On this day in 1809, Merriweather Lewis, of Lewis and Clark fame, died at Grinders Stand, Tennessee, under extremely suspicious circumstances. Officially ruled a suicide, many question how and why a man would first shoot himself in the chest, then the head, a particularly challenging feat with a flintlock pistol.
Proponents of the suicide ruling cite Lewis’ declining mental health and alcoholism. However, the evidence to support this could be considered circumstantial at best. Lewis had several enemies in high political office with clear motives to see him dead. His death stands as one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American History.
Jason Roberts is a Seattle-based author noted for his acclaimed Western Horror series The Dead Wind Trilogy and other works of cosmic horror infused with historical fiction. His web-based series, Dark Distractions, examines paranormal mysteries, unexplained phenomena, and all things strange.
