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Not much is left to be found of the many white establishments built during these times of growth and tumult. In fact any remnants of Fort Ter-Waw washed away with a minor flood that ravaged the banks of the Klamath River in 1969.

I have often wished I could have seen what was left of the old fort before it disappeared.

By 1855, relations between settlers and the Tolowa had deteriorated, and there was a second battle at the village of Yontucket. The village of Howonquet was also sacked and burned, and 70 Tolowa were killed.

Later the same year, white miners and settlers in the Weitchpec area demanded the Indians hand over their firearms. This instigated the Red Cap Indian War.

Its believed the Red Caps were a mixed-group of Native American “vigilantes,” who went to war against settlers and miners. The war nearly brought on the collapse of the Indian settlement plan designed by the government.

The whites made the first move by burning Indian villages and raping the women. When the Indians fought back, military assistance was requested from Fort Humboldt.

This led to the establishment of the Klamath River Indian Reservation November 16, 1855. The Wau-Kell Agency Post was established to oversee the reservation.

Soon after the Army outpost of Fort Ter-Waw was established at what is now the Klamath Glen. It was located six miles from the mouth of the Klamath River.

Over the next two years, more than 600 Indians from the Southern Oregon coast and the Smith River area were rounded up and moved to the reservations.  However, many escaped and returned to their homeland.

Between 200 and 500 Tolowa were sent to the Klamath River Indian Reservation in August 1857. In 1860 following the Chetco-Rogue River Indian War, more Tolowa were sent to other reservations outside the area.

Then in the winter of 1861-62 heavy rains flooded the Klamath River and washed away the Wau-Kell Agency and most of the buildings at Fort Ter-Waw. Both the agency and the fort were abandoned soon afterwards

During May of 1862, the Smith River Reservation was created by presidential executive order and between 400 and 500 Tolowa were returned to the reservation.  Yuroks, Matolles and Wylackies were also relocated to the Smith River Reservation.

Camp Lincoln was established in September of the same year to oversee the reservation operations. Less than six years later it was closed and the Indians were removed to the Hoopa Valley and Round Valley reservations.

Meanwhile the Klamath River Indian Reservation was still in operation and the Yuroks were allowed to return to their old homes. Here they found for the time being peace and security — at least for a little while.

One of my favorite places to visit anytime we went on a track-meet in the Bay area was “Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum,” on Fisherman’s Wharf. When I first picked this up after having filed in a scrap-book for so many years — I wondered why in the world I kept it.

After looking at it a little closer — nearly needing a magnifying glass these days — I discovered the silly little mention of  “J.Darby of England — Jumped backwards 12 ft. 11 in. (with weights.) ”  Obviously because the guys name was Darby, I felt it necessary to hold onto the paper.

It seems northern Nevada cannot catch an even break this month. First a shooting in Carson City that left five dead and seven injured, followed by a plane crash at the Reno Air Race, which killed eleven and injured 69 people and now another shooting.

Authorities are investigating after a shooting inside a Sparks casino led to an evacuation and lockdown early Saturday.  Sparks Police say a group of members from the Hell’s Angels and Vagos motorcycle clubs got into a fight inside near the Trader Dick’s bar where several shots were fired.

When officers arrived, they found three people with gunshot wounds who were transported to the hospital. One person died while the other two are being treated for their non-life threatening injuries.  

Detectives say the man killed in the gun battle was the president of the San Jose chapter of the Hells Angels Jeffrey Pettigrew. The two who were wounded are Vagos members Leonard Ramirez and Diego Garcia and are in stable condition.

But it was another shooting in the city Saturday morning that was the final straw. Authorities say in the second attack, a drive-by shooting by a pair of men in a black SUV on a lone biker, may or may not be connected to the casino gunfight.

The lone biker is listed in stable condition, while the pair made good their escape.

And true to his nature, Mayor Geno Martini decided to cancel Sparks’ share of a big biker festival the rest of the weekend.  He also declared a formal state of emergency in the city saying will help speed state assistance if there’s any more trouble.

Once again the many have to pay for the wrongs committed by the few.

And while vendors close-up their booths and put away their tents and goods in Sparks, Street Vibrations continues to rumble on through Reno. Authorities in the Biggest Little City have added extra patrols to the festivities in order to maintain public safety.

They say trouble come’s in threes. I hope whoever “they” is — they’re correct.

The Pentagon is confirming the death of a Reno soldier, killed in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. U.S. Army Sgt. Timothy Sayne died September 18,2011 from injuries suffered after insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Sayne, age 31, joined the Army in February 2008, and had one previous combat tour of duty in Iraq.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers — memorials be made to Sayne’s son and expected child. Records show he was married in Reno in November 2009.

The city of Reno has released a new list of eleven people confirmed dead in last week’s air race crash at the Reno-Stead Airport. The Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office has completed identification and notification to the following family members.

• Sharon Stewart – 47-year-old female – Reno, Nevada.
• John Craik – 45-year-old male – Gardnerville, Nevada.
• Cheryl Elvin – 71-year-old female – Lenexa, Kansas.
• Wendy Hewitt – 56-year-old female – Mohave, Arizona.
• George Hewitt – 60-year-old male – Mohave, Arizona.
• Craig Salerno – 50-year-old male – Friendswood, Texas.
• Michael Wogan – 22-year-old male – Scottsdale, Arizona.
• Regina Bynum – 53-year-old female – San Angelo, Texas.
• Gregory Morcom – 47-year-old male – Stanwood, Washington.
• James McMichael – 47-year-old male – Graham, Washington.
• James Leeward – 74-year-old male – Ocala, Florida.

The NTSB confirms 7 were killed on the tarmac with 2 dying later from their injuries, then an additional victim died this past weekend and with Tuesday’s announcement, the death toll is 11. As of Tuesday, five victims with injuries are still being treated at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Renown still has nine patients, and  no patients remain at Northern Nevada Medical Center.

Lastly, Walton’s Funeral and Cremations in Reno is providing funeral services, including consultation, preparation of all authorizations and permits, submitting obituaries, and coordination with those providing other portions of the funeral, such as cemetery, crematory and clergy. Walton’s says it will also cover the necessary services to ship the remains of the out-of-town victims.

“This tragedy has touched us all,” says Tammy Dermody, owner of Walton’s, “All of us at Walton’s feel it is absolutely imperative to give back to the community we love so much.”

Authorities say an eleventh person has died from injuries received in Friday’s plane crash at the Reno Air Races. City spokesperson Michelle Anderson confirms James McMichael of Graham, Washington was killed at the scene.

Officials have been testing body parts found in the gruesome crash aftermath since Friday.  They have also identified Wendy Hewitt of Fort Mohave, Arizona and  Craig Salerno of Friendswood, Texas, as those among the dead.

Meanwhile, authorities say a Kansas woman whose husband, two sons and daughter-in-law were badly injured in the plane crash has been confirmed as dead.  Officials with the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s office say scientific identification proved Cheryl Elvin was among the fatalities.

Also a Sacramento City College aeronautics professor is offering insight into what may have caused the deadly plane crash at the Reno Air Races.  Kit Sodergren says the World War Two-era plane may have lost a trim tab that would have caused the pilot to lose control. 

He believes pilot Jimmy Leeward was knocked unconscious when the plane suddenly pitched straight up in the air because the force could have been as high as 10 Gs.  National Transportation Safety Board investigators are looking at the tail section of the plane.

Add to this, a newly released photograph suggesting Leeward may have become dislodged in the cockpit as a result of a broken seat.  NTSB officials are examining photos taken before and after the incident, including a picture in which the pilot isn’t visible from inside the cockpit.

Finally, the Salinas air show will go on as planned this weekend following the tragedy of the Reno air races. Executive Director of the California International Air Show at Salinas Harry Wardwell says air shows and air races are very different, adding pilots are required to undergo yearly competency tests, the planes are inspected before each show and they fly parallel to the crowd.

Reno 2011 — The city of Reno plans to hold a public memorial service for all victims, their families and others affected by the fatal plane crash at the National Championship Air Races. The memorial will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at Idlewild Park along with a tree planting in park’s arboretum dedicated to all the victims.

Meanwhile, the death toll is up to ten.  The latest death happened Monday morning at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. Over 70 people were injured in the accident and several others remain in serious condition.

These are the known victims of the crash at the National Championship Air Races that have been confirmed dead by either family members or the Washoe County  Medical Examiner’s Office:

Jimmy Leeward, 74, pilot, Ocala, Florida.; Greg Morcum, 47, Marysville, Washington; Michael Wogan, 22, Phoenix; George Hewitt, 60, Fort Mohave, Arizona; John Craik, 47, Gardnerville; Regina Bynum, 53, San Angelo, Texas; and Sharon Stewart, 47, Reno.

There are also two person’s unaccounted for after Friday’s crash. They include Wendy Hewitt, Fort Mohave, Arizona.; and Cherie Elvin, Lenexa, Kansas.

Finally, the National Transportation Safety Board has recovered an onboard data box and camera equipment believed to be from Leeward’s P-51, “The Galloping Ghost.” Authorities are calling the air race accident the worst in the nation’s history.

It has been a tough 11 days in the northern Nevada area.  A shooting at a Carson City IHOP that left five dead and left another 11 wounded — then Friday a fatal crash involving spectators at the Reno National Championship Air Races.

Investigators are now saying at least nine people are dead in Friday’s accident at the Reno Air Races. The National Transportation Safety Board is beginning its investigation into what caused a vintage airplane to plunge out of control, killing the 74-year-old pilot as well as spectators and injuring nearly 70 others.

Mark Rosekind of the NTSB says the agency is focusing on securing the accident site.  Rosekind also says it is unlikely there was any kind of recording device on the World War Two-era plane that would help investigators determine what caused the plane to crash.  He said it could take as long as nine months to complete their investigation.

Reno hospitals say they were prepared for twice as many casualties as they handed in Friday’s deadly air race crash. Renown Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Kathy Carter says they had up to 198 beds available for incoming patients.

Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority director Ken Romero says his organization had a medical clinic on site as well as four ambulances, two of which were crash units. One of the crash units was in the pit area, 200 yards away from the impact zone.

He said they were able to start triage and treatment, “within seconds.”  About 20 EMS ambulances were on duty, but another 20 arrived within 15 minutes of the crash.

The pilot, Jimmy Leeward, of Ocala, Fla., was a veteran airman and movie stunt pilot who named his P-51 Mustang fighter plane “The Galloping Ghost.”    Investigators say they are examining the site, gathering information and are encouraged by the large number of photos and videos available to them.

They have not speculated on a cause but organizers point to a possible mechanical failure. Pictures and video appear to show a piece of the plane coming off before it crashed.

As of Saturday, 40 of the 69 people injured enough to be treated at hospitals had been discharged. The conditions of those still held: eight are critical; nine, serious; 10 fair; two good.

At least two of the injured are children.

So far 47-year-old Greg Morcom of Washington state and 22-year-old Michael Wogan of Phoenix, Arizona have been identified as one of the eight spectators killed in the crash. Meanwhile, Wogan’s father, Bill, lost his  right eye, some fingers on his right hand, suffered over 100 fractures to his face and remains in critical condition.

Twenty-two people have now been killed in crashes since Reno’s National Championship Air Races started in 1964. Nineteen pilots died in accidents before Friday’s crash that killed the pilot of a P-51 Mustang and two spectators — the first time onlookers were killed or seriously injured.

At least two previous accidents involved P-51s. In 1999, a Mustang disintegrated during a race, scattering debris and damaging a house. In 1994, one of the planes crashed next to a runway after engine failure sprayed the windshield with oil.

Organizers softened two of the curves pilots negotiate after crashes into nearby neighborhoods in 1998 and the one in 1999. In 2007 and 2008, four pilots were killed at the races, prompting local school officials to consider barring student field trips to the event.

Last month, a pilot was killed at a weekend air show in Kansas City, Missouri and a wing-walker plunged about 200 feet to his death at a show near Detroit.  Hours after the Reno accident, another World War Two-era plane crashed at an air show in Martinsburg, West Virginia killing the pilot.

Sadness hangs heavy in the heart and in the sky.

Having a number of dogs in the home is an ongoing adventure in my life. They are always happy to see me come home and are a well-behaved lot in general.

However, once in a while something goes wrong and one of them gets it in their head to have at some object that belongs to its humans. Sometimes it’s a sock or a shoe other times its something a little more significant.

For instance — another of my cowboy hats became fodder for the dogs. I still don’t know it came off the hat-rack, but what I do know is it ended up in the back yard — ripped to shreds.

I also lost a Marine Corps cover I had managed to hold on to since before leaving the service.

Often when something like this happens, people will say, “Well, one of them must be mad at you.” But I don’t think this is the case.

It’s more like an anxiety attack on the part of the animals if they are left alone too long. A good example of this is Roxy, our pit-bull, who was locked in an apartment bedroom for hours on end as a puppy.

When I leave the house, I believe she recalls this situation and responds by stealing something and using it to relieve her sense of frustration. And that’s how my hat ended up in the back yard.

In the end I forgave her for chewing up yet a third hat. It was either that or turn her into a floor mat for my pick-up truck.

Jus’ kidding — this time.

Where Debbie Clayton’s father got the alligator, I don’t recall. What I do remember is the white Styrofoam ice chest that was carried into the room and place on a chair at the front of the class.

Whether Mrs. Damm said, “Don’t touch,” or if I ignored her – I don’t know. But my curiosity was such that I jus’ couldn’t help myself.

Maybe because the gator was only a foot-long – or perhaps it’s hiss wasn’t a deterrent enough, I reached right in the chest and touched the little reptile on the nose.

That was all it took! In an instant it had collapsed its toothy jaws around my right pointer finger and moved into what I would later learn was a “death roll,” designed to kill its prey. I felt a wave of searing pain wash over and through me.

I didn’t scream though as I was more afraid of Mrs. Damm than the gator.

After flopping about the chest for what felt an eternity, the beast let go of my finger. It was ripped up and bleeding badly.

Mrs. Damm grabbed my arm and raised it over my head. I actually thought I was about to get another paddling in front of the class at this moment.

However, she had mercy on me and rushed me to the sink to rinse the bite in cold water and wrap it as tightly as possible in a bunch of paper towels. Then she sent me to the office, where Mrs. Eunice Zwierlein had to tend to my wound.

Within in minutes she had called Mom, who called someone else to come get me and take me up to the base infirmary. There, the medic-on-duty bandaged me up and gave me a tetanus shot for good measure then sent me home.

So yeah, I can say I was bit — or even stretch the truth a bit and claim I was attacked — by an alligator. But either way the finger nail on my right pointer finger has never grown the same since.