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

Page 23 text:

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.

Page 22 text:

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,

Page 24 text:

The Subjugation of the Wietchpecs At a time when this coast knew no other inhabitants but the Indian there were two tribes at war with each other. ' The WVietchpecs had come from their camps on the banks of the Klamath and invaded the hunting grounds of the Weeotts. The country was laid waste, for the Wietchpecs were many and their strength was great, but the dauntless Weeotts were brave. For forty days alll nights they fought and so great was the number of the slain that the peaceful beautiful river of the Weeotts ran blood. So great was the amount of blood that the flesh of the salmon in the river was tainted red and it has ever remained. I At last the Weeotts felt that they could no longer hold out against the enemy and as a last resort they prayed to the Great Spirit to succor them. The Great Spirit heard and that night he drew two whales out of the sea and placed them in a hole in the mountains. Then he gatherer an armful of redwoods and built a mighty fire around them. When they began to cook and bake the Wietchpecs smelt the spicy odor and immediately drove away the Weeotts from around the fire. All night long they danced about the baking whales and ate the flesh. When day dawned a great sleep and numbness overtook them. They sank down where they stood. lt was then that the Weeotts avenged their wrongs for they killed everyone of the Wietchpecs and in the camps in the north there was a great wailing for the spirits of the braves that failed to return. Again the valley of the Weeotts was peaceful, the enemy had been vanquished and the conquerors had proven that numbers did not denote strength. The VVeeotts worshipped the Great Spirit and thanked him and held the place sacred where the whales had been roasted. This place has been named by the white people that have since settled in the Weeott or Eel River Valley, The Devil's Bake Oven. -E. M. S. '0S. X- . J' if ff A ,A 1 X ' N fa