Texas Finn
The Legend of the Free Trapper and the Sacred Tree
Big Rick Tucker was a free trapper, or a Mountain Man. He worked for himself and traded animal pelts for anything he needed. This time he looked for the best axe that he could find. He was going to build a new cabin near lake 'gitche gumee' (today known as Lake Superior) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Rick had to be careful in his land selection for he knew that the Chippewa Indians had warned him of sacred grounds nearby that were not to be disturbed in any way.
He found a perfect piece of land near no one. He could fish, hunt and chop wood for the hard winter coming.
The cabin was completed in November. The only thing he worried about was whether he had enough wood to last 4-5 months of bitter cold.
Rick Tucker would use skates attached to logs to carry lumber back home. Snow had already fallen and it was hard work. Late in the year an Indian dropped by to talk to him. His name was One Finger, and he told Rick that he had chopped up one of the sacred trees. Rick said that he not seen any sign nor had anyone said a word to him.
One Finger said that there was nothing that could be done now. The Legend stated that anyone destroying a sacred tree, upon their death, would have their Soul sent to live in one of the sacred trees. This would last until every sacred tree was destroyed.
Rick laughed at the legend and asked One Finger to leave his cabin.
In later years some of the land containing the sacred trees went under the protection of the federal government as a National Park. Over the years many visitors have sworn that they saw what looked like a man trying to escape.
The Legend of the Free Trapper and the Sacred Tree
Big Rick Tucker was a free trapper, or a Mountain Man. He worked for himself and traded animal pelts for anything he needed. This time he looked for the best axe that he could find. He was going to build a new cabin near lake 'gitche gumee' (today known as Lake Superior) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Rick had to be careful in his land selection for he knew that the Chippewa Indians had warned him of sacred grounds nearby that were not to be disturbed in any way.
He found a perfect piece of land near no one. He could fish, hunt and chop wood for the hard winter coming.
The cabin was completed in November. The only thing he worried about was whether he had enough wood to last 4-5 months of bitter cold.
Rick Tucker would use skates attached to logs to carry lumber back home. Snow had already fallen and it was hard work. Late in the year an Indian dropped by to talk to him. His name was One Finger, and he told Rick that he had chopped up one of the sacred trees. Rick said that he not seen any sign nor had anyone said a word to him.
One Finger said that there was nothing that could be done now. The Legend stated that anyone destroying a sacred tree, upon their death, would have their Soul sent to live in one of the sacred trees. This would last until every sacred tree was destroyed.
Rick laughed at the legend and asked One Finger to leave his cabin.
In later years some of the land containing the sacred trees went under the protection of the federal government as a National Park. Over the years many visitors have sworn that they saw what looked like a man trying to escape.