Definitely about "the mad trapper of Rat River", and I think accurate, as far as it goes, although of course it leaves out many interesting and curious details, including the involvement in the hunt of the legendary bush pilot "Wop" May.

Marion - Your friend Scanlon should start off with the easy and obvious sources, such as Edith Fowke's Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs, and Helen Creighton's various publications. Many of the songs mentioned so far have been published along with summaries of the research into historical verity.

I would recommend that he contact a bona fide folklorist or two (or is that what's he's done in contacting you?) Could save himself a lot of work.