The Legend of Alfred Packer 'Cannibal Extraordinarie'

In the winter of 1873, Alfred Packer was hired to guide a prospectin' trek. In the San Juans of Colorady they'd heard of gold that they wanted to check. Alfred claimed that in Colorady minin' camps he'd driven wagons of ore. He guaranteed he'd show 'em the valuable stuff that they were lookin' for! They visited sage old Chief Ouray and he warned 'em to wait 'til spring, To cross those rugged tors, but no, they wanted to press on and do their thing! So foolish Albert and five of the group decided to trudge on through the snow! Of the blindin' snow, lack of grub and perilous paths, little did they know! A few months later Packer appeared at an Indian Agency lookin' fit and well! He said he'd been left behind due to injuries, one of many tales he was to tell! His story changed several times sayin' one man went berserk and killed the rest! There was evidence that cannibalism was involved but old Albert never confessed! Packer was jailed in Saguache but later made his escape to Wyoming state! He was nabbed and returned to Salt Lake City for a trial and sentencin' date. "They was seven Dimmycrats in the county", pronounced the judge from the bench, "But yah man-eatin' sunuvab**ch, yah et five of 'em, fer that yer neck'll wrench!" Later the sentence was reduced to manslaughter and he was given forty years, To be served at the pen in Canon City, Colorady, but no one shed any tears! He was paroled in 1901 and moved to Denver where he hung around. Now his molderin' bones rest in peace 'neath a grassy burial mound! Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired © All Rights Reserved Placed No. 7 in Carolyn Devonshire's "Legend" Contest - April 2011