“Harry Bale (Dale, Bail, Bell)”
Description
The orphan Harry Bahel is at work in a sawmill when he is dragged onto the saw. He dies the next day and is buried as his siblings grieve
Notes
Two of Gardner and Chickering's informants, John B. Redhead and William Rabidue, both of whom worked in lumber mills in the general vicinity, credit this to Harry Bahel's brother Charlie (Rabidue, who supplied Gardner and Chickering's main text, also mentions a Johnny Coffey). There does not seem to be any actual proof of this. - RBW
Historical references
- April 1879 - Death of Harry Bahel, at age 19, in Arcadia Township, Lapeer County, Michigan
Cross references
- cf. "Jack Haggerty (The Flat River Girl)" [Laws C25]
References
- Laws C13, "Harry Bale (Dale, Bail, Bell)"
- Belden, pp. 418-419, "Harry Bale" (1 text, in which the hero is called "Harry Dale")
- Fowke-Lumbering #33, "Harry Bale" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
- Manny/Wilson 80, "The Little Shingle Mill (The Death of Harry Vail)" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Rickaby 27, "Harry Bail" (1 text)
- Gardner/Chickering 113, "Harry Bail" (1 text plus 2 excerpts and mention of 1 more, 1 tune)
- Beck 61, "Harry Bail" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT 700, HARYBALE
- Roud #2217
- BI, LC13