Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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SEVERAL YEARS AGO, A CABIN CRUISER WAS ANCHORED OUT ON LAKE
ST. CLAIR. A FAMILY (MOTHER, FATHER, AND LITTLE BOY) WERE
OUT ENJOYING AN AFTERNOON ON THE LAKE. SOMEHOW THE LITTLE
BOY FELL OVERBOARD AND HE COULDN'T SWIM. SO HIS MOTHER
JUMPED IN TO SAVE HIM, BUT SHE COULDN'T SWIM EITHER. THERE
WEREN'T ANY LIFE JACKETS ON BOARD. THE FATHER DOVE IN, AND
ALTHOUGH HE COULD SWIM, HE COULDN'T SAVE THEM AND THEY BOTH
DROWNED. THE BOAT WAS LATER FOUND WITH BLOOD AND {FINGER} NAIL
SCRATCHES ALONG THE SIDES. IT WAS SPECULATED THAT THE
FATHER OULDN'T GET BACK IN THE BOAT AFTER TRYING TO SAVE
HIS FAMILY; THERE WERE NO SWIMMING LADDERS, FOOTHOLDS AND
THE GUNWHALE WAS TOO HIGH TO REACH FROM THE WATER LEVEL. THE
STORY WAS PIECED TOGETHER FROM THE EVIDENCE OF THE BOAT AND
ITS CONDITION AND FROM INFORMATION OF FAMILY FRIENDS.
Submitter comment: TOLD AS A TRUE STORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
SOMEONE IN THE HAMBURG MESSERSCHMITT FACTORY HAD PUT A CURSE
ON THE ME-109S OF THE "RICHTHOFEN" WING OF LE HAVE {HARVE},
FRANCE, 1940. THESE PLANES TOOK OFF FOR ENGLAND AND NEVER
RETURNED. (KNOWN AS THE HEX SQUADRON IN THE LUFTWAFFE)--
UNTIL IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT FUMES FROM THE ENGINE HAD
LEAKED INTO THE COCKPIT--EARLY 1941.
Where learned: LUFTWAFFE ; SERIES NUMBER 25 ; ARCO AIRCAM
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SCREAMING BRIDGE
THERE IS A RAILROAD TRESTLE CROSSING A CREEK ON THE EAST
SIDE OF TOWN. ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, A GIRL IS SAID TO
HAVE BEEN RUN OVER BY A TRAIN WHILE WALKING ACROSS THIS
BRIDGE. SOME NIGHTS, USUALLY BETWEEN 11 P.M. AND 3 A.M.
THE SCREAMING OF THE GIRL CAN BE HEARD WHEN A TRAIN
CROSSES OVER THAT BRIDGE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAID SHE WAS THERE ONE NIGHT AND HEARD THE
SCREAMING. SHE SEEMED SCARED JUST TALKING ABOUT IT.
SCREAMING OF GIRL KILLED ON RAILROAD TRESTLE CAN BE HEARD WHEN TRAIN
CROSSES THAT BRIDGE.
Data entry tech comment: PRESUME THIS HAPPENED IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.
Where learned: INDIANA ; INDIANAPOLIS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
FRESH WATER "FLYING DUTCHMAN"
LAKE SUPERIOR HAS ITS 'FLYING DUTCHMAN' EVEN AS DOES
SALT WATER. THE 'FLYING DUTCHMAN' OF THE OCEAN IS A
DUTCH SHIP THAT MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED, LEAVING NO
TRACE. SUPERSTITIOUS SAILORS CLAIM TO HAVE SIGHTED
THE OLD DUTCHMAN ON WILD NIGHTS AT SEA, WEIRDLY RIDING
THE WAVES. SUCH A SHIP IS THE BANNOCKBURN, A FREIGHTER
LOST ON LAKE SUPERIOR WITH TWENTY-TWO MEN ABOARD.
SHE SAILED FROM DULUTH ONE EARLY WINTER MORNING AND WAS
SIGHTED BY A PASSING SHIP THE FOLLOWING EVENING. THAT
WAS THE LAST SEEN OF THE BANNOCKBURN. A YEAR AND A
HALF LATER, AN OAR WAS FOUND ON THE MICHIGAN SHORE--
THE ONLY THING EVER REPORTED FROM THE ILL-FATED SHIP.
THROUGH WIND-SWEPT PILOT HOUSE WINDOWS, IN THE DEAD
OF A WILD NIGHT, LAKE SAILORS SAY THEY HAVE SIGHTED
THE BANNOCKBURN SAILING SERENELY OVER THE TEMPESTUOUS
WAVES, NEVER AGAIN TO REACH PORT.
Data entry tech comment: EVIDENTLY QUOTED FROM A NOVEL OR HISTORY BOOK.
Where learned: "LORE OF THE LAKES"
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE SHIP THAT WOULDN'T SINK
UPON HEARING THAT MY BROTHER AND I WERE DIVERS AND
WERE IN MUNISING TO DIVE ON SHIPWRECKS, SOMEONE TOLD US
ABOUT A SHIP THAT HAD FOUNDERED NORTH OF GRAND ISLAND.
THE SHIP WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LOADED WITH WHISKEY. HE
TOLD US THAT SINCE IT WAS A WOODEN VESSEL, IT WOULDN'T
SINK ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM; BUT WOULD FLOAT
AROUND AT A CERTAIN DEPTH (UNDETERMINED) AND WOULD
PROBABLY HAVE FETCHED UP ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE
ISLAND, HAVING DRIFTED THAT WAY AND EVENTUALLY GROUNDING
THERE. HE SERIOUSLY SEEMED TO BELIEVE WHAT HE TOLD US,
BUT I AM INCLINED TO THINK THAT HE WAS KIDDING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MUNISING
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 07-00-1965
TOMBSTONE IN CEMETERY
THIS IS THE ONLY ONE I CAN REMEMBER CHRIS TELLING ME
BECAUSE I HAD ORIGINALLY COME TO HER HOME TO TALK
WITH HER MOTHER ABOUT FOLKLORE AND EVERY SO OFTEN
CHRIS WOULD THROW SOMETHING INTO THE CONVERSATION.
MANY OF THE THINGS I WAS TOLD THAT EVENING WOULD
SUDDENLY COME OUT OF THIN AIR, WHILE WORKING ON AN
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SUBJECT.
THIS IS TOLD OF A TOMBSTONE IN MT. OLIVE CEMETERY IN
DETROIT {MICHIGAN}, AT OUTER DRIVE AND SIX MILE.
UP UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO, ONE PARTICULAR TOMBSTONE
WOULD ALWAYS GLOW AN EERIE RED ALL NIGHT LONG, BUT
DURING THE DAY IT LOOKED LIKE ANY ORDINARY TOMB-
STONE. MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO BE A BIT CAREFUL WHEN TALKING
ABOUT IT, I GUESS IT WAS REAL. THE STONE, FROM WHAT
CHRIS SAID, HASN'T GLOWED SINCE A MAUSELEUM WAS BUILT
VERY CLOSE TO IT. EVERYONE OLD ENOUGH REMEMBERS SEEING
THE GLOWING TOMBSTONE. CHRIS'S HOME IS APPROXIMATELY
200 FEET FROM THE CEMETERY.
Data entry tech comment: THIS IS CONFUSING: PERHAPS MRS. MARSHAL'S DAUGHTER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GHOSTLY LIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): MAUSOLEUM MT. OLIVET CEMETERY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
DEATH CAR
DURING THE SUMMER VACATION, WORD TRAVELLED AROUND TOWN
THAT A 1958 THUNDERBIRD {AUTOMOBILE} WAS UP FOR SALE
AT FLINT FOR ONLY $100. THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT
CONDITION, BUT TWO PEOPLE HAD DIED IN IT, AND THEIR
CORPSES CAUSED THE INTERIOR AND EVEN THE METAL OF
THE CAR ITSELF TO TAKE ON A PUNGANT ODOR. NOTHING
COULD REMOVE THE STENCH. THE USED CAR MAN TRIED
EVERYTHING TO SELL THE CAR, BUT NO ONE WOULD BUY IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAR. THIS FACT
WAS TRANSMITTED TO ME ORALLY.
Submitter comment: CORPSE'S SMELL
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Flint
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001958 SUMMER
LEGEND OF THE DUNE COVERED LUMBER CAMP ON LAKE
THERE IS SAID TO BE AN OLD LUMBER VILLAGE WHICH WAS
ABANDONED AND EVENTUALLY COVERED UP BY THE SAND OF THE
DOONS {DUNES} NEAR THE LAKE MICHIGAN. WHEN THE WIND
BLOWS VERY HARD, THOUGH, YOU CAN SEE THE TOPS OF THE
HOUSES. THIS PLACE IS CALLED GOSHORN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
A DRIVING LESSON
WHEN I WAS ABOUT 13 OR 14, I TRIED TO TEACH MY GRANDFATHER
HOW TO DRIVE. PRIOR TO THIS, MY GRANDFATHER WAS
ACQUAINTED ONLY WITH DRIVING A HORSE AND BUGGY. WE
STARTED OUT IN MY FATHER'S T MODEL FORD AFTER GRANDPA
HAD LEARNED HOW TO GET IT STARTED. EVERYTHING WAS
GOING WELL, UNTIL GRANDPA MISSED A TURN AND HEADED
FOR A HOUSE. HE JUMPED A DITCH, PLOWED THROUGH A
FENCE AND TORE UP A FLOWER BED WHERE THE SOFT DIRT
STALLED THE CAR. ALL THE TIME THE CAR WAS RUNNING
AMOCK, GRANDPA HAD HIS FEET PLANTED ON THE FLOOR
PULLING BACK ON THE STEERING WHEEL YELLING, "WHOA,
DAMNIT, WHOA." THIS EVENT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO
INFORMANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 08-10-1964
GURGLING GHOST
DURING THE PROHIBITION DAY A MAN WAS FOUND IN THE
OUTSIDE JOHN WITH HIS THROAT SLIT. ALL THE OWNERS OF
THE HOME, EXCEPT FOR THE PRESENT OCCUPANTS, CLAIM
THEY HEARD A STRANGE GURGLING SOUND, LIKE A MAN
WHO HAD HIS THROAT CUT TRYING TO TALK.
Submitter comment: HEARD FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): GHOSTLIKE SOUNDS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001964 SUMMER
THROAT CUT
IN A PREDOMINENTLY ITALIAN NEIGHBORHOOD THERE IS A
HOUSE WHERE NOONE WILL LIVE. WHEN THE MAFIA WAS VERY
ACTIVE IN THIS PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE WAS A
MURDER. A MAN WENT OUT TO HIS OUTSIDE TOILET AND
WAS FOUND THERE WITH HIS THROAT CUT.
EVER SINCE THEN, PEOPLE WHO MOVED INTO THE HOUSE
WOULD HEAR A GURGLING SOUND OUT IN THE OUTHOUSE,
JUST AS IF A THROAT HAD BEEN CUT.
NO ONE EVER DID FIND THE MURDERER.
Submitter comment: THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THE INFORMANT'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): GHOSTLIKE SOUNDS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 08-00-1964
LEGEND OF THE BANK INSPECTOR
IN THE OLD DAYS, BANKS USED TO KEEP GOLD IN THEIR SAFES
WHICH WOULD BACK UP THE PAPER MONEY THAT THEY ISSUE OUT.
A BANK INSPECTOR HAD TO TRAVEL FROM BANK TO BANK TO
MAKE SURE THAT THESE BANKS WERE KEEPING TO THIS LAW, AND
NOT ISSUING MONEY THAT COULD NOT BE BACKED. THIS ONE
PARTICULAR BANK INSPECTOR HAD A ROUTE FROM KALAMAZOO
{MICHIGAN} TO MT. CLEMENS, MICHIGAN. HE WAS ON HIS
WAY TO BATTLE CREEK {MICHIGAN} WHEN HE NOTICED A
COACH THAT WAS MOVING FASTER THAN HE HAD EVER SEEN,
PASS HIM AND TRAVEL AHEAD OF HIM. WHEN HE ARRIVED IN
BATTLE CREEK, WHY THERE IT WAS! HE WENT INTO THE BANK
AND CHECKED THE MONEY OF GOLD. HE NOTED THAT IT WAS IN
THE SAME TYPE OF CHEST THAT THE ONE IN KALAMAZOO HAD.
BUT HE THOUGHT THEY MUST HAVE BOUGHT THIS FINE CHEST
FROM THE SAME COMPANY, SINCE THE TWO TOWNS ARE FAIRLY
CLOSE. THEN OFF TO MARSHALL {MICHIGAN} HE WENT. BUT THE
SAME COACH WAS RACING PAST HIM THAT HE HAD SEEN BEFORE.
HE THOUGHT THAT THIS GUY MUST BE CRAZY. WHEN HE GOT
TO MARSHALL, THERE WAS THAT CRAZY MAN'S COACH. DO YOU
KNOW THAT THE CHEST OF GOLD WAS VERY SIMILAR, IF NOT
THE SAME HERE, TOO? WELL, THIS WENT ON AGAIN, AND
AGAIN, UNTIL HE FINALLY GOT SUSPICIOUS. AT MT. CLEMENS
HE HELD UP THAT STRANGE COACH AND SENT AN ENVOY BACK
TO DETROIT TO RE-CHECK THE BANK THERE, AND SURE ENOUGH!
THERE WAS NO GOLD BACK-UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BATTLE CREEK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
VILLAGE OF BERTRAND LEGEND
ANOTHER LOCAL LEGEND HAS TO DO WITH THE VILLAGE OF
BERTRAND {MICHIGAN} JUST OVER THE STATE LINE IN
MICHIGAN. IT WAS A THRIVING CITY, ON A PAR WITH SOUTH
BEND IN THE MID-19TH CENTURY. IT IS REPORTED THAT
ONE OF OUR PRIESTS SOUGHT SHELTER THERE ONE NIGHT, AND
WAS TURNED AWAY BY THE CITIZENS. HE IS SUPPOSED TO
HAVE PUT A CURSE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD. TODAY, WHERE
ONCE A FLOURISHING TOWN, THERE IS NOTHING BUT OPEN
FIELDS. THE CHAPEL THERE WAS ALSO BROKEN INTO, AND
DESECRATED (THIS IS A FACT). THE ALTAR WAS LATER
BROUGHT DOWN TO NOTRE DAME AND PLACED IN THE LOG CHAPEL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM ; INDIANA, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): DEATH OF TOWN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 01-22-1968
HAUNTED POST OFFICE
IN 1916 A PAINTER WAS WORKING IN A DETROIT POST OFFICE.
HE HAD SPILLED SOME PAINT ON HIMSELF. HE WAS WORKING
NEAR THE FUSE BOX WHEN IT SHORTED, SPARKS FLEW OUT
AND IGNITED THE PAINT. HE WAS BURNED TO DEATH IN A
FEW MINUTES. A YEAR LATER, TO THE DAY, PEOPLE HEARD
SCREAMS IN THE BUILDING AND RAN IN AND FOUND A MAN
BURNED TO DEATH. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A FIRE IN OR
AROUND THE BUILDING. THREE YEARS LATER, TO THE DAY,
THAT POST OFFICE BURNED TO THE GROUND.
FIREMEN REPORTED HEARING SCREAMS FROM INSIDE, BUT NO
ONE WAS EVER FOUND. A PARKING LOT WAS EVENTUALY BUILT
ON THE SITE. PEOPLE STILL REPORT HEARING SCREAMS FROM
THE AREA DSN ALSO REPORT SEEING FIRES ON THE LOT.
THE SCREAMS AND FIRE REPORTS ALWAYS COME ON THE
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORIGINAL DEATH, OCTOBER 31ST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HALLOWEEN ALL SOULS DAY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-30-1968
DEAD CHILD LEGEND {PREMATURE BURIAL}
IN JACKSON {MICHIGAN}, AT ONE OF OUR CEMETERIES, THERE
IS A SMALL TOMBSTONE MARKED LITTLE MARY, AND THE BIRTH
AND DEATH DATES. IT PASSED AMONG THE HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS THE STORY OF MARY'S SAD DEATH.
IT SEEMS THAT WHEN SHE WAS BURIED, SHE WAS NOT REALLY
DEAD, DUE TO THE FACT THAT SHE WAS IN A DISEASE-INDUCED
COMA. SINCE THIS WAS BEFORE THIS DISEASE WAS KNOWN, THEY
BURIED HER, THINKING HER DEAD.
THIS MUST HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE OF SOME KIND, BECAUSE
THEY SHORTLY DUG HER UP AGAIN.
THIS TIME SHE WAS REALLY DEAD, BUT SHE HAD EVIDENTLY
COME OUT OF THE COMA AND TRIED TO SCRATCH HER WAY OUT
OF THE COFFIN, BECAUSE THERE WERE SCRATCH MARKS ON THE
WOOD AND THE SHROUD WAS ALL ASKEW. MARY WAS TURNED
OVER, FACE DOWN IN THE COFFIN AND DEAD FROM SUFFOCATION
OR SHOCK, NO ONE KNOWS WHICH.
THIS STORY IS MOST OFTEN TOLD TO SOME UNSUSPECTING SOUL
WHO FINDS HIMSELF TAKEN TO A GRAVEYARD AND TOLD THE STORY
WHILE LOOKING AT LITTLE MARY'S TOMBSTONE. OFTEN TIMES
OTHER GUYS ARE HIDDEN NEARBY TO SCREAM JUST AS THE
FIRST GROUP IS LEAVING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; JACKSON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SEA MONSTER AT BELLE ISLE {MICHIGAN}
NEAR THE GOLF COURSE ON BELLE ISLE {DETROIT, MICHIGAN}
BY A LAGOON, A SEA MONSTER COMES OUT ONCE A YEAR AND
SNATCHES THE COUPLE PARKING NEAREST TO HIM, AND TAKES
THEM BACK IN THE WATER WITH HIM. THEY ARE NEVER
SEEN AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-17-1967
WHEN THE NICHOLSON BRIDGE, NICHOLSON, PENNSYLVANIA
WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED, A BLACK LARORER WAS SUPPOSEDLY
TO HAVE FALLEN INTO THE WET CONCRETE AND SUNK INTO IT
BEFORE HE COULD BE RETRIEVED. HE WAS LEFT THERE AND
HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED. THE STORY GOES THAT HE
WAS BURIED ALIVE IN THE 7TH PILLAR OF THE RAILROAD
BRIDGE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
EASY WAY TO GRADE PAPERS
WHEN AN INFORMANT TOLD ME OF HIS CONNECTION WITH STUDENTS
WHO BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS (IS) A UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
PROFESSOR WHO GRADES PAPERS BY THROWING THEM UP THE
STAIRS, I WAS REMINDED OF TWO INSTANCES IN WHICH I
HEARD OF THE SAME LEGEND.
THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THIS STORY (AND BELIEVED IT!) WAS
WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT DOWNTOWN
CAMPUS. I REMEMBER A CLASSMATE OF MINE SAYING HE DIDN'T
WANT TO TAKE A MR. THOMPSON FOR ACCOUNTING BECAUSE HE NEVER
EVEN LOOKED AT THE EXAMINATION PAPERS OR AT THE HOMEWORK
HANDED IN. HE WOULD JUST THROW THE PAPERS UP THE STAIRS
AND THOSE THAT LANDED ON TOP WOULD GET AN A AND THEN THE
GRADES DESCENDED AS DID THE PAPERS. THE BOTTOM PAPERS
WOULD GET FS. THIS WAS ABOUT 1954.
THE SECOND TIME I HEARD THIS AT THE UPTOWN (MC NICHOLS
RD.) CAMPUS. DR. ESPINOSA OF MY SPANISH 55 CLASS TOLD US
THE STORY OF A YOUNG GIRL WHO HAD A DEFECT (I BELIEVE
SHE WAS HUNCHBACKED) BUT WHO WAS A VERY GOOD STUDENT
WHO HAD EARNED ALL A'S IN HER COLLEGE CAREER. ALL
A'S THAT IS, UNTIL A SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR WHO GRADED BY
THE "THROW THE PAPERS UP AND SEE HOW THEY FALL" METHOD,
GAVE HER A C IN HIS COURSE. DR. ESPINOSA TOLD THIS AS
THE TRUTH, AND TOLD IT QUITE CONVINCINGLY, I MIGHT ADD.
THIS WAS IN ABOUT 1961.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 02-19-1965
THIS STORY OFTEN CIRCULATED IN THE DEARBORN-LIVONIA
AREA OF MICHIGAN, WITH SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VERSIONS.
A YOUNG GIRL WAS BABYSITTING AND SHE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL
FROM A MAN WHO SAID "YOU'RE NEXT." THE GIRL THOUGHT
THAT THIS WAS JUST A PRANK PHONE CALL, UNTIL THE
CALL WAS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES. FINALLY, SHE CALLED
THE POLICE WHO SAID THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY. NEXT
SHE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE OPERATOR WHO TOLD HER
IF HE SHOULD CALL AGAIN, TO KEEP HIM ON THE PHONE AS
LONG AS POSSIBLE, SO SHE COULD TRACE THE CALL. THE
NEXT TIME HE CALLED, SHE KEPT HIMON FOR A FEW MINUTES
UNTIL THE OPERATOR INTERRUPTED AND TOLD HER TO GET
OUT OF THE HOUSE, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THIS
MAN WAS ON THE EXTENSION PHONE. ALL ALONG HE HAD
BEEN UPSTAIRS AND HAD KILLED THE CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
MISSISSIPPI LEGEND
THE EXPLORER, DE SOTO, STOLE ALL THE AZTECS GOLD, BUT
NONE OF HIS MEN KNEW THAT HE HAD IT; HE WAS GOING TO
KEEP IT ALL FOR HIMSELF. ONLY A SERVANT KNEW. THE
INDIANS BECAME ANGRY, SO DE SOTO AND HIS MEN HEADED UP INTO
WHAT IS NOW LOUISIANA. THEY WERE BUILDING BOATS TO SAIL
HOME, WHEN DE SOTO DIED. THEY PUT HIS BODY ON A BOAT AND
SANK IT SO THE INDIANS WOULDN'T GET HIM. BY MISTAKE--OR
UNKNOWINGLY--THEY SANK THE BOAT WITH THE MONEY ON IT, SO
BOTH THE GOLD AND DE SOTO ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
MISSISSIPPI.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 05-15-1965