The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE TRAPPER

IN ISHPEMING, MICHIGAN, THERE IS A TALE ABOUT A FRENCH-
CANADIAN FUR SELLER WHO WAS FAIRLY RICH. HE ALWAYS
WORE HIGH BLACK BOOTS, A LARGE CAP, AND DRESSED VERY
NICELY. IT IS SAID THAT HE WAS ROBBED AND KILLED ONE
DAY IN HIS CANOE BUT HIS BODY WAS NEVER FOUND.
ABOUT THIRTY YEARS LATER, HIS GREAT GRAND-CHILD WAS
WALKING ON THE BEACH AND SAW AN OVERTURNED CANOE WITH
A PAIR OF BLACK BOOTS COMING OUT FROM UNDER IT. HE
PICKED UP THE CANOE AND SAW A MAN WITH OLD BUT VERY
NICE LOOKING CLOTHES, LONG BLACK BOOTS, AND A LARGE
CAP. HE THOUGHT IT TO BE HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER AND RAN
HOME TO TELL HIS PARENTS. WHEN HIS PARENTS CAME TO SEE,
THE BODY WAS NOT THERE, BUT THE CANOE WAS, WITH A
BLOODY CAP INSIDE. THERE WERE ALSO FOOTPRINTS LEADING
FROM THE CANOE TO THE WOODS. THEY LEFT, BUT CAME BACK
NEXT DAY AND FOUND NOTHING. NOTHING WAS EVER HEARD
ABOUT IT AGAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; APARTMENT ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; ISHPEMING

Date learned: 11-12-1969