LEGEND

LONG AGO, IN A CAVE IN A HIGH ROCKY HILL RUNNING ABOVE THE RIVER
VISTULA, A GREAT AND TERRIBLE DRAGON LIVED WHOSE FIERY BREATH GUSHED
FORTH LIKE A FOUNTAIN OF HISSING STEAM FROM HIS WIDE NOSTRILS, AND
WHO UTTERED MONSTROUS, UNEARTHLY SOUNDS, UNLIKE THOSE OF ANY BEAST
OF THE FOREST.
MANY BRAVE KNIGHTS HAD BEEN SENT TO SLAY THE DRAGON, BUT ALL
HAD PERISHED IN THE ATTEMPT.
PRINCE CRACUS WAS BRAVE AND KIND. HE KILLED A FAT SHEEP, FILLED
IT WITH SULPHUR. THE DRAGON ATE THE BAIT, DRANK HALF A RIVER AND
EXPLODED. THE CITY OF CRACOW WAS FOUNDED WHERE THE DRAGON EXPLODED.
THE PRINCE ERECTED A FORTRESS ON THE DRAGON'S HILL, WHERE AFTERWARDS
WAWEL CASTLE WAS BUILT, THE HOME OF THE KING OF POLAND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE FARMS

Keyword(s): LOCAL LEGEND: POLAND ; SUPERNATURAL LEGEND

Date learned: 10-02-1968

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LEGEND OF THE MAIDEN OF THE MIST

THERE ONCE WERE THREE DRAGONS THAT LIVED UNDERNEATH NIAGRA FALLS. AT
THE TIME THE TUSCARERIES, A TRIBE OF INDIANS IN NORTHWEST NEW YORK
LIVED IN THE VICINITY. THE DRAGONS WOULD GET HUNGRY AND COME UP AT
NIGHT AND ATTACK AND EAT SOME OF THE BRAVES OF THE TRIBE. THE
TUSCARERIES, SEEING THEIR TRIBE DWINDLING, WANTED TO APPEASE THE
DRAGONS. SO TO SATISFY THE DRAGONS ( DRAGONS' ) APPETITE THEY WOULD
LOAD UP A CANOE OF GOOD FOODS AND SEND IT DOWN THE NIAGRA RIVER
TOWARD THE FALLS. THIS TOO FAILED TO SATISFY THE DRAGONS AND AGAIN
THEY ATTACKED THE TRIBE TO EAT BRAVES. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO
KEEP THE DRAGONS HAPPY, THE CHIEF AND THE MEDICINE MAN DECIDED TO
SACRIFICE A MAIDEN TO THE DRAGONS IN HOPES OF STOPPING THESE ATTACKS.
SO THE INDIANS FORMED ALL THE MAIDENS OF THE TRIBE IN ONE CIRCLE AND
SHOT AN ARROW INTO THE AIR FROM THE CENTER OF THIS CIRCLE. WHOEVER
THE ARROW LANDED CLOSEST TO WOULD BE THE SACRIFICE. IT HAPPENED THAT
THE SACRIFICE TURNED OUT TO BE LELAWELLA, THE CHIEF'S DAUGHTER. THE
INDIANS SENT THE GIRL, STARK NAKED, WITH A BIG SUPPLY OF GOOD FOOD IN
A CANOE TOWARDS THE FALLS. (IT IS AT THIS POINT THAT THE SOURCE COULD
NOT REMEMBER ANY MORE DETAILS AND FINISHED WITH GENERALITIES) OVER
THE FALLS SHE WENT BUT SOME BRAVES RESCUED HER AND IN DOING SO SLEW
THE DRAGON. THEY WENT BACK TO THE VILLAGE AND HAD A BIG CELEBRATION,
THAT TODAY IS CELEBRATED IN NIAGRA FALLS, NEW YORK, AS THE FEAST OF
THE "MAIDEN OF THE MIST."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): LOCAL LEGEND ; NIAGARA FALLS ; SUPERNATURAL LEGEND

Date learned: 11-05-1968

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THUMP-DRAG

ABOUT THIRTY YEARS AGO WHEN WHAT IS NOW CYO CAMP FOR GIRLS IN
CARSONVILLE WAS JUST STARTED, IT WAS A BOYS CAMP. MANY OF THE
BUILDINGS THAT ARE THERE NOW WEREN'T EVEN BUILT YET. WHAT IS NOW THE
NATURE NOOK WAS IN THE STOREROOM. A YOUNG CHEMISTRY STUDENT WAS IN
CHARGE OF NATURE. ONCE HE WAS REACHING UP TO A HIGH SHELF TO GET SOME
CHEMICALS FOR AN EXPERIMENT. THE SHELF COLLAPSED AND A BOTTLE OF ACID
SPILLED ALL OVER HIM. HE JUMPED BACK SO QUICKLY THAT HE FELL AND
BROKE HIS LEG. HE LAY ON THE FLOOR WRITHING AND SCREAMING AS THE ACID
BURNED HIS FACE. SOMEONE HEARD HIM AND RAN FOR HELP. SOON A WHOLE
GROUP OF COUNSELORS CAME. WHEN THEY SAW THE ACID BURNING THEY
GRABBED HIM AND DRAGGED HIM TO THE LAKE. EVENTUALLY THEY WERE ABLE
TO STOP THE BURNING BUT BY THIS TIME MOST OF HIS FACE HAD BEEN EATEN
AWAY BY THE ACID, HIS BROKEN LEG WAS HOPELESSLY MANGLED AND THE
UNBEARABLE PAIN HAD MADE HIS MIND SNAP. HE WAS COMMITTED TO A MENTAL
INSTITUTION BUT HE ESCAPED SOON AFTER. PEOPLE IN THE CARSONVILLE
AREA REPORTED SEEING HIM, HIS FACE A REPULSIVE BLOB, LIMPING AROUND.
CHILDREN HEARD HIM WALKING--A THUMP FOLLOWED BY THE DRAG OF HIS
USELESS LEG. ONE NIGHT HE RETURNED TO THE CAMP. HE MET UP WITH A
CAMPER AT THE BIFFY. HE LUNGED TO GRAB THE CHILD BUT TRIPPED AND
FELL, KNOCKING THE CAMPER UNCONSCIOUS. AFTER THAT THE POLICE SET OUT
DRAGNETS TO TRY AND CATCH HIM. THE CAMP REQUIRED THAT ALL CAMPERS
TAKE A BUDDY WHEREVER THEY GO. STILL THUMP-DRAG GOES TO A DIFFERENT
CAVELL, YMCA AND YWCA. EVERY SEVENTH YEAR HE RETURNS TO THIS CAMP,
THE SCENE OF HIS ACCIDENT AND SEEKS REVENGE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CYO CAMP ; CARSONVILLE

Keyword(s): SUPERNATURAL LEGEND

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