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recalled a conversation in which Brown asked her if she wanted Lucy killed so she could have an unhindered claim to little Annie. Sarah said she told Brown she would send Lucy to the reservation herself rather than have the child under those circumstances. For reasons that aren’t clear, the inquest concluded without Brown being called to testify. During the inquest, John Preston was asked if he’d seen evidence of Indians on his property. Preston was sure he hadn’t, but did recall seeing barefoot tracks, though he believed they were made by boys cutting through the property to go duck hunting. The question of tracks was pertinent. The local papers regularly carried accounts of families attacked in the hills and residents lived in fear of an attack in town. In fact, the (then) one-story brick Jacoby Storehouse had been identified as a place of refuge for women and children should an assault take place, but it was never needed. Annie had said that two white men killed her mother and the inquest showed no evidence of native incursions into Arcata — which meant residents had nothing to fear. This seemed to satisfy the motives of the inquest, which never really focused on finding Lucy’s killers. After three days of interviews and an examination of Lucy’s body, the jurors determined Lucy died due to “the effect of four wounds inflicted upon her head … with some sharp instrument … by some person or persons unknown.” The local newspaper called the investigation “thorough” and the coroner expressed regret that the perpetrators were not identified. Lucy Romero’s murder remains unsolved today. The “Indian Wars” continued and thousands of Native Americans were killed, kidnapped or forced to live on
Got 99 problems but a plot ain’t one? Crack your knuckles and start
typing — the North Coast Journal Flash Fiction Contest is back. Send your original story of 99 words or fewer to our judges for a chance at publication and a prize. Email your entries to fiction@northcoastjournal.com between Sept. 24 and 5 p.m. on Oct. 28. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number on your entry (contact info won’t be printed). Send all the stories you want, but no poems.
16 NORTH COAST JOURNAL • Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015 • northcoastjournal.com
reservations under deplorable conditions. Cabrillo College estimates that in the first two decades of white occupation, California tribal populations were reduced by up to 90 percent. Lucy’s decision to stay in Arcata and bravely face death helped ensure her children didn’t become lost to those statistics. Annie was raised by the Prestons, Charles was taken in by a childless German couple and Carrie was given to a widow, Sarah Bowles, though she was indentured as a servant. Unlike many children who did not survive the “Indian Wars”, enslavement or conditions of the reservations, Lucy’s sacrifice allowed her children to survive. Carrie, Annie and Charles all lived to adulthood and Lucy’s descendants can be found throughout California today. ● When not tracking down local history, Lynette Mullen operates Projects Delivered as an independent project manager. She also has Lynette’s NorCal History Blog (www.lynette707. wordpress.com). She wishes to thank local historian Susie Van Kirk and countless others for sharing their research, and Kathy Srabian for her shared commitment to tell Lucy’s story.