The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE LEGEND OF MR. KREPSI {INDIAN KILLER}

IN THE EARLY 1800S NEAR ORTONVILLE, MICHIGAN (NEAR
PONTIAC) THERE LIVED A FARMER, THOMAS KREPSI. THERE
WAS A TRIBE OF INDIANS LIVING THERE AT THE TIME--
TAMARAC INDIANS. KREPSI HATED THE INDIANS. HE WAS CRUEL
TO THEM AND ONCE HE EVEN KILLED AN INDIAN.
ONE DAY, KREPSI BROUGHT HIS GOODS TO FORT DETROIT TO
SELL THEM. WHEN HE GOT HOME LATE IN THE EVENING, HE
FOUND HIS CABIN ON FIRE. THE INDIANS HAD DONE THIS IN
RETALIATION. KREPSI RAN INSIDE THE CABIN TO SAVE HIS
WIFE AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS.
WHILE KREPSI WAS INSIDE, THE ROOF CAVED IN. ONLOOKERS
REPORTED SEEING SOMETHING BADLY BURNED CRAWL OUT OF A
WINDOW--KREPSI. HE CREPT INTO THE SWAMP AND WAS NEVER
FOUND.
A FEW MONTHS LATER A BADLY BURNED MAN WAS SEEN LEAVING
THE INDIAN RESERVATION AFTER KILLING THREE INDIAN GIRLS.
IN THE 1930S A DUCK HUNTER WAS ATTACKED IN THE SWAMP
BY HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT. LATER HE RETURNED TO THE SWAMP
OUT OF CURIOSITY AND WAS NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN.
IN THE 1960S THERE WERE REPORTS OF SOME ONSTER IN THAT
AREA. NOBODY KNEW WHAT IT WAS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Date learned: 02-01-1971