American Life Histories
Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project
1936-1940

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"The Copper Canoe Man"
(Washington)

Tom's note: This folklore-type life history is a parallel crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus in Christian history.

Folklore

Form A

Circumstances of Interview

Washington

Randall Nelson

Seattle, Washington

December 20, 1938

"The Copper Canoe Man"

1. Alfred J. Smith, Tacoma, Washington

2. December 20, 1938

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, Washington

December 20, 1938

"The Copper Canoe Man"

Alfred J. Smith, Tacoma, Washington

1.

2.

(Not obtained)

3.

"To 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 hardy warriors. Yet this strange white voyager who had come in across the Whulge 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.

"When he had appeared upon the water in a beautiful, copper canoe whose sides reflected the morning sun in many hues the Indians had been impressed but they soon wearied of his preaching of a doctrine which they could not understand and felt only contempt for him.

"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 about him until his life was gone.

"When they took him down and would have buried him a great storm broke and then the stranger rose to his feet and began preaching again and the sun came 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 followed became the most peaceful of all the tribes."

Text from: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection