5 :Ar X55 ffl! ,wr rl ' ' ,ir 'hi fl, 199' il PAGE SIXTEEN

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the camp was in an uproar, the remaining Indians forgetting their weapons and thinking only of some way to escape. As they were attempting to scramble up the precipice they were picked off by the whites. Every time that Indian I'ete', fired, his savage blood would overcome him and he would jump up and let out a blood-curdling yell. lly the time they had finished their work. it was nearly dark, and, as they were very hungry, they prepared their supper near the scene of the-slaughter. After their refreshment, the three rode from the Mattole to the Little Van Duzen River, arriving in the early morning. There they learned that Indians had stolen another band of cattle, so, after a good rest, they set out on the trail. They found the Indians' camp at the foot of Lassack's Peak, which is a mountain at the headwaters of the Little Yan Duzen. They waited around until after dark and then one of the white men prepared to do a little scouting. Ile crawled up close to the Indians and discovered that the guard had fallen asleep Putting his knife between his teeth, he sneaked up, pounced upon the lndian and cut his throat without making the slightest noise. He then gathered up all the Indians' weapons and sneaked away. The next morning they went boldly in and captured the entire party, fourteen in number, among whom was the chief, Lassack. They tied the Indians' hands and then marched them down through the valley of the Little Van Duzen to Laribee Yalley. llere they untied them so that they might eat and rest com- fortably. llut, as the Indians did not appreciate this act of kindness and made a dash for liberty, they were unmercifully shot down by the white men. The place where this slaughter took place is now called The Last Run. 6. gr A J f3s4'3+.5:':I-whiff te, s , i,,'a:u f .3439 610 ., A Iflwr Stnrg Fkiin lloLMi-is. '10. I N the summer of 1908, three of us fellows started on our initial T225 hunting trip to Trinity Summits, a mountain range forming part of the boundary between Humboldt and Trinity Counties, and lying about sixteen miles -from Hoopa. Good luck accompamed us from the start, and before the end of the trip each of us killed his two deer, the limit set by law, and I had the good fortune to kill a bear. This is how it happened. XfVe had been three days without meat, when one evening I decided, in order to save the camp's reputation, to try to procure game. Our camp was pitched on the bank of a stream that had its headwaters several miles beyond, and above this stream I decided to hunt. PAGE FIFTEEN 'J' - -4 ,.-'l'i?.' ' it- ffif- vi ' ' 1 ,Hausa - nl':'S.'..--114.--f '7?'l' - - .,.. a,. , H, g ,M ye I ,., IF s A I P P 11 n i at

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PAGE SEVENTEEN KNICICLANIJ I'R.uRI1c AS SEEN FROM ICIYRHKA