This real-life mystery sounds like the title of a Nancy Drew / Hardy Boys novel, doesn’t it? But stay tuned.
First Nations near Flat Rock, Indiana first told of the Firebear living in nearby caves. At night, the Firebear roamed forests and fields, burning brightly at night. Seen by generation after generation of Native Americans, the creature was deemed immortal.
In pioneer times when homesteaders settled Flat Rock, they learned of the legend. Not only did they hear of the myth from local Indians, they saw the Firebear for themselves, coming out at night, flaming in the dark.
So, if I told you the Firebear was actual, factual, what explanation might you give? Historical records indicate it was real. Take a moment to ponder before we solve the mystery.
Major Works
My recent story, Dime Detective, was influenced by Booth Tarkington’s Penrod stories. Tarkington was among a number of Indiana authors wildly popular in their time, but, despite films, stage plays, and now audiobooks, are virtually forgotten by subsequent generations.
Along similar lines, Indianapolis attorney Charles Major took to writing, and success eventually allowed him to give up lawyering. His intensively researched historical romances became immediately popular, beginning with When Knighthood was in Flower in 1898. Three years later as Knighthood was finally giving up its bestselling status, a new children’s novel set in soon-to-be Shelby County, Indiana, The Bears of Blue River, made a hit with youngsters and adults alike. Today, the town square of Shelbyville features a sculpture of a boy with bears.
Major was certainly aware of the Firebear legend. So how would you explain the mystery of the Firebear?
See solution below the break. ⤵︎
Settlers eventually determined how a living, breathing, burning bear was possible. Flat Rock is home to a number of caves and some caves are loaded with phosphorus. When the bear settled in to nap, its fur picked up the mineral and eerily glowed.
Pretty cool legend, huh! What was your conclusion?
Cool, Indeed! And the secret was nicely protected, because who in their right mind would venture into the bear's cave, even when he wasn't there? Thanks for the fun story, Leigh! Melodie
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melodie. I visited the caves once, but parents wouldn't let us venture in. No known bears, but the cited rabid bats. Darn grownups, won't let anyone have any fun.
DeleteThanks for sharing this intriguing legend, Leigh. I actually figured it out, having explored a similar cave in Puerto Rico in 1964. Not a whole lot of phosphorus (my boots glowed a bit), but a guano load of bats!
ReplyDeleteEdward Lodi
Well done, Edward. I imagine that cave smelled pretty.
DeleteMy Aunt Rae was a professor of art and art history. There was a time (late 60s? early 70s?) when coprolites– petrified dung– was used as a gem in jewelry making. Fortunately I don't wear jewelry.
I love legends like this! And it does make perfect sense. Phospherus, of course!
ReplyDeleteNow do Mothman!
I agree, Eve. Something feels satisfying about legend solved with logic and research.
DeleteMothman though… yikes!
Also in Puerto Rico, La Parguera, where you can get (or I assume you still can, I was there in 1968) a glass bottomed boat to Phosphorescent Bay, where the fish are all bioluminescent, not necessarily actually phosphorescent, but equally cool—and so is anyone who dives into the water to show off.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I love the bear story - bears are important to us in my house. And I do remember both Penrod (and Penrod and Sam, right?) and When Knighthood was in Flower. (Though I was not around in 1898.)
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Liz. I stumbled upon the Penrod stories (and Penrod and Sam) in the high school library and they didn't have a rule against us middle-schoolers using it.
DeleteMy main characters in Prohibition Peepers are a Penrod and Sam… or actually Samantha, as it turns out.
Eclipse Update: Tomorrow's solar eclipse path of totality passes directly over darkest Shelby County. No word whether Firebears will glow during this time. However, local friends tell me the statue is wearing a space helmet and the bears are sporting alien antennae.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWho figured out the solution and when?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the question, Elliot. I'm not sure who, but as settlers filled in the frontier, phosphorus was determined to be the major factor. The story stuck with me because it seemed so improbably, and yet it had a logical explanation.
Delete