Frank Black – Humboldt County Massacre
June 19, 2009 @ 5:04 am by NobleFrank Black (Pixies, Frank Black and the Catholics) sings about the Indian Island Massacre, when the Wiyot tribe was almost eradicated and the local (pro-business, pro-logging) papers called them a bunch of savages that deserved to die. It took a courageous writer to really break the story, who was driven out to San Francisco.
The Wiyot now are small in number, and struggling to hold onto their traditions, but their voice is still strong. In recent years, the city of Eureka has returned the sacred Indian Island ceremonial ground to the Wiyot.
The Wiyot threw their shells away
Until that pile became a mound
And that became their hallowed ground
On an island in what became Humboldt Bay
Then there came some prominent men
From New England and Maritimes
They sold the island to a German
But even Robert Gunter found it was a crime
Robert Gunther found the Wiyot dead
Axes cut them to the bones
They didn’t know the county paper said
That splitting skulls in Humboldt was a rite de passage
The people sided with the axemen toughs
The criticizers they were all run off
They called Eureka Murderville
For the children, women, old men that were killed
And in the sky above that town
A cloud of steam makes it seem darker
They didn’t even put a marker
Near the papermill and shanty oh so brown
Robert Gunter found the Wiyot dead
Axes cut them to the bones
They didn’t know the county paper said
That splitting skulls in Humboldt was a rite de passage
That crossing the bar was a rite de passage
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