The Way I Heard It: Tales of the Big Bend

by Walter Fulcher

The folklore of Texas' Big Bend region was still in the making during Walter Fulcher's lifetime. Born in Lampasas County in 1887, he worked on the Martin Ranch near Sheffield when a young man. There he witnessed events in the last outlaw activities of the Black Jack Ketchum gang. He also listened to legends told almost as gossip, and some of the legendary figures were still alive—or said to be alive, usually in hiding. In every village there was sure to be some ancient with a good memory and a better imagination, and Walter Fulcher heard many versions of many tales. He has set them down as he heard them, as simple folk tales that reflect the color of a wild and vivid country in 400 years of its settlement. The book has been edited, with introduction and notes, by Elton Miles, Professor of English at Sul Ross State College.

Genres: Folklore

113 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

Reviews

[BooksAndMinerals · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at the Big Bend NP gift shop as a present for my dad. I "accidentally" started reading it and have enjoyed the many tales from the Big Bend that Walter Fulcher has to offer. I wish there were more stories about how different places got their name, but I thoroughly enjoyed what this book had to offer.