Myths and Legends of Our Own Land — Complete
It is unthinkingly said and often, that America is not old enough to have developed a legendary era, for such an era grows backward as a nation grows forward. No little of the charm of European travel is ascribed to the glamour that history and fable have flung around old churches, castles, and the favored haunts of tourists, and the Rhine and Hudson are frequently compared, to the prejudice of the latter, not because its scenery lacks in loveliness or grandeur, but that its beauty has not been humanized by love of chivalry or faerie, as that of the older stream has been. Yet the record of our country's progress is of deep import, and as time goes on the figures seen against the morning twilight of our history will rise to more commanding stature, and the mists of legend will invest them with a softness or glory that shall make reverence for them spontaneous and deep. Washington hurling the stone across the Potomac may live as the Siegfried of some Western saga, and Franklin invoking the lightnings may be the Loki of our mythology. The bibliography of American legends is slight, and these tales have been gathered from sources the most diverse: records, histories, newspapers, magazines, oral narrative—in every case reconstructed. The pursuit of them has been so long that a claim may be set forth for some measure of completeness.
But, whatever the episodes of our four historic centuries may furnish to the poet, painter, dramatist, or legend-building idealist of the future, it is certain that we are not devoid of myth and folk-lore. Some characters, prosaic enough, perhaps, in daily life, have impinged so lightly on society before and after perpetrating their one or two great deeds, that they have already become shadowy and their achievements have acquired a color of the supernatural. It is where myth and history combine that legend is most interesting and appeals to our fancy or our sympathy most strongly; and it is not too early for us to begin the collation of those quaint happenings and those spoken reports that gain in picturesqueness with each transmission. An attempt has been made in this instance to assemble only legends, for, doubtful as some historians profess to find them, certain occurrences, like the story of Captain Smith and Pocahontas, and the ride of General Putnam down Breakneck Stairs, are taught as history; while as to folk-lore, that of the Indian tribes and of the Southern negro is too copious to be recounted in this work. It will be noted that traditions do not thrive in brick and brownstone, and that the stories once rife in the colonial cities have almost as effectually disappeared as the architectural landmarks of last century. The field entered by the writer is not untrodden. Hawthorne and Irving have made paths across it, and it is hoped that others may deem its farther exploration worthy of their efforts.
Charles M. Skinner
MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF OUR OWN LAND
CONTENTS
PREFACE
THE HUDSON AND ITS HILLS
RIP VAN WINKLE
CATSKILL GNOMES
THE CATSKILL WITCH
THE REVENGE OF SHANDAKEN
CONDEMNED TO THE NOOSE
BIG INDIAN
THE BAKER'S DOZEN
THE DEVIL'S DANCE-CHAMBER.
THE CULPRIT FAY
POKEPSIE
DUNDERBERG
ANTHONY'S NOSE
MOODUA CREEK
A TRAPPER'S GHASTLY VENGEANCE
THE VANDERDECKEN OF TAPPAN ZEE
THE GALLOPING HESSIAN
STORM SHIP OF THE HUDSON
WHY SPUYTEN DUYVIL IS SO NAMED
THE RAMAPO SALAMANDER
CHIEF CROTON
THE RETREAT FROM MAHOPAC
NIAGARA
THE DEFORMED OF ZOAR
HORSEHEADS
KAYUTA AND WANETA
THE DROP STAR
THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA
A VILLAIN'S CREMATION
THE MONSTER MOSQUITOE
THE GREEN PICTURE
THE NUNS OF CARTHAGE
THE SKULL IN THE WALL
THE HAUNTED MILL
OLD INDIAN FACE
THE DIVISION OF THE SARANACS
AN EVENT IN INDIAN PARK
THE INDIAN PLUME
BIRTH OF THE WATER-LILY
ROGERS'S SLIDE
THE FALLS AT COHOES
FRANCIS WOOLCOTT'S NIGHT-RIDERS
POLLY'S LOVER
CROSBY, THE PATRIOT SPY
THE LOST GRAVE OF PAINE
THE RISING OF GOUVERNEUR MORRIS
THE ISLE OF MANHATTOES AND NEARBY
DOLPH HEYLIGER
THE KNELL AT THE WEDDING
ROISTERING DIRCK VAN DARA
THE PARTY FROM GIBBET ISLAND
MISS BRITTON'S POKER
THE DEVIL'S STEPPING-STONES
THE SPRINGS OF BLOOD AND WATER
THE CRUMBLING SILVER
THE CORTELYOU ELOPEMENT
VAN WEMPEL'S GOOSE
THE WEARY WATCHER
THE RIVAL FIDDLERS
WYANDANK
MARK OF THE SPIRIT HAND
THE FIRST LIBERAL CHURCH
ON AND NEAR THE DELAWARE
THE PHANTOM DRAGOON
DELAWARE WATER GAP
THE PHANTOM DRUMMER
THE MISSING SOLDIER OF VALLEY FORGE
THE LAST SHOT AT GERMANTOWN
A BLOW IN THE DARK
THE TORY'S CONVERSION
LORD PERCY'S DREAM
SAVED BY THE BIBLE
PARRICIDE OF THE WISSAHICKON
THE BLACKSMITH AT BRANDYWINE
FATHER AND SON
THE ENVY OF MANITOU
THE LAST REVEL IN PRINTZ HALL
THE TWO RINGS
FLAME SCALPS OF THE CHARTIERS
THE CONSECRATION OF WASHINGTON
TALES OF PURITAN LAND
EVANGALINE
THE SNORING OF SWUNKSUS
THE LEWISTON HERMIT
THE DEAD SHIP OF HARPSWELL
THE SCHOOLMASTER HAD NOT REACHED ORRINGTON.
JACK WELCH'S DEATH LIGHT
THE LADY URSULA
FATHER MOODY'S BLACK VEIL
THE HOME OF THUNDER
THE PARTRIDGE WITCH
THE MARRIAGE OF MOUNT KATAHDIN
THE MOOSE OF MOUNT KINEO
THE OWL TREE
A CHESTNUT LOG
THE WATCHER ON WHITE ISLAND
CHOCORUA
PASSACONAWAY'S RIDE TO HEAVEN
THE BALL GAME BY THE SACO
THE WHITE MOUNTAINS
THE VISION ON MOUNT ADAMS
THE GREAT CARBUNCLE
SKINNER'S CAVE
YET THEY CALL IT LOVER'S LEAP
SALEM AND OTHER WITCHCRAFT
THE GLOUCESTER LEAGUERS
SATAN AND HIS BURIAL-PLACE
PETER RUGG, THE MISSING MAN
THE LOSS OF WEETAMOO
THE FATAL FORGET-ME-NOT
THE OLD MILL AT SOMERVILLE
EDWARD RANDOLPH'S PORTRAIT
LADY ELEANORE'S MANTLE
HOWE'S MASQUERADE
OLD ESTHER DUDLEY
THE LOSS OF JACOB HURD
THE HOBOMAK
BERKSHIRE TORIES
THE REVENGE OF JOSIAH BREEZE
THE MAY-POLE OF MERRYMOUNT
THE DEVIL AND TOM WALKER
THE GRAY CHAMPION
THE FOREST SMITHY
WAHCONAH FALLS
KNOCKING AT THE TOMB
THE WHITE DEER OF ONOTA
WIZARD'S GLEN
BALANCED ROCK
SHONKEEK-MOONKEEK
THE SALEM ALCHEMIST
ELIZA WHARTON
SALE OF THE SOUTHWICKS
THE COURTSHIP OF MYLES STANDISH
MOTHER CREWE
AUNT RACHEL'S CURSE
NIX'S MATE
THE WILD MAN OF CAPE COD
NEWBURY'S OLD ELM
SAMUEL SEWALL'S PROPHECY
THE SHRIEKING WOMAN
AGNES SURRIAGE
SKIPPER IRESON'S RIDE
HEARTBREAK HILL
HARRY MAIN: THE TREASURE AND THE CATS
THE WESSAGUSCUS HANGING
THE UNKNOWN CHAMPION
GOODY COLE
GENERAL MOULTON AND THE DEVIL
THE SKELETON IN ARMOR
MARTHA'S VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET
LOVE AND TREASON
THE HEADLESS SKELETON OF SWAMPTOWN
THE CROW AND CAT OF HOPKINSHILL
THE OLD STONE MILL
ORIGIN OF A NAME
MICAH ROOD APPLES
A DINNER AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
THE NEW HAVEN STORM SHIP
THE WINDAM FROGS
THE LAMB OF SACRIFICE
MOODUS NOISES
HADDAM ENCHANTMENTS
BLOCK ISLAND AND THE PALATINE
THE BUCCANEER
ROBERT LOCKWOOD'S FATE
LOVE AND RUM
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF THE SOUTH
THE SWIM AT INDIAN HEAD
THE MOANING SISTERS
A RIDE FOR A BRIDE
SPOOKS OF THE HIAWASSEE
LAKE OF THE DISMAL SWAMP
THE BARGE OF DEFEAT
NATURAL BRIDGE
THE SILENCE BROKEN
SIREN OF THE FRENCH BROAD
THE HUNTER OF CALAWASSEE
REVENGE OF THE ACCABEE
TOCCOA FALLS
TWO LIVES FOR ONE
A GHOSTLY AVENGER
THE WRAITH RINGER OF ATLANTA
THE SWALLOWING EARTHQUAKE
LAST STAND OF THE BILOXI
THE SACRED FIRE OF NACHEZ
PASS CHRISTIAN
THE UNDER LAND
THE CENRAL STATES AND THE GREAT LAKES
AN AVERTED PERIL
THE OBSTINACY OF SAINT CLAIR
THE HUNDREDTH SKULL
THE CRIME OF BLACK SWAMP
THE HOUSE ACCURSED
MICHEL DE COUCY'S TROUBLES
WALLEN'S RIDGE
THE SKY WALKER OF HURON
THE COFFIN OF SNAKES
MACKINACK
LAKE SUPERIOR WATER GODS
THE WITCH OF PICTURED ROCKS
THE ORIGIN OF WHITE-FISH
THE SPIRIT OF CLOUDY
THE SUN FIRE AT SAULT SAINTE MARIE
THE SNAKE GOD OF BELLE ISLE
WERE-WOLVES OF DETROIT
THE ESCAPE OF FRANCOIS NAVARRE
THE OLD LODGER
THE NAIN ROUGE
TWO REVENGES
HIAWATHA
THE INDIAN MESSIAH
THE VISION OF RESCUE
DEVIL'S LAKE
THE KEUSCA ELOPEMENT
PIPESTONE
THE VIRGINS' FEAST
FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY
FLYING SHADOW AND TRACK MAKER
SAVED BY A LIGHTNING-STROKE
THE KILLING OF CLOUDY SKY
PROVIDENCE HOLE
THE SCARE CURE
TWELFTH NIGHT AT CAHOKIA
THE SPELL OF CREVE CIUR LAKE
HOW THE CRIME WAS REVEALED
BANSHEE OF THE BAD LANDS
STANDING ROCK
THE SALT WITCH
ALONG THE ROCKY RANGE
OVER THE DIVIDE
THE PHANTOM TRAIN OF MARSHALL PASS
THE RIVER OF LOST SOULS
RIDERS OF THE DESERT
THE DIVISION OF TWO TRIBES
BESIEGED BY STARVATION
A YELLOWSTONE TRAGEDY
THE BROAD HOUSE
THE DEATH WALTZ
THE FLOOD AT SANTA FE
GODDESS OF SALT
THE COMING OF THE NAVAJOS
THE ARK ON SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS
THE PALE FACED LIGHTNING
THE WEIRD SENTINEL AT SQUAW PEAK
SACRIFICE OF THE TOLTECS
TA-VWOTS CONQUERS THE SUN
THE COMANCHE RIDER
HORNED TOAD AND GIANTS
THE SPIDER TOWER
THE LOST TRAIL
A BATTLE IN THE AIR
ON THE PACIFIC COAST
THE VOYAGER OF WHULGE
TAMANOUS OF TACOMA
THE DEVIL AND THE DALLES
CASCADES OF THE COLUMBIA
THE DEATH OF UMATILLA
HUNGER VALLEY
THE WRATH OF MANITOU
THE SPOOK OF MISERY HILL
THE QUEEN OF DEATH VALLEY
BRIDAL VEIL FALL
THE GOVERNOR'S RIGHT EYE
THE PRISONER IN AMERICAN SHAFT
AS TO BURIED RICHES
KIDD'S TREASURE
OTHER BURIED WEALTH
STORIED WATERS, CLIFFS AND MOUNTAINS
MONSTERS AND SEA-SERPENTS
STONE-THROWING DEVILS
STORIED SPRINGS
LOVERS' LEAPS
GOD ON THE MOUNTAINS
