The Stuff of Legends

In a constant state of fear, pioneers blamed the Indian for any misfortune or irregularity.  They became the villain and when actual Indians were spotted, it became a panic situation.

One man rushed to camp claiming he was being chased by 20 Indians, and after raising 15 armed settlers, discovered the Indians were only offering the peace pipe for some food.

Lucy Cook told the story in her journal, "he had not gone far when looking back, saw someone in pursuit and fearing it to be an Indian, jumped off his horse and took to his heels to hide in the tall grass, leaving his horse for the Indian. The purser proved to be one of his own men, so he got well laughed at for his fright, and would have lost his horse had not an Indian caught it and brought it back to camp"  The train captain justly rewarded the Indian with a dollar for his honesty.

Massacres for the most part were mostly the stuff of myths as well - sensationalized and rare.  In reality, the white man killed far more Indians between 1840-1860 than Indians killed the white man. The true scalping was between tribes and during tribal wars.


Reminds me of ghost stories around a campfire - didn't you see that ghost in the woods??

Next time...Myths and Legends Continued.