Le Nain Rouge: Scourge of Detroit

Have you heard about Le Nain Rouge, the Red Dwarf of Detroit? According to Legends of Le Détroit (1884), "The Nain Rouge was the demon of the Strait, and in the old traditions is described as most malignant, if offended, but capable of being appeased by flattery" (p. 27).

According to S.E. Schlosser, whose Spooky Michigan is scheduled for release in December 2006: "The infamous Red Dwarf (Nain Rouge) of Detroit was reputed to be the foul offspring of the Stone God, who only appeared when there was to be trouble . . . its appearance heralded disaster."

It was seen scampering up a telephone pole in 1976 by DTE workers the day before an ice storm, and may have been skulking around just before the Great Blackout of 2003. It was around for the outset of the 1967 Riot, too. Back during the War of 1812, it reportedly emerged from a thick fog to spook General William Hull into surrendering Detroit to an Anglo-Indian-Canadian force.








It was around for the 1805 fire that destroyed Detroit, and before that, during Pontiac's 1763 uprising and massacre of a British contingent at Bloody Run (Elmwood Cemetery). Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, Sieur de Douaguet and Mont Désert and founder of Détroit (1701), encountered Le Nain Rouge and fought it off with his sword. But Cadillac was forced to leave, his life in a shambles. Back in France, Mère Minique, La Sorcière, a "swarthy" fortune teller, had warned him of this dreadful encounter.





















Mercifully, even Le Nain Rouge could not prevent the later production of Cadillacs and Pontiacs on Motor City assembly lines.

The "imp," though, may haunt the River Rouge area even to this day. Certainly it still enjoys creeping along the banks of the Detroit River, egging on the next disaster.

Today's Rune: Movement.

Bon voyage!