| Topic: | Stephen King's Toomyknockers |
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Ian
Posts: 334 Posted: |
I expect some may have read the Stephen King book or seen the film of that name but has anyone ever heard their parents/grandparents talk of tommy knockers? I found the following on an American web site According to legend the Tommyknockers were the underground cousins of the Piskies. They were well known for mischief, colorful pranks, jokes, and being highly spirited! They are tiny characters who dress like little miners and perform many mining duties while underground working alongside the other men. To the cousin Jacks the Tommyknockers were no less important then a candle and double jack. They believed in the Tommyknockers although not one of em’ could say they’d actually seen one. Regardless the cousin Jacks refused to enter any mine until the mining company assured them the Tommyknockers were on duty. In time mine owners gave way to the custom as simply a matter of doing business with the Cornish. Over the years the Tommyknockers were blamed for many a prank, while being credited with saving the lives of many miners. If someone’s hammer was missing it was the Tommyknockers… If a cousin Jack got out just before the tunnel failed, you can bet it was the Tommyknockers who raised hell, got him out and saved his life. I've heard of Buccas, bucca-boos and bucca dus but not tommynockers. |
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Joe
Posts: 785 Posted: |
Yes, it is true. The tommyknockers are a relative of the Cornish knockers. The tommy got added when the Cornish went to the USA for some reason. There is an American beer called Tommyknocker and that has all about the history on their website - or at least I think that is where I read it. |