No wonder William Briggs became a historian. It was by choice, not chance, that he felt the need to write down what he had learned and heard from so many others. He was born and raised in a time of great change, and being an educated man and school teacher, he must have realized the significance in doing so.

As a matter of fact, Briggs was so good at his research that he became recognized by his peers and is regarded by local historians and writers today as the main source for facts about Porter County’s earlier years. The works of William Briggs can be found in the archives and historical societies across the state of Indiana. His papers are referenced and quoted often; most notably, the unpublished 274 page document, A History of Porter County Indiana.

It must have been sometime during the early period of his life that he was told about the incident at the Devil’s Punchbowl. About the boat and its involvement with the Underground Railroad and the night it was jumped by slave-hunters and burned to the waterline.

Unfortunately for us, his statement did not include when he first heard the tale, or who told it to him, or the names of the Captain or crew involved. Maybe it was later in his life when he first heard the story; and by that point in time, many facts were lost to memory already.

One important thing to consider here about the Briggs Story is this; just because the details of this incident are not available to us now, does not mean that the story did not happen as told. When it comes to remembering oral histories—memory has always been its weakest link.

Regardless of the reasons, we are thankful that William Albert Briggs took it upon himself to become a local historian and to write down what he knew and heard about the life and times of the people that surrounded him.