John Henry: The Steel Driving Man
A West Virginia Legend
retold by
S.E. Schlosser
Now John Henry was a mighty man, yes sir. He was born a slave in the 1840's but was freed after the war. He went to work as a steel-driver for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, don't ya know. And John Henry was the strongest, the most powerful man working the rails.
John Henry, he would spend his day's drilling holes by hitting thick steel spikes into rocks with his faithful shaker crouching close to the hole, turning the drill after each mighty blow. There was no one who could match him, though many tried.
Well, the new railroad was moving along right quick, thanks in no little part to the mighty John Henry. But looming right smack in its path was a mighty enemy - the Big Bend Mountain. Now the big bosses at the C&O Railroad decided that they couldn't go around the mile and a quarter thick mountain. No sir, the men of the C&O were going to go through it - drilling right into the heart of the mountain.
A thousand men would lose their lives before the great enemy was conquered. It took three long years, and before it was done the ground outside the mountain was filled with makeshift, sandy graves. The new tunnels were filled with smoke and dust. Ya couldn't see no-how and could hardly breathe. But John Henry, he worked tirelessly, drilling with a 14-pound hammer, and going 10 to 12 feet in one workday. No one else could match him.
Then one day a salesman came along to the camp. He had a steam-powered drill and claimed it could out-drill any man. Well, they set up a contest then and there between John Henry and that there drill. The foreman ran that newfangled steam-drill. John Henry, he just pulled out two 20-pound hammers, one in each hand. They drilled and drilled, dust rising everywhere. The men were howling and cheering. At the end of 35 minutes, John Henry had drilled two seven foot holes - a total of fourteen feet, while the steam drill had only drilled one nine-foot hole.
John Henry held up his hammers in triumph! The men shouted and cheered. The noise was so loud, it took a moment for the men to realize that John Henry was tottering. Exhausted, the mighty man crashed to the ground, the hammer's rolling from his grasp. The crowd went silent as the foreman rushed to his side. But it was too late. A blood vessel had burst in his brain. The greatest driller in the C&O Railroad was dead.
Some folks say that John Henry's likeness is carved right into the rock inside the Big Bend Tunnel. And if you walk to the edge of the blackness of the tunnel, sometimes you can hear the sound of two 20-pound hammers drilling their way to victory over the machine.
You can read more West Virigina folktales in Spooky South by S.E. Schlosser.
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Comments
he was a good man too
Posted by: cato | August 26, 2010 09:39 AM
ccccccccccccccccccccooooooooooooooooolllllllllllllllllllllll
Posted by: rebecca | August 26, 2010 12:23 PM
intresting story goood jajajajajajajaja :D
Posted by: angelica ceniceros | September 8, 2010 10:14 AM
iloove this story.its like so true and its just great iwant to know more about his life
Posted by: unknow | September 9, 2010 10:26 AM
great story
Posted by: ashley | September 14, 2010 04:40 PM
he is real
Posted by: Anonymous | September 16, 2010 04:15 PM
I used to love this story too, until someone in my class at school added at the end: "and the very next morning, they went out and turned on the steam engine and it went right back to work. Day after day after day..." So yeah, John Henry won, but only in the short term.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 19, 2010 03:26 PM
omg i liked it to
Posted by: Anonymous | September 21, 2010 10:38 AM
omg i liked it to
Posted by: Anonymous | September 21, 2010 10:38 AM
funny story mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Posted by: kayla | September 22, 2010 01:46 PM
sdfasjkfhlaksfhkahfasdfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYU
Posted by: Anonymous | September 23, 2010 11:33 AM
lookin good johnny booy
Posted by: Anonymous | September 24, 2010 10:26 AM
he died?
Posted by: Anonymous | September 26, 2010 01:55 PM
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW THATS REAL
Posted by: Anonymous | September 27, 2010 07:19 PM
so sad :(
Posted by: anonymous | October 4, 2010 07:59 AM
awesome man
Posted by: Anonymous | October 4, 2010 08:00 AM
HeHe LovE the story I recommend it For ANy school TeAcHers because im student
Posted by: IAmBeAsT | October 4, 2010 12:57 PM
he was a very good man
Posted by: kaitlyn Rhoten | October 4, 2010 03:12 PM
this guy is my hero!!
Posted by: Jorge | October 5, 2010 03:54 PM
awsome storie
Posted by: koko | October 6, 2010 10:08 AM
I need to read this story again
Posted by: Anonymous | October 7, 2010 09:20 AM
cool
Posted by: bob marley | October 12, 2010 11:34 AM
My brother was named John Henry because he was born with his fist in the air ready to hammer. That was one strong baby. I like this site.
Posted by: Rosie Rebel | October 12, 2010 10:04 PM
I am not sure of the Big Mend sight for John Henry. I have seen the statue of John Henry above the Tunnels on the side of the mountain at Talcott, WV
Posted by: chip jones | October 13, 2010 09:04 AM
he is the best person who ever lived
Posted by: sal | October 13, 2010 11:21 AM
cool
Posted by: Anonymous | October 14, 2010 09:55 AM
cool man!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 15, 2010 10:00 AM
Wonderful.............best rendition of the story I've seen.
Posted by: ellis seawell | October 18, 2010 12:17 PM
awsome
Posted by: Anonymous | October 19, 2010 02:51 PM
Ooh lala John sounded like a beasty beast
Posted by: Anonymous | October 20, 2010 12:19 PM
i loved john henry like if he was my brother oh ya he is lol
Posted by: Anonymous | October 24, 2010 10:05 PM
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT SSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Tadhg Nolan | October 26, 2010 11:09 AM
like it
Posted by: Anonymous | October 26, 2010 11:11 AM
Great story
Posted by: allyah Nichols | October 26, 2010 03:48 PM
Great story
Posted by: allyah Nichols | October 26, 2010 03:49 PM
like it
Posted by: Anonymous | October 26, 2010 06:18 PM
cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooLLLLLLLLL
Posted by: lkju | October 27, 2010 08:08 AM
wow cool story
Posted by: pow | October 27, 2010 08:11 AM
wow cool story
Posted by: pow | October 27, 2010 08:14 AM
i like it
Posted by: Jessica Lowe | October 27, 2010 04:49 PM
i didnt like the story cuz its kind of sad for me cuz the slaves :'(
Posted by: steven martinez | November 1, 2010 11:36 AM
Wow that is so sad. It's so funny when you read it out loud to yourself in cowboy slang!!!!! :)
Posted by: Anonymous | November 1, 2010 09:22 PM
i really like the story
Posted by: Anonymous | November 2, 2010 01:06 PM
cool
Posted by: Anonymous | November 2, 2010 01:47 PM
cool
Posted by: Anonymous | November 3, 2010 01:19 PM
That is not true,noone can chop through a mountin. But it's cool.
Posted by: anonymous | November 3, 2010 06:41 PM
Too bad John Henry died. I would have LOVED! to hear another of his stories!
Posted by: Anonymous | November 9, 2010 11:31 AM
great but sad story. :(
Posted by: harriet | November 11, 2010 08:22 AM
You all need to listen to Johnny Cash's song about John Henry. It's on his Live from Folsom Prison album. 1968. Great song....
Posted by: Greg DeBerg | November 12, 2010 10:50 PM
It is true a person can chop into a mountain.
how do you think we got tunnels in th mtns.
the old type drill was a still chisel and a hammer
you drove and chipped and blasted the rock. Oh and you can read his intials in the tunnel. We all are slaves to something but now our master is the dollar.
Posted by: charlie | November 15, 2010 01:39 AM
I think he is pretty cool. I think he should not have not tried had to beat that machine
Posted by: sam on my B-day | November 16, 2010 10:51 AM
COOOOOL STORY
Posted by: anonymous | November 18, 2010 11:04 AM
Great story
Posted by: Khalen | December 1, 2010 12:47 PM
awesome beautiful wonder ful great joyful storyyyy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Posted by: jaden | December 1, 2010 08:55 PM
I love this story so much!! John Henry is the best!! Rock on!!
Posted by: nira ransome | December 8, 2010 09:36 AM
if there are graves located in and or around Big Bend Tunnel where would they be located ???
Posted by: maddog | December 8, 2010 11:24 AM
It's a really great story
Posted by: Jessica T | December 8, 2010 11:37 AM
Cool story
Posted by: Anonymous | December 9, 2010 09:58 AM
ilove this stuff
Posted by: fdff | December 9, 2010 01:53 PM
IT IS SO SAD :(
Posted by: Anonymous | December 13, 2010 10:51 AM
This is so cool!!! I've read this story TONS of times and never got bored of it!
Posted by: FrannieApple | December 15, 2010 12:48 PM
I love this story
Posted by: Caroline | January 6, 2011 09:30 AM
cool ok
Posted by: Anonymous | January 24, 2011 09:38 AM
I thought it was cool that he could use a 14 pound hammer with onne swing
Posted by: ryan | January 25, 2011 10:12 PM
great story
Posted by: Anonymous | January 26, 2011 11:15 AM
i don't like how he died
Posted by: Anonymous | February 1, 2011 09:26 PM
this is awesome! John Henry was probably the strongest man living at that time period
Posted by: Dylan Corn | February 2, 2011 05:30 PM
quite interesting. I loved it!
Posted by: Anonymous | February 2, 2011 08:13 PM
Man that was cool and sad.I can't do that.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 6, 2011 02:59 PM
John Henry can go toe to toe with Chuck Norris and still keep his cool. oh yeaaaaaa
Posted by: Epic Anonymous | February 8, 2011 10:03 AM
That was A great story but what state is the Big Bend Mountain in?
Posted by: Heather | February 13, 2011 07:29 PM
Just watched the Jeopardy challange with "Watson" the computer pitted against two human players. My first thought was Man vs Machine and the greatest story ever told on that subject. John Henry, "The Steel Drivin Man" vs the steam powered drill.
Posted by: Steve | February 14, 2011 07:52 PM
it didn't tell what day he died but it was good!
{:})
Posted by: Anonymous | February 16, 2011 05:32 PM
I just read 'John Henry Days' by Colson Whitehead - to the story it's a revelation for present days!
Posted by: Raggym | February 18, 2011 09:41 AM
That was soooo sad :(
Posted by: Anonymous | February 22, 2011 09:58 AM
he was a good person like he said "a man aint nothing but a man" and its true
Posted by: breana | February 22, 2011 10:47 PM
I just met a former Marine whose name is John Henry. He told me there are 241 verses to the song about John Henry!!
Posted by: Millie Embree-Wieser | February 25, 2011 02:50 PM
john henry is a slave
Posted by: triniti satcher | February 27, 2011 09:44 AM
WOW NOW I KNOW WHAT TO DO OR COME ON TO FIND MY RESEARCH AND THATS WHAT I BEEN LOOKING FOR JUST TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON MY JOHN HENRY REPORT FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: SKITTLES | March 3, 2011 08:34 AM
very weird story...
Posted by: Zhoom | March 3, 2011 09:37 AM
great story but i watched the cartoon way better it showes his life and you get to see him grow up
Posted by: bob jinkins | March 3, 2011 09:46 AM
i like this story it's cool
Posted by: isaiah tomas | March 3, 2011 09:53 AM
he is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! oh ya
Posted by: mikayla | March 8, 2011 01:17 PM
so sad
Posted by: Anonymous | March 9, 2011 05:13 PM
he was a very good man he is my hero
Posted by: joey | March 9, 2011 05:21 PM
great story this dude is awsome!
Posted by: bob | March 10, 2011 12:35 AM
i like it
Posted by: Anonymous | March 10, 2011 11:23 AM
awesome, love the way he makes up
Posted by: Arnaldo Figueroa | March 15, 2011 04:34 PM
Both thumbs up :]
Posted by: Dominic | March 20, 2011 11:24 AM
john henry must have been a good man to do that for his fellow workers. he died but his legacy still lives on.:) i could read this story and not get tired of reading it. i loved it!
Posted by: butterfly2011 | March 21, 2011 12:59 PM
He was the best man alive
Posted by: Anonymous | March 22, 2011 11:59 AM
i luv dat story it is my fav wowwwww :0
:):):):):
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
Posted by: reneisha | March 22, 2011 07:33 PM
i love this story because john henry was so young.
Posted by: takisha | March 24, 2011 10:15 AM
I loved the story so did my dad.I'm so sad he died. :( :(
Posted by: Anonymous | March 31, 2011 09:40 PM
amazing!!!!!!
Posted by: Grr | April 1, 2011 12:09 PM
this story is awsome
Posted by: Anonymous | April 8, 2011 08:50 AM
awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Posted by: Niya | April 12, 2011 09:03 AM
I love this story
Posted by: Anonymous | April 13, 2011 09:25 AM
cool story
Posted by: josh | April 14, 2011 09:57 AM
best story i ever read
Posted by: nic | April 18, 2011 08:48 AM
i like it
Posted by: seb | April 18, 2011 08:49 AM
good story
Posted by: alex | May 5, 2011 12:10 PM
awesome
Posted by: Anonymous | May 12, 2011 11:58 AM
good story
Posted by: Anonymous | May 24, 2011 01:26 PM
this story is amazin but what about paul bunyan
Posted by: jordan | May 25, 2011 10:53 AM
AWESOME
Posted by: shawn | May 26, 2011 08:12 PM
amazing omg
Posted by: Anonymous | May 31, 2011 09:19 PM
I like it I read this story 3 times this school year including now.
Posted by: Charessa | June 18, 2011 10:39 AM
That story just shows that if you put your mind to something, you can do it. But it is sad how he dies, but at least he had won.
Posted by: Nicole | July 28, 2011 08:46 PM
I first heard the John Henry story when I was around age 7 or 8 I'm 50 now,believe it or not this story of The Strong Steel Driving Man help develop the great work ethics that I have to this today! More than just an folktale...The John Henry song sounds pretty good too!
Posted by: Bryan Taylor | August 1, 2011 09:12 PM
This was an AWESOME story i loved it. i dont think it was sad but he was a HARD worker i might read it again i dont think it was weird either. every kid should read this, but i still like Paul Bunyun or what ever.
Posted by: Sydney | August 18, 2011 11:42 AM
love that storie
Posted by: ricky | August 18, 2011 12:42 PM
I known a man that his grandfather was there the day the story of John Herny The Steel Drivin Man happened and is father is still alive to this day
Posted by: LANCE | August 18, 2011 07:16 PM
THATS SO SAD THAT HE DIED BESIDE IT WAS A AWESOME STORY
Posted by: monica | August 19, 2011 06:38 PM
I admire John Henry. I have a statue made from coal right next to this computer. He is an inspiration.
Posted by: Rod | August 20, 2011 03:36 PM