Mount Chocorua Mount Chocorua (IPA: /ʃʌˈkɔʊˌɹwə/) is a summit in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. At an elevation of 3,490 feet (1,064 m) it is the easternmost peak of the Sandwich Range. Although the range is not outstanding for its elevation, it is very rugged and has excellent views of the surrounding lakes, mountains, and forests. Mount Chocoruas bare summit can be seen from almost every direction and can be identified from many points throughout central New Hampshire and western Maine. It is believed that Chocorua was the name of a Native American man in the 18th century, although no authentic records of his life exist. The usual story is that in about 1720 Chocorua was on friendly terms with settlers and in particular the Campbell family that had a home in the valley now called Tamworth. Chocorua was called away and left his son in the care of the Campbell family. The boy found and drank a poison that Mr. Campbell had made to eliminate troublesome foxes, and Chocorua returned to find his son had died. Chocorua, distraught with grief, pledged revenge on the family. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Campbell returned home one afternoon to find his wife and children had been slain. Campbell suspected Chocorua and pursued him up the mountain that today bears his name. Chocorua was wounded by a shot from Campbells rifle. Before Campbell could reach Chocorua, he uttered a curse upon the white settlers and their homes, livestock, and crops, and leapt from the summit to his death. There are at least three other versions of the legend of Chocorua. One is that Chocorua simply fell from a high rock on the mountain while hunting. A second is the white settlers pursued Chocorua up the mountain after an Indian massacre, and he was not shot at all but simply leapt to his death. The third is that all the white settlers pursued him with guns, pitchforks, and torches. They collapsed of exhaustion as Chocorua reached the top, and the settlers decided to torch the remaining trees up to the summit, and in doing so they burned and exposed the topsoil of the last 1,270 feet (390 m). As the flames drew closer and closer to Chocorua, he cursed the white men and leapt to his death. The curse The east face of Mount Chocorua from Carter Ledge Although the exact words of Chocoruas curse (or even if there was a curse) are not known, it has been reported (Mudge, page 34) to be as follows. May the Great Spirit curse you when he speaks in the clouds and his words are fire! Lightning blast your crops! Wind and fire destroy your homes! The Evil One breathe death on your cattle! Panthers howl and wolves fatten on your bones! Another version appears in the story Chocoruas Curse, by Lydia Maria Child, contained in The Token (1830): A curse upon ye, white men! May the Great Spirit curse ye when he speaks in the clouds, and his words are fire! Chocorua had a son — and ye killed him while the sky looked bright! Lightning, blast your crops! Wind and fire destroy your dwellings! The Evil Spirit breathe death upon your cattle! Your graves lie in the war path of the Indian! Panthers howl, and wolves fatten over your bones! Chocorua goes to the Great Spirit — his curse stays with the white men!
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 23:46:56 +0000
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