The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LEGEND

DAVY CROCKETT'S EXPLOITS AS A FRONTIERSMAN WERE SATIRIZED IN HIS
OWN EPIC BOASTING. HE ASSUMED THE CHARACTER OF THE RING-TAILED,
ROARING BRAGGART--"HALF HORSE AND HALF ALLIGATOR"--WHO COULD OUT-
BOAST THE LOUDEST. ONCE WHEN HE AND A FELLOW HUNTER NAMED BEN
HARDIN WERE IN THE NORTHWEST, THEY WERE SURROUNDED BY INDIANS.
DAVY RUBBED HIS BACK AGAINST A GREAT ROCK, STRUCK HIS LEFT EYE A
FEW TIMES AND WITH ONE WINK, SENT OUT A BOLT OF HOT LIGHTNING THAT
SHATTERED THE ROCK AND KILLED THE INDIANS. DAVY SAID IT WAS NO
TRICK AT ALL FOR A MAN WHO COULD "WALK LIKE AN OX, RUN LIKE A FOX,
SWIM LIKE AND EEL, AND SPOUT LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE."

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Date learned: NOT GIVEN