Santa Clara High School - Tocsin Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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THE TOCSIN-1922 Slowly he made his way homeward. As he came near the church he saw the congregation pouring out. About a block from home his pain ceased, but he did not turn back or even hesitate. Wheii he reached the gate he saw his mother coming down the street and he knew he was safe. When he sat down to dinner he got his ear boxed for stealing some frosting from the cake made from Mrs. Duncan 's new recipe. Jim Byers, '24, i.-. The Tidal Wave A '1'rue Story BOUT forty years ago, more or less, there was a terrible tidal wave in Loreto, Lower California. The little town of Loreto was built around a natural harbor, while behind it were low foothills, sparsely dotted with scrubby mesquite bushes and a few choyas. Although the hills were for the most part bar- ren and ugly, and the town itself was not especially lovely, there was a charm in the harbor itself, and in the climate. The harbor was some- times deep blue with somber tints, or very blue in a capricious mood, with the soft winds whipping the smiling surface into little Whitecaps, and sending on their way, small sparkling waves tipped with green-white foam. These gay little waves would roll into the beach and break, with long sudsy fingers of white spray slithering over the sand, then receding. This morning the harbor and long white beach were especially beau- tiful, the weather was ideal, and the simple fisher-folk and people of Loreto were either beginning to enjoy the day in pleasant idling, or mak- ing the most of it in happy toil. The morning was half spent before the people realized that something peculiar was happening in their harbor. The water was slowly receding, inch by inch, as if drawn by some irre- sistible force. The wiser people muttered ominous warnings among themselves and prepared to flee to the hills for safety. But the others flocked to the beach, curious to see this unusual occurrence. They saw, as the water withdrew, the sandy, rocky bottom of the harbor covered with strange plants and shells. Then, as the water did not come back, they became afraid and awed. They were simple folk who did not under- stand, and they ran to the church to pray, instead of fleeing. They knelt there, and prayed and prayed, their moans and wailing interrupting their prayers. A half-wit, named Juan, ran here and there, tears streaming Page 18

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' THE TOCSIN-1922 This little scene of action completed, he relaxed and began to talk to himself. I will not stay here another hour. I can't stand it and I won't stand it. Yes, I'll go now and get out of going to church. With this conclusion he drew on a pair of overalls, fthe ones that had been on the floorj, and a torn shirt that was covered with whitewash that was not there because of voluntary efforts on the part of the self- satisfying William. After a diligent search he produced from under the bed two very necessary articles, which only the day before he had brought back to their safe hiding place. They had previously been confiscated by no less an authority than Willie's mother. The first article was a dirty black cap, torn and battered, which was a trifle too large and hung down over his ears, thus giving him the appearance of a hard boiled guy . The other forbidden article was a sling-shot, a terror to the neighbors' live stock. Thus attired and armed he slowly opened the window, and carefully pulling it down behind him, jumped to the ground. As he rounded the corner of the house he saw his mother going down the street. Her, mused Willie, and her good hat too, she must be going to Mrs. Duncan 's to get that new-fangled cake recipe she was talking about last night. Well, if I ain't in luck, nobody ever was! He hopped the fence and started in a course directly opposite from that which his mother had taken. As he went along he began to lay his plans. He would sleep in the woods during the day and travel at night as Huck Finn did. He could steal enough to eat. Yes, he could lead a great life of fishing, hunting, sleeping, and never going to church. While thus musing he had walked about three blocks, his feet in- stinctively carrying him over old familiar ground, when he found himself opposite an apple orchard. Oh boy, he gurgled rapturously, luck is sure with me today. I'll get some of these for my lunch. This was no sooner said than done. He was over the fence in a flash and was picking the apples, which were exceedingly undeveloped and green. As he started on his way he began munching one, although it was puckeringly sour, it tasted good, for he was hungry. He ate another, and another, until he could eat no more. Persently he felt a strange feeling coming over him. Sharp pains shot through his stomach. He could stand no longer, so he sat down by a tree. I guess, he said with an effort, I'l1, 0-ow, go home, ooo!! and get-what a pain !-some ginger tea. Page 17 '

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TH E TOCSIN-1922 from his dark brown eyes, crying and falling down in the streets to pray, and shrieking that the day of doom had come, and begging the good Father to have mercy on them. Abjeet terror and dismay were reflected in every countenance. But the water kept receding, a quarter of a mile, a half mile, a mile, and outside the gates of the harbor. Then in the late afternoon came a low rumble, followed by a mighty trembling of the earth, and seaward a huge mountain of water appeared, coming closer and closer, sweeping in with relentless force-in, through and over the harbor it came. The screams and cries of the people of the town were terrible. Came another crash, and the tidal wave struck the town-chaos. The ships that had been lying idly at anchor in the smiling harbor were thrown up into the hills-and the mighty, relentless sea having ac- complished this dreadful deed, withdrew and filled up the harbor again. It so happened that at this time my great-grandmother was traveling from San Jose to Loreto. In those days people had to travel in large com- panies for safety, and usually went when the freight companies sent their pack mules along the trail. This was the manner in which my grand- mother was travelling, accompanied by her aunt. They had crossed a rocky plateau and were just beginning to journey through a rugged stretch of mountain region. This canyon was one of the most difficult and dangerous parts of the journey. The trail was very narrow and shelf-like, close to one canyon wall, while below it lay a deep yawning chasm. It was indeed so narrow that the mules went single file, with very little room to spare on either side. The company was very silent, and sensitive to the danger of their situation. They were threading their way very carefully, and had passed the first turn of the canyon. They now began the roughest part. The surrounding scenery was not beautiful, consisting chiefly of ugly brown and red roughly-hewn bowlders and rocks. There was practically no vegetation, and the only sound beside the scrunch of the pebbles and' tap- tap of the mules, hoofs, was the dull roaring of the swift grey torrent far below the trail. The atmosphere seemed to be very close and heavy, and accordingly affected the spirits of the party. The guide was a taci- turn, stalwart Indian, who silently led the way. Suddenly, and without warning, they heard a deep loud rumble seeming to come from the very bowels of the earth, accompanied by a great quivering and shaking of the earth. Almost immediately they knew that it was an earthquake. The guide cried out, Hold tight to the ad- dle, trust the burros ! Page 19