Welcome to Crooked John Adventures

John inside "Tsinosga" taken by a local reporter during John's conflict with Cunard Colliery

Eddy Schmitt served as Sheriff of Fayette County from 1892 to 1899 when he was found dead in his office while investigating a mine explosion.

This photo was reported to have been taken by a local reporter at Crooked John's cabin the day after the Sheriff found him missing.

John's upper mine and cabin, Tsinosga, were located in the approximate location of the Brooklyn Headhouse in this photo

Photo of the outside of Crooked John's cabin called "Tsinosga".

Major Henry Wilfred Brazie served in the 6th West Virginia Cavalry and owner of the Altamont Hotel in Fayetteville. He died mysteriously shortly after Crooked John's disappearance.

Another view inside John's cabin, "Tsinosga".

Photo of Crooked John shortly before his disappearance. In his final days he is reported to have gone nowhere with out his rifle.

Mrs. Brazie developed a friendship with John while he worked at the Altamont Hotel in Fayetteville. He left her a note saying he had to leave the area.

The note found in the estate of Mrs Brazie. It is believed by some to be from Crooked John and is evidence that he left area when he disappeared.

Roy Bartow (left) and Eddy Sowards (right) assisted in the initial investigation.

Shortly after Crooked John went missing he was reported to have been seen at Whipple Store but the story proved to be false.

Stock Certificate found in the Brazie Estate. Friend's of John's held stock of his enemies?

Photo reportedly was taken just inside John's Upper Mine long after his disappearance and shortly before the entrance was purposely collapsed for safety reasons. The collapsed entrance can still be seen today but is located on private property in Cunard, WV.

Area Coal Miners, Hikers and Hunters have been telling stories for over one hundred years of encounters with a ghostly mountain man in the Upper Cunard Area. Most have reportedly seen him while walking the road built by Crooked John leading to his lower mine which later became the Brooklyn mine. Today this road is known as the Brooklyn Mine Trail. Others have seen him around the location of his cabin he called "Tsinosga". Although John's cabin is no longer present it seems his spirit just may be. This sight today is occupied by a former Company House, originally built by the Coal Run Coal Company in 1918. The picture to the left is said to have been taken in 1959 along the Brooklyn Mine access road. After snapping the photo the witness was reported to be so "shook" that they wrecked their car over the mountain side where it still lies today just off the Brooklyn Mine Trail. Some say Crooked John can be seen in this photo with his rifle returning from his mine.

Although the exact location is not known , based on the original lease survey it is believed that today, the house pictured to the left located on Cunard Road roughly occupies the original site of Crooked John's cabin known as "Tsinosga". If correct Crooked John's cabin would have stood directly behind the current house, closer to the mountain side and in front, of the collapsed mine entrance in the hillside. Remnants which are still present today.

The Fayette Tribune featured an article the day after Sheriff Schmitt returned to Fayetteville from his trip to check on Crooked John.