Pixies and pasties and Knockers

[terrianking at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 157404

> Ken:
> <snip> One of the places we visited was Mineral Point, a former
> mining town that once had a large population of transplanted 
> Cornish miners. Apparently our good Wisconsin mines were infested 
> with creatures known as Tommyknockers who were blamed for being 
> the cause of lost tools and other mining mishaps. Smart miners 
> were always careful to leave behind offerings of food to appease 
> them.
> Tommyknockers do not seem to be mentioned in HP and here is where 
> you could help. Is a Tommyknocker the same thing as a Cornish 
> Pixie, or a relative, perhaps?

Geoff:
>> <snip> Among a tranche of small beings, there are indeed 
Knockers (sounds a bit rude actually!) and Pixies (sometimes 
rendered as Piskies).

May I point you to www.cornishfolklore.com/small_people2.htm
for pixies and www.cornishfolklore.com/small_people3.htm for
knockers? <<


Robert:
http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/ca4.html
 
California folklore:
"Tommy Knockers are the spirits of departed miners that help miners 
find ore. They also knock on the walls of the mines right before a 
cave-in. When you hear a Tommy Knocker knocking, it's best to depart 
the area right quick. They have saved the life of many a miner who 
has been in a danger."
  
When I was a kid we were told they were the spirits of miners lost 
and unrecovered in cave ins who knocked on the sealed mine entries 
wanting to come out and go home. 
I guess the definition depends on the part of the country you come 
from. 
Montana folklore.
 
Robert