The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

INDIAN PETE-1

"INDIAN PETE," THE ONLY NAME I EVER KNEW HIM BY, WAS A
CHARACTER THAT WOULD HAVE A GOOD SUBJECT FOR AN AUTHOR.
WE WERE TOLD HE WAS A WHITE BOY THAT WAS CAPTURED AND
RAISED BY THE INDIANS. WHEN I KNEW HIM, HE LIVED WITH
THE INDIANS AND DRESSED IN THE TRADITIONAL INDIAN
FASHION. THE STORIES ABOUT THE NUMBER OF SCALPS HE
HAD, I AM SURE, WERE EXAGGERATED. WHENEVER HE WOULD
COME RIDING HIS BLACK AND WHITE PONY INTO TOWN, IT
WAS REASON FOR MOST MOTHERS TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN IN
TO THEIR HOUSES, BUT MY OLDER BROTHER AND I WOULD
ALWAYS RUN TO MEET HIM AS HE NEVER FAILED TO GIVE US
A RIDE ON HIS PONY. UNFORTUNATELY, THESE RIDES WOULD
COME TO AN END, AS SOON AS HE WOULD SEE MY MOTHER, AS
SHE, LIKE MOST WOMEN IN THE TOWN, WAS AFRAID OF HIM.
THE ONLY REASON FOR THIS FEAR THAT I COULD SEE, WAS HIS
GREAT DESIRE TO GET DRUNK AND START SHOOTING HIS GUN IN
THE AIR AS HE RODE UP AND DOWN THE MAIN STREET. THIS
HABIT LED HIM TO THE TOWN JAIL WHICH BECAME HIS SECOND
HOME. AFTER ONE OF THESE SHOOTING SPREES, IF HE
COULD RIDE OUT OF TOWN BEFORE BEING ARRESTED, NOTHING
WAS DONE ABOUT HIM, BUT IF HE DID NOT RIDE FAST
ENOUGH, IT WAS THE TOWN JAIL FOR INDIAN PETE, UNTIL
HE SLEPT IT OFF.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PEORIA

Date learned: 11-01-1971