Reading Notes A, Week 3, The Luck of the Roaring Camp

Roaring Camp was a male only camp, with one woman, Cherokee Sal. The men at this camp were "rough", missing fingers, toes, and eyes, strong, and a close cluster of men that stuck together. Cherokee Sal was a woman, that was coarse, feared and a very sinful woman, she was abandoned, isolated, and alone at a time that she needed another woman. Cherokee Sal was pregnant and in labor, with only rough men around her and helping. Stumpy was a man that went to help deliver the baby. Once the baby was born, Cherokee Sal died. The men were invited into the cabin to see the baby boy and contribute anything they wished for the newborn baby. Kentuck was walking by and the baby boy grabbed his finger, this interaction affected him, he thought about it and checked on the baby. 

The men talked about who was going to take care of the baby, suggestions were to give him to another village or to have another woman come to the village, both were decided against and they decided that they would keep and care for him. Stumpy was his caregiver and they names him Tommy Luck. It was thought that he brought luck to the camp. 

Tommy Luck was given a cabin that was keep clean and had improvements to make it a comfortable. Regeneration started at Roaring Camp, a change happened over the camp, they started to improve their personal hygiene. It was a honor and privilege to hold the baby, even the roughest of men, Kentuck came in a clean shirt and was cleaned up.

"With the prosperity of the camp came the desire for further improvements." The camp decided that they would build a hotel the following spring and have a family or two come and stay, they thought it would be good for Tommy. Most men agreed but there were a few that were hesitant. 

That winter there was a lot of rain, a camp near by, Red Dog, was under water twice and Roaring Camp was warned. One day the water from the river rose above the bank. The next morning, Stumpy's cabin was gone and his body was found, but Tommy Luck was missing. A relief boat came with Kentuck and he was holding Tommy Luck in his arms, he was dead. Kentuck was dying and was upset Tommy Luck was dead. He continued to hold Tommy Luck in his arms and died with him. 

A camp that was full of rough men, raised a baby for a year, changed their culture to be cleaner and not as rough around the baby, they were open to improving their camp and inviting others, but with one bad winter the camp was destroyed and Luck, the baby who brought their camp luck was gone.