The story is set in a lumber camp on the Dungarvon River. While the crew was away, the camp boss is said to have murdered the young cook, usually named Ryan, for the money in his belt, then claimed the lad had fallen sick and died. The men buried him in the woods, and that night a terrible whooping kept them awake until they fled the camp.
In many versions a priest, sometimes named as Rev. Edward Murdoch of Renous, later prayed at the grave by Whooper Spring and quieted the spirit. The Whooper is usually invisible, but some tellings give it the shape of a wildcat or panther. Sceptics point to screech owls or a big cat as the source of the cries.
Michael Whelan's 1912 song made the tale famous, and it was handed down in lumber camps through the 20th century. It is still a well-known piece of New Brunswick folklore.
What the stories say
- A loud, whooping cry in the woods at night
- Unease around an old camp or grave
- Sometimes a cat-like shape
Famous cases
- 1912Whelan's ballad published
Renous, New Brunswick
Heard a local story, or had an experience?
Stories passed down in families and communities matter. Share yours in your own words, and you can stay anonymous.
