Post by pixi on Jan 21, 2005 4:38:31 GMT -5
In Barbados, there is a famous legend of coffins that are moved by unnatural forces. Though some details are sketchy, the enigma is one that has fascinated researchers for over a century.
The events took place in the Chase vault, located in a West Indian cemetery. The vault, located about seven miles from Bridgetown, was a large structure built for the Chase family and their close friends. The vault was built roughly half above and half below the ground, which allowed for some degree of protection from the elements.
The vault was slowly filled with the dead members of the Chase family. The first placed inside the vault was Mrs. Thomasina Goddard, in a simple wooden coffin built in July 1807. Two year old Mary Ann Chase was placed in the vault the very next year. The older sister of Mary Ann, Dorcas Chase, was put into the vault on July 6, 1812. Some claim that Dorcas starved herself after she was forced into depression by her father. None the less, a few weeks later her father, Thomas Chase, was placed into the vault. Legend says that Thomas was one of the most hated men in Barbados.
When the Chase Vault was open for the burial of Thomas, the funeral party was stunned to find that none of the coffins were in their proper place. The group was angered, the theory being that grave robbers found a way into the grave and tossed the coffins about in search of loot. Soon, this theory was put to rest, as it was well known that nothing in the vault was of any value. The entrance was also a problem for robbers: a gigantic rock slab was cemented in place of the only entrance. Each time the vault was opened, the cement had to chipped away and several men were needed to move the rock. Eventually, it was decided that the gravediggers had some how disturbed the coffins.
The coffins were replaced, and the lead coffin of Thomas Chase was put in place. The vault was then resealed, as it had been before.
On September 25, 1816, the vault was opened for the burial of eleven year old Charles Brewster Ames. Like the previous case, each of the coffins were misplaced and thrown about (even the two hundred forty pound coffin of Thomas was thrown from place!). The vault was put back in order and resealed.
Fifty two days later, Samuel Brewster was to be buried. This time, a large group of witnesses crowded the scene, looking for the mystery to continue. The slab of stone, which covered the door, was carefully examined. No defects were found, and the vault was opened. To no ones surprised, the vault was once again in disorder. Mrs. Goddard's coffin, the only wooden one placed in the vault, was badly damaged. It was wrapped in wire to keep it together.
A Closer Look at the Vault
Several investigators, including the Reverend Thomas Oderson, examined the vault. Nothing could be found that would indicate a cause for the strange happenings, so the vault was once again cleaned and sealed.
On July 17, 1819 the vault was once again opened, and once again the vault was found to be in disorder. The only coffin untouched was the wooden, and fragile, one of Mrs. Goddard's. This time, the governor of the island, Lord Combermere ordered his own professional investigation. The entire vault was looked over, and nothing strange could be found. The coffins were restacked (Mrs. Goddard's wooden coffin was stacked against a wall, since it was so frail) and sand was placed on the floor to catch the footprints of the perpetrators. The vault was then reclosed, and personal seals of the governor were placed on concrete. Everyone of the island awaited the next reopening.
The next opening of the vault was not for a burial, but for the governors curiosity. On April 18, 1820 the governor and several friends traveled to the vault and found his seal unbroken. When the vault was opened, however, it was found that the coffins were in disarray; some even flipped upside down! The sand revealed no footprints.
The End of the Mystery
The coffins were promptly removed from the vault and buried elsewhere on the island. Upon inspection, the vault was found to contain no water, and no way for water to enter it. Earth quakes were also eliminated; why would the quakes only effect that one section of island, and leave the wooden coffin alone?
Some have speculated that the entire event never took place. Records show, however, that the Chase vault has and did exist. The vault is, and has been for sometime, empty.
The events took place in the Chase vault, located in a West Indian cemetery. The vault, located about seven miles from Bridgetown, was a large structure built for the Chase family and their close friends. The vault was built roughly half above and half below the ground, which allowed for some degree of protection from the elements.
The vault was slowly filled with the dead members of the Chase family. The first placed inside the vault was Mrs. Thomasina Goddard, in a simple wooden coffin built in July 1807. Two year old Mary Ann Chase was placed in the vault the very next year. The older sister of Mary Ann, Dorcas Chase, was put into the vault on July 6, 1812. Some claim that Dorcas starved herself after she was forced into depression by her father. None the less, a few weeks later her father, Thomas Chase, was placed into the vault. Legend says that Thomas was one of the most hated men in Barbados.
When the Chase Vault was open for the burial of Thomas, the funeral party was stunned to find that none of the coffins were in their proper place. The group was angered, the theory being that grave robbers found a way into the grave and tossed the coffins about in search of loot. Soon, this theory was put to rest, as it was well known that nothing in the vault was of any value. The entrance was also a problem for robbers: a gigantic rock slab was cemented in place of the only entrance. Each time the vault was opened, the cement had to chipped away and several men were needed to move the rock. Eventually, it was decided that the gravediggers had some how disturbed the coffins.
The coffins were replaced, and the lead coffin of Thomas Chase was put in place. The vault was then resealed, as it had been before.
On September 25, 1816, the vault was opened for the burial of eleven year old Charles Brewster Ames. Like the previous case, each of the coffins were misplaced and thrown about (even the two hundred forty pound coffin of Thomas was thrown from place!). The vault was put back in order and resealed.
Fifty two days later, Samuel Brewster was to be buried. This time, a large group of witnesses crowded the scene, looking for the mystery to continue. The slab of stone, which covered the door, was carefully examined. No defects were found, and the vault was opened. To no ones surprised, the vault was once again in disorder. Mrs. Goddard's coffin, the only wooden one placed in the vault, was badly damaged. It was wrapped in wire to keep it together.
A Closer Look at the Vault
Several investigators, including the Reverend Thomas Oderson, examined the vault. Nothing could be found that would indicate a cause for the strange happenings, so the vault was once again cleaned and sealed.
On July 17, 1819 the vault was once again opened, and once again the vault was found to be in disorder. The only coffin untouched was the wooden, and fragile, one of Mrs. Goddard's. This time, the governor of the island, Lord Combermere ordered his own professional investigation. The entire vault was looked over, and nothing strange could be found. The coffins were restacked (Mrs. Goddard's wooden coffin was stacked against a wall, since it was so frail) and sand was placed on the floor to catch the footprints of the perpetrators. The vault was then reclosed, and personal seals of the governor were placed on concrete. Everyone of the island awaited the next reopening.
The next opening of the vault was not for a burial, but for the governors curiosity. On April 18, 1820 the governor and several friends traveled to the vault and found his seal unbroken. When the vault was opened, however, it was found that the coffins were in disarray; some even flipped upside down! The sand revealed no footprints.
The End of the Mystery
The coffins were promptly removed from the vault and buried elsewhere on the island. Upon inspection, the vault was found to contain no water, and no way for water to enter it. Earth quakes were also eliminated; why would the quakes only effect that one section of island, and leave the wooden coffin alone?
Some have speculated that the entire event never took place. Records show, however, that the Chase vault has and did exist. The vault is, and has been for sometime, empty.
