Ferndale Union High School - Tomahawk Yearbook (Ferndale, CA)

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Old Fort Humboldt One of the most interesting historical landmarks in Northern California is Fort Humboldt, situated about two miles south of Eureka. In 1852, upon the urgent request of the early settlers who had become alarmed over continued Indian depredations, two companies, B and F, United States infantry, were sent to Humboldt Bay to establish a post for the protection of the then sparsely settled region. The troops sailed from Benecia in January, 1853, in the little steamer Goliah reaching Humboldt harbor several days later. The channel at the entrance was a shifting one and thus great fear and anxiety were felt by the passen- gers as the crossed the bar. Wrecks were more frequent in those days than now, and the ghostly remains of vessels wrecked at the bar, their spars still visible, did not serve to allay their fears. Bucksport, where the fort was located, was then a rival of Eureka but was chosen in'preference to the latter, on account of its splendid site. The huge bluff, about a quarter of a mile back from the bay, seemed as though intended for a fortification. The forests on two sides furnished an abundance of timber, California redwood being most desirable. ' Tents were pitched and building began at once. The first house was built by having a frame filled in with hewn logs, thenfweather boards and plaster within. In a couple of months a dozen or more houses and public buildings were completed. Game of all kind was abundant, but beef could be obtained only at long intervals. A contract was made with the celebrated hunter, Seth Kinman, to furnish elk meat, a certain number of times each month, to the command. The Indians became friendly with the troops and visited t.he garrison almost daily. The presence of the troops gave security to the settlers and emigration increased from this time. Desertions were frequent soon after the arrival of the command upon the bay. The soldiers were tempted by the mines not far distant, and for some time they eluded capture. Fort Humboldt became a very popular post, and it is to be regretted that the government saw fit to abandon it. At one time our great general, U. S. Grant, was stationed there. A number of the officers who were stationed at the fort at the breaking out of the war, joined the Southern Confed- eracy. Captain Lovell was left in commend of the post in 1861. He remained loyal to his govern- ment and was transferred to the east where he did honorable service. The only means of transportation was a cart drawn by a mule, and oftentimes a soldier could be seen conveying the garrison ladies to Eureka that they might do their necessary shopping. Several of the old buildings, including the old guard house with its lookout, still remain, and Congressman James Knowland, representing the California Landmarks Committee, visited Eureka two years ago and urged the citizens to preserve the guard house, at least, but I believe nothing has been done, consequently it will be but a short time ere nothing of this historic spot remains.- C. A. M. '10,

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, The Hoopa Reservation ln the northeastern part of Humboldt County the Hoopa Reservation is situated. This portion of the county has been given to the Indians as a place to live in by the United States government. The Reservation itself consists of ten square miles of bottom and hill land through which the Trinity river flows, making it one of the most beautiful valleys on the Pacific Coast. At first it was formally taken by the United States in 1859 or 1860 as a reserve. A fort, called Gaston, was then established and a small company of soldiers, with a captain in charge, was stationed there. Besides the captain an agent was appointed, who had charge of the Indians and their affairs. At first there were many outbreaks among the Indians and they had many encounters with the soldiers, but after a time they began to' be convinced of the white man's power and so settled down peacefully. At this time the Indians of the Hoopa Tribe numbered about a thousand but as years passed along this number diminished either by the aid of whites or assisted by the Indians' greatest foe, whiskey. During 1888 and 1889 the United States had the valley surveyed into ranches. These were given to the heads of the Indian families with the understanding that they could not sell or will it out of the family. In this Way the land was peaceably divided and this condition prevails today in Hoopa valley. At first the government established many small schools throughout the Reservation, but after the garrison was removed in 1890, these were all united into one large school. This school is capable of accommodating three hundred students with a superintendent and assistants at its head. The In- dians are taught to read, write and are also given practicable knowledge of figures. Farming, milling, blacksinithing and many other branches of manual science are taught to those who desire it. By these means the Indians are given advantages to become civilized and to adapt themselves to the ways of the white man. The government also appointed a doctor and fitted out a drug store and in this manner the needs and wants of the Indians are administered to. The resources of the valley are so abundant that many of the young men have bank accounts and are quite rich. They have either gained their wealth by the rich placer mining there or by packing over the rough trails of the mountains. Take it all in all the Indians are happy and contented with their lot. The customs of the Indians are still practiced, for every two years they have their national White Deer Skin Dance. Indians come together from far and near and participate in this. The dance lasts from the ninth to the fifteenth of September and it signifies their thankfulness to the Great Spirit for their bountiful harvests. It is really a harvest dance. Another dance is that of the Wood- pecker Head and it signifies the death of winter and the approach of summer. This comes in the month of May of each year. They also have their sacred animals and birds, the bear and the crow being especially sacred. The tribe even claims to trace its descent from the bear, and they call the crow the founder of their hunting grounds. A pretty legend is told of this incident and it runs like this: When the world was covered with water there was a big chief in a canoe. He sailed and sailed always trying to find land, finally he let a crow Hy away, for in this canoe there were many different kinds of animals. After a time the crow returned with a pine nut in his beak. He gave this to the chief and then took hold of the boat and steered it to land. The place where the boat landed, the Hoopa Tribe believe to be Trinity summit, a mountain peak near Hoopa Valley. -E. M. S. '08. .: . . - ' VlW'772?f E' .. .,' -.ln 1 '.. , v., .. 1- fs ' hx. V MMNF Ln Cu ' . gpm lmjgf, ,th Lrlljig ' .-- ' ' - 'ff --ft ,. 7 ' J -,gr M 'L gnff-I1 f - 'V L-'4 7 Wk 7 ' ' ,f 'ef 1, ' fffky . . ,-fix! . f' 5 -4 as .,- .- 7 ff- 1 ...- :fp-iff , ,,,g.,w Ka V -exif f lu ww!

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Indian Theory of Beginning of the World Long, long ago before there was any world or before man was made, there was nothing at all existing except a few animals and some birds. At this time the coyote held supreme power orevr all these birds and beasts and his commands had to be obeyed by all alike. One day the Eagle was sent on an errand by him and as he did not return at the appointed time the Coyote became very angry. As the moments passed and he still did not return the Coy0te's anger became so great that he began to scratch the air in his wrath until finally there arose out of the nothingness around him, a little mound which gradually increased as he kept scratching. This be- came so large at last that it became the world. By the time this was completed,he was so delighted with his work that his anger vanished. ' Upon returning and beholding the wonderful new thing the eagle cried out in delight and asked the Coyote to scratch some more and see what else he could make. So the Coyote began to scratch up the earth and as a result he made the high mountains. The Eagle, delighted as before, begged that he again try his luck. But this time the Coyote refused, saying that he was too tired, so the Eagle began himself to see what he could do. But he did not have as much strength as the Coyote, so the mounds of earth which he raised were much smaller than the others, so they formed the hills. Now, exclaimed the Eagle, 'twe should have some trees growing on this earth. You are right, answered the Coyote, But how is it to be done? Oh! that is easy enough, exclaimed the Eagle, just watch me. Then he flew away above the mountains and as he went he dropped some of his large feathers, together with some of the smaller ones. These fell on the hillsides and where the largest ones fell, there the beautiful trees sprang up, while the bushes and shrubs grew from the smaller. Thus, according to the legend of the Indians, the world was made,-Rose C. Scott '10. Description of Barrenness 'How desolate and lonely the pasture seemed! Hungry goats had eaten every vestige of grass, and browsed the leaves from the shrubbery. The autumn winds, with each succeeding gust, had gradually blown away the few dry leaves that had fallen to the ground. Not a bird was to be seen, and not a note could be heard even from the saucy bluejay. The murmuring brook, that was wont to attract so many children during the winter, had become dry, and only the cold silent stones were now visible. C. A. M., 'l0.