The Headless Horseman: A Strange Tale of Texas by
(Published in 2011 to Project Gutenberg) Reid published “The Headless Horseman: A Strange Tale of Texas,” as a serialized story (1865–1866) and later as a book in 1866.
Both Sides of the Border by
Texas' songs, tales, and traditions have lived and prospered on the other sides of Texas borders at one time or another before they crossed the rivers. "Both Sides of the Border" contains something foreveryone interested in Texas folklore.
Ghosts along the Texas coast (eBook) by
A collection of strange occurences, this book brings to light tangible evidence and first-hand testimony to validate a wide range of ghostly tales. Whether they haunt the place of their death or a place they loved in their lives, these spirits are found up and down the Texas coast. Author Docia Williams brings us the best of these stories, where they happen, and provides some of the history surrounding these spooky spots.
People in South Texas have long reported seeing a headless figure called “El Muerto” riding a wild mustang, but he cannot be killed because he is already dead. However, the legend of the headless horseman of South Texas should not be confused with Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
El Muerto is a folktale situated within the wrought history of ethnic lynching and has been traced back to veteran and former Texas Ranger Creed Taylor (1820–1906). According to Taylor, in 1848, two former Texas Rangers, William A.A. “Bigfoot” Wallace (1817–1899) and John McPeters, hunted, shot, and killed alleged horse thieves while they slept, including a man named Vidal (also known as Vauvis). Wallace and McPeters then decapitated Vidal and placed his headless body upright upon a wild horse before sending it off into the night. El Muerto is most often reported near Ben Bolt but is said to roam Jim Wells, Duval, and Live Oak counties. The story served as the basis for the 1866 book, The Headless Horseman: A Strange Tale of Texas, written by Captain Thomas Mayne Reid.