Westwood High School - Chipmunk Yearbook (Westwood, CA)

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Hat. trying to make themselves think that everything would be all right though they didn't know what else might happen. That evening between five and six o’clock there was a tremendous eruption which caused a second Hood down the same channels. As the first had swept everything away the second could do little harm. The next morning the family deserted the place. They 28 were away all that summer and winter. But the spring of 191G found them back on the ranch. They lived in tents all that summer, while the house was being moved up to the foot of the hill where almost a year before they had spent that memorable night, and ever since then they have regarded Ml. lessen with mingled feeling of awe and safety. MARION HALL, ’22.

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Reminiscences DURING the first days of August, 1919, Mt. Lassen was reported to be smoking. Everyone was greatly excited and many stopped their work to go see it. Years before the same report had come out Iut it seemed to he false. All during the winter of 1914 and spring of 1915 the mountain erupted intermittently. There were many tourists who came just to see it erupt, but as it was rather contrary at limes many of them failed to see it in action. On May 21, 1915, there was an eruption which caused a Hood to go down two small streams which emptied into Hat Creek. This flood swept everything that was moveable along ahead of it, damming up small canyons until the water spread for a half or sometimes a mile before it broke through. Then it would go on until it came to another narrow place where the same thing would reoccur. Prom all reports this unnatural flow of water had been a day coming down the creeks before it reached Big Springs, the head of Hat Creek. lor two day? before the flood really reached Hat Creek Valley the water had been so bad that the people had to haul their drinking water from nearby springs. The stock would not touch it They would go to the creek for a drink, smell the wafer and throw up their heads, look around and then walk away. By the even- ing of the 22nd it was simply impossible for anyone to drink the water. At 11 30 that night a family living on a ranch in the upper part of the valley was awakened by someone en- tering th front gate, stepping on the porch and calling, Get up. there is a flood coming.” Everyone awakened with a start and getting up. put on their clothes hurried- ly. Someone went to the phone and rang up the neigh- bors below to warn them of the flood. 27 of a Survivor By the time the telephoning was over there wasn’t much time to spare for when the family was about one hundred yeards from the house they heard the bridge being swept down the canyon and the noise and roaring of the water was steadily increasing. It so happened the stock was all loose in the barn- yard and one of the horses, being a good jumper, es- caped and got out in the hills. The other one stayed in the back corral, being careful to hunt the highest place. While these things were going on around the build- ings the occupants were making their way in the dark to a hill about a half mill from the house, where they stayed until morning, sitting around the fire but doing very little talking and all wondering what things would be like when they would venture back to the house. When morning came they started lack to the house. They could only get within about a hundred feet as the mud. deposited by the deluge, was about four feet deep and very sticky. Finally the men, after hunting around found a way to get in. Everything in the house was splattered with mud and turned upside down. The children were met at the edge of the mud by their old cat who seemed to be the sole survivor. She came meowing up to the smallest child who. picking her up, hid her face in her fur, and cried as if her heart was broken. The old r at wailed too. for her kittens had been drowned. All the rest of the day the little girl carried the cat around as if she had no other friend Late that afternoon the family crossed the creek, got the horses, and, collecting the things absolutely needed, went to camp upon a hill about a mile from the ranch. They spent the night there trying to rest as best they could though sleep didn’t come easily to anyone but the children. The next day. the 23rd, they went back down on the

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“Spring in This Day and Age” ABOUT the best indication ot spring is the little old Ford. When you go out into the country early in spring you may see one stu k in a mud hjle, hung up on a rock, or maybe In a bar ed wire fence. As you look over the fields you may see a Ford, ten or fifteen years of age. laboriously dragging a heavy plough after it. As you near the farms in the neighborhood you may see the Ford so arranged that it can be used to cut the winter’s supply of wood. The country is not the only place where Fords are to be seen in spring but the towns are also infested with them. They are the subject of all conversation by boys on their way to school. “I got new spark plugs for Elizabeth” last night” or “I got some new tires for the old can this morning” is the general drift of the talk. As you near your friend’s home you hear what you think is a load of tin cans being hauled away. But on investigation you find it is your friend. Bill, overhauling his Buzz Wagon.” as he calls it. He is straightening out mud-guards and repairing every thing in general. ri here are bits of mechanism strewn all over the place. A spark plug here, a carburetor there, a few nuts and bolts in a box and so on. Upon being questioned he tells you that he is getting ready for the spring drive. Next door you hear what you think is a machine gun missing fire every two or three shots. You step through the gate that joins the two lots and find your friend, John, laboring over his car”. When you ask him what the trouble is, he may tell you that he just got some new spark plugs, or maybe a new carburetor. He also will tell you that he is getting ready for the spring drive. As the Ford has such a prominent part to play in spring. I am afraid that it won’t be long before they will plant them in good rich soil to raise large machines. But maybe that is beyond even a Ford. 1 think that I am not mistaken in saying that the Ford is the best indicator of spring. 1NGERMAN JACOBSEN. 20. 29