MAN WITH A HOOK: TALE

JUST OUTSIDE BOSTON IS A PLACE WHERE COUPLES PARK TO TALK, AND
MANY COUPLES ARE USUALLY THERE IN THEIR CARS. ONE NIGHT ONLY ONE
CAR WAS THERE ON A MOONLESS NIGHT. THE COUPLE HAPPENED TO HEAR
ON THE RADIO THAT AN INMANTE OF AN ASYLUM HAD ESCAPED AND WAS IN
THE AREA. THE REPORT SAID THAT HE WAS MISSING A HAND AND HAD A
HOOK INSTEAD. JUST THEN THEY HEARD A NOISE OUTSIDE AND HURRIEDLY
LEFT THE SPOT. WHEN THEY REACHED THE GIRL'S HOUSE, THE BOY WENT
TO OPEN THE GIRL'S DOOR AND THERE WAS THE HOOK ON THE DOOR HANDLE
ON A BLOODY STUMP.

Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts

Date learned: 10-00-1967

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GERMAN TALE

THERE ONCE WAS A VILLAGE CALLED RALLINGEN IN SWITZERLAND. THOUGH
THE TOWN ITSELF WAS VERY PRETTY, ITS INHABITANTS WERE STINGY
PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T BELIEVE IN CHARITY. ONE DAY A DWARF VISITED
THE VILLAGE BUT NONE OF THE PEOPLE WOULD LET HIM INTO THEIR HOMES.
ONLY ONE OLD COUPLE WHO WERE VERY POOR OPENED THEIR HOUSE TO HIM.
IN ANGER, THE DWARF DENOUNCED THE UNCHARITABLENESS OF RALLINGEN
AND, CLIMBING A HILL BEHIND THE TOWN, HE JUMPED ON A LARGE ROCK
AND RODE IT DOWN THE HILL TO THE TOWN. EVERY HOUSE EXCEPT THAT
OF THE OLD COUPLE WAS COMPLETELY WIPED OUT BY THE ROCK AND THE
PEOPLE WERE PUNISHED FOR THEIR LACK OF CHARITY.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT IS AN AMERICAN GIRL WHOSE PARENTS ARE FROM GERMANY.
HER FATHER LEARNED IT AS A YOUNG BOY IN GERMANY AND TOLD IT TO
HER WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-06-1963

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SLEEPY HOLLOW STORY

AN OLD MAN LIVED ALONE BY SLEEPY HOLLOW AND HE OWNED THIS BIG DOG,
ALMOST A WOLF, REALLY. ONE NIGHT A CAR FULL OF DRINKERS STOPPED
IN THE HOLLOW AND SETTLED DOWN TO SOME HEAVY DRINKING. AFTER A
WHILE, ONE GUY GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO WALK AROUND. IN THE MORNING
THE OTHER GUYS FOUND HIM LYING A FEW FEET FROM THE CAR, HIS FACE
AND NECK TERRIBLY TORN UP. HE MUMBLED OUT A STORY ABOUT A GIANT
DOG ATTACKING HIM.

Submitter comment: THE PERSON WHO TOLD THIS STORY HAD SCARS ALL OVER HIS FACE AND
TOLD IT ABOUT HIMSELF.

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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THE LEGEND OF THE HEADLESS MAN

IN MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, THERE ARE RAILROAD TRACKS RUNNING
THROUGH THE CITY UPON WHICH THE NEW YORK CENTRAL TRAINS
USUALLY TRAVEL. THEY USUALLY GO ABOUT 90 MPH SO WHEN A
TRAIN COMES, YOU'D BETTER STOP. THE FOLLOWING IS A LEGEND
WHICH IS TOLD ABOUT THESE TRACKS:
IN THE OLD DAYS, A RAILROAD WORKER IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON THESE TRACKS IN WHICH HE LOST
HIS HEAD AND IMMEDIATELY WAS KILLED. SINCE THEN, MANY
PEOPLE IN THE AREA SWEAR THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A HEADLESS
FIGURE ROAMING UP AND DOWN THE TRACKS. IT IS THOUGHT
TO BE THIS RAILROAD WORKER LOOKING FOR HIS HEAD.

Submitter comment: HEADLESS GHOST OF DECAPITATED WORKER ROAMS RAILROAD TRACKS IN
MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, LOOKING FOR HIS HEAD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 03-04-1972

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THUMP-DRAG

ONCE THERE WAS A COUNSELOR WHO WENT TO REACH FOR SOMETHING
IN THE NATURE HUT AND SPILLED ACID ON HIS FACE. HE TRIED
TO GET TO THE LAKE TO WASH HIS FACE, ON THE WAY DOWN HE
BROKE HIS LEG. HE IS SAID TO WALK THROUGH THE CAMP NOW.
AT NIGHT YOU CAN HEAR THE THUMP-DRAG OF HIS LEG AND CAN
SEE HIS FACE IN THE WINDOW OF THE NATURE HUT.

Submitter comment: FACE OF CAMP COUNSELOR IS SCARRED BY ACID. CALLED THUMP-DRAG BECAUSE
OF HIS BROKEN LEG. CAN STILL BE SEEN AND HEARD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 03-10-1972

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