In the late 1800s, a young fiddle player named Martin Stone developed a significant following in the northeastern corner of Tennessee due to his exceptional fiddling skills. The young Stone seemed in demand, often appearing at weddings, funerals, and other social events.
One evening, Stone climbed Stone Mountain to enjoy the air and even brought his trusty instrument to hone his skills. Soon, a rattlesnake appeared, and then another. The snakes were mesmerized by Stone’s music and even enjoyed the concert the man had put on. As the sun set, the snakes left, and so did Stone.
On his way home, Stone devised a plan to return the following week to see if he could charm the snakes again. This time, he returned with his shotgun. As he began to play, the snakes came back to enjoy the sweet sounds of his fiddle, but Stone had other plans. The young man grabbed his weapon and started shooting the snakes.
Stone made a small fortune in the snakeskin business for a few months to subsidize his musical career. But things quickly went astray one late summer night. Stone went back to the well for another round but found himself surrounded. This time, his music didn’t serenade the snakes as he had hoped, and they began to lash out, striking the man many times. His lifeless body was found a few weeks later, as locals started searching for the young fiddle player. The search party climbed Stone Mountain and found Martin with his fiddle and shotgun, with multiple snakebites. His shotgun was discovered beside him, indicating that he had done nothing to stop the attack.
Legend says that fiddle music can still be heard echoing from the mountains, but no one has ever found the source.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.
Source: Legends & Lore of East Tennessee