Flickered

We were jus’ sitting down to dinner at six in the evening when the all the lights of the home flickered. About three minutes later our telephone rang; there was an emergency.

Dad and I headed towards Yurok Volunteer Fire Department, which was jus’ down the street from our house. Within minutes we were racing with lights and siren south on Highway 101.

We were en route to a possible plane crash. The aircraft had struck a power-line and was underwater in the Klamath River near what remained of the Douglas Memorial Bridge.

Dad decided the old washed-out bridge was the best vantage point to get to the downed craft as it was closer to that side of the river. I told Dad that I could get to the plane while he secured ropes and tethers.

Pulling off my shirt and shoes, I jumped into the water, which was a 30 foot plunge. I dove down to see if I could get into the plane or get a door open in the event someone were still alive inside.

On my third return to the surface, Dad shouted for me to grab the line he was tossing and to tie it to the aircraft. I did as instructed.

Exertion and the cold were taking a toll on my body and I found myself struggling to get to the bank and out of the water.

Dad dropped me a rope which I secured around my waist and as he hoisted, I climbed up to where he was positioned. It wouldn’t be until 10 that night that the plane would be hauled to the north side of the river.

And it wouldn’t be until the next day that Jim Long and Jim Haddad were identified as having died in the crash. Both were big Del Norte High School Booster supporters.

And their deaths had a huge effect on a lot of athletes the next morning.