Bones, Storms, and Coffin Sails: The Haunting Legend of Emma Crawford

In Manitou Springs, CO., a fascinating tale revolves around the remarkable Emma Crawford. Why does her legacy endure, captivating us even 160 years after birth? And what motivates the people of Manitou Springs to honor her memory by donning corpse costumes and racing coffins through the town?

Although she ultimately passed away in Manitou Springs, it's worth noting that Emma was born and raised in Massachusetts. While metropolitan cities like Boston offered convenience, the polluted air was detrimental to those suffering from respiratory ailments.

In 1889, the spirited 17-year-old, Emma, journeyed to Manitou Springs in hopes that the high-altitude mountain air and natural mineral springs would alleviate her affliction.

The allure of the great outdoors profoundly impacted Emma, and she avidly explored the hills and valleys surrounding the town, conquering them all. Her most notable triumphant was the ascent of Red Mountain. Emma marked her achievement by tieing her scarf to a tree to prove her feat. She adored the spot so much that she expressed her desire to be laid to rest beneath the same tree.

Tragically, Emma's life was cut short just two years after her move to Manitou Springs before she could wed her fiancé William. Grief-stricken, William fulfilled her wishes and buried her on Red Mountain, though it was an arduous undertaking requiring the efforts of multiple individuals.

According to legend, a fierce storm propelled her coffin down the mountain, ending in Manitou Springs, where two young boys, on Aug. 4, 1929, found her skull and brought it to the authorities leaving the community dismayed.

Recent accounts dispute the discovery story and suggest finding only bones and a nameplate bundled against a house's side.

Whatever the truth is, the story birthed a yearly tradition known today as the Emma Crawford Coffin Races. This full-day event includes the Emma Crawford Parade. During the coffin races, a team of five, comprising Emma and four "mourners" dressed in costume, must push their coffin 195 yards to the finish line, racing in pairs down the street. During the Parade, participants are awarded titles such as 'Coffin Race Winners,' 'Best Emma,' 'Best Entourage,' and 'Best Coffin.'

More about historic Manitou Springs: https://amzn.to/43OLz5Y

Photo courtesy of Special Collections, Pikes Peak Library District

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