The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

"THUMP-DRAG"

MANY YEARS AGO A COUNSELOR AT THE CYO BOYS CAMP WAS WORKING IN
THE CRAFT-HOUSE. HE REACHED UP ON A HIGH SHELF TO GET SOMETHING AND
ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED A BOTTLE OF ACID OFF THE SHELF. HE FELL TO THE
FLOOR AND HIT HIS HEAD ON A TABLE, AND THE ACID FELL ALL OVER HIS
LEFT LEG.
HE WAS TAKEN TO THE DOCTOR, BUT HE WAS DEAD. THEY BURIED HIM
SOON AFTER--BUT HE WASN'T REALLY DEAD} HE CAME TO WHEN HE WAS BURIED
IN THE COFFIN, AND HE SCRATCHED AND DUG HIS WAY OUT OF THE GRAVE.
THIS "DEAD" COUNSELOR NOW HATED ANYONE AT A CAMP BECAUSE OF THIS
AWFUL THING THAT HAPPENED TO HIM. THE NEXT SUMMER HE CAME BACK TO THE
CYO BOYS CAMP. HE WAS HORRIBLE-LOOKING, AND YOU COULD HEAR HIM COMING
BECAUSE OF THE THUMP-DRAG NOISE HE MADE BECAUSE OF THE ACID THAT
SPILLED ON HIS LEG.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT HE CAME AND KILLED A WHOLE BUNCH OF
CAMPERS AND COUNSELORS, AND THEN DISAPPEARED. BUT FIVE YEARS LATER HE
CAME TO THE CAMP DOWN THE ROAD AND DID THE SAME THING. HE COMES BACK
EVERY FIVE YEARS AND THUMP-DRAGS INTO THE NEXT CAMP DOWN THE ROAD.
AND FIVE YEARS AGO HE CAME TO THE CAMP JUST BEFORE THIS ONE} AND HE
ALWAYS COMES DURING THESE TWO WEEKS} SO LISTEN FOR A THUMP-DRAG
CAREFULLY, BECAUSE HE MAY BE HERE ANY NIGHT}}

Submitter comment: THIS IS A STORY TOLD TO CAMPERS AT CYO GIRLS CAMP, CARSONVILLE, MICH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-30-1969