The Legend of the Burning Barrel

Legend has it that a man of European descent used to roam these parts long, long ago. I heard somewhere his name was Rettuc Nevets, and he was a long and lanky sort of fellow. According to other accounts of his comings and goings, a giant of a man compared to his peers.

The story goes that one night he was shooting at some food, when up from the ground came a bubbling grude. Oh, wrong story.

They say Rettuc Nevets was sitting on a log near a ravine one dark and chilly night eating some food, and stirring a fire in what some describe as a large round barrel (55 gallon size). And out of nowhere a large hairy critter came scurrying by, and scared the shit right out of him. Well old Rettuc Nevets jumped up and went reaching for his gun, and he fell over right into the barrel, and the barrel and him went rolling down the ravine and he burned up.

It wasn’t until hundreds of years later that the barrel was discovered by settlers in the area, and stories of Rettuc Nevets demise started to spread. Its been told that his restless ghost roams around and haunts this area by looking for empty barrels to build fires in on cold winter nights, and stir the eerie flames. If you ever see a fire in a barrel in these parts, especially on a cold winter night - beware!!!! Don’t be drawn to the fire and hypnotized by the flames. If you do you could encounter the same fate as old Rettuc Nevets did that cold dark night so long ago.

It has been said that many a weary traveler upon seeing a fire in a barrel would delight in their good fortune to warm themselves by the fire, only to eventually be reported missing. Those fortunate enough to survive have recalled that if a sighting occurs, and you look close enough, his restless ghost can actually be seen in the shadows stirring the fire waiting for some poor unfortunate soul to wander by and meet his ghastly end just like Rettuc Nevets did so very, very long ago.

Yes, I have heard this story too. Mike is correct on the strange beverage, but I have also heard that this ghost is only after men, and will vanish when a wife appears.