The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Working Class Hero

John Henry is distinguished by his skill in his job, with a tragedy resulting from his being overcome by a machine. He was the black hero of the tunnel construction gang. According to tradition he died while competing with his steel hammer against a steam chill at Big Bend Tunnel in West Virginia.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

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