The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

INDIAN GHOST STORY

WHEN I WAS A SMALL BOY IN ST. LOUIS MISSOURI, MY GRANDPARENTS OWNED
A FARM THAT USED TO BE OWNED BY INDIANS. THEY SAID THAT AN INDIAN
DIED IN THE HOUSE THAT USED TO BE ON THE LAND. AFTER THE INDIAN
DIED SOME OTHER PEOPLE MOVED IN. THE HOUSE MUST HAVE BEEN HAUNTED
BY THE DEAD INDIAN BECAUSE EVERYTIME PEOPLE WOULD TRY TO SLEEP
THEIR BLANKETS WOULD BE TORN OFF OF THEM. ONE DAY A MAN WHO
LIVED THERE DECIDED THAT THE INDIAN WOULD NOT TEAR OFF HIS
BLANKET WHILE HE WAS TRYING TO SLEEP. SO THAT NIGHT HE DECIDED THAT
HE WAS GOING TO HANG ONTO HIS BLANKET REAL HARD. WELL, WHEN HE GOT
INTO BED THAT NIGHT THE GHOST STARTED TO TEAR OFF HIS BLANKET. THE
MAN HUNG ONTO THE BLANKET REAL HARD BUT THE GHOST WAS TOO STRONG
FOR HIM. THE GHOST TORE THAT MAN'S BLANKET RIGHT OFF AND THE MAN
FELL RIGHT ONTO THE FLOOR. WELL, IT WAS MANY YEARS AFTER THAT
THAT MY GRANDPARENTS BOUGHT THAT LAND. THEY SAID THAT NOTHING REAL
STRANGE EVER HAPPENED TO THEM EXCEPT FOR ONE TIME. ONE DAY MY
GRANDPARENTS WERE WORKING IN THEIR COTTONFIELD NEAR THE HOUSE.
THEY HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE PEOPLE RUNNING DOWN THE ROWS
OF COTTON. THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO LOOK UP BECAUSE THEY FIGURED
THAT IT WAS JUST ONE OF US BOYS. WHEN THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND
CLOSER THEY DID LOOK UP THEN TO SEE WHAT WE WANTED. BUT THERE
WASN'T ANYONE THERE. THEY LOOKED ALL AROUND BUT THEY COULDN'T
FIND ANYONE. NONE OF BOYS DID IT SO WE STILL DON'T WHO OR WHAT
WAS IN THE COTTONFIELD.

Where learned: MISSOURI ; SAINT LOUIS

Date learned: 00-00-1946