Document text
Folklore
Form A
Circumstances of Interview
Washington
Randall Nelson
Seattle, Washington
December 20, 1958
"The Copper Canoe Man"
1. Alfred J. Smith, Tacoma, Washington
2. December 20, 1958
3. From field copy of Federal writers' Project files
4. None
5. None
6. None
Folklore
FORM B
Personal History of Informant
Washington
Randall Nelson
Seattle, 7liashington
December 20, 1938
"The Chopper Canoe Man"
Alfred J. Smith, Tacoma, Washington
1.
(Not obtained)
3.
Nelson
THE COPPER CANOE MAN
no fight and steal no more, to give a part of all they had to those
in need, to forgive their enemies this was a strange code to the war
loving Puyallups. Even the promise of eternal life in a land of plenty
for those who took this way of living bore no weight with these heir*
warriors. Yet this strange whit, voyager who had come in across the
Mhulge with the rising of the sun and called all the red men to gather
about him preached these things to them. The doctrine of love."'7
"When he had appeared upon the water in a beautiful, copper 0=00
whose sides reflected the morning sun in many hues the Indians had been im-
pressed but they soon wearied of his preaching of a doctrine which they
could not understand and felt only contempt for him.** -1.
"So according to the old tale which may be either history or legend
or a blending of both, they dragged the voyager to a tree and fastened him
there with pegs through his feet and hands and danced the Devil -dance a-
bout him until his life was gone.or
"When they took him demand would have burfied him a great storm broke
and then the stranger rose to his feet and began preaching again and the sun
cams out. So now the red men believed the words of this voyager from across
the Whulge, tried to follow his teachings and in the years that fbllowed became
the most peaceful of all the tribes."