Photo from open sources
One of the workers in the cemetery asked what coffins in his opinion preferred, replied: “Metal is more reliable.” No wonder oh no in vain did the old grave digger say so.
Crypt of Colonel Chase
Colonel Thomas Chase at the beginning of the 19th century was one of the richest planters about. Barbados and the head of a branched antique family clan, which apart from the Chases included Eliots, Brosters, Goddards, Ames.
And there is nothing surprising that he decided to build for himself and their relatives a crypt that would correspond to them in rank, aroused envy and respect among friends and foes. In rock a tomb 12 x 7 ft (3.5 x 2 m) was hollowed out, the walls laid out with stone, the entrance was covered with a massive slab of Devonshire marble.
Tomazina became the first inhabitant of the crypt on July 31, 1807 Goddard buried in a lead coffin. February 22, 1808 in the crypt lowered the lead coffin with the body of two-year-old Mary Anna Chase – Colonel’s youngest daughter. July 6, 1812 six people brought to the crypt lead coffin with the body of the eldest daughter of the colonel – Doraks.
The colonel had a heavy character, he was hated on the island everything from slaves to neighbors planters. In the corners whispered that the tyrant Thomas Chase turned his daughter’s life into a nightmare and she starved herself.
They didn’t speak for long – not even a month had passed before they brought to the crypt the coffin with the body of Thomas Chase himself. Four grave diggers leaning on crowbars, moved the marble slab covering the entrance, went down to the crypt and screamed upstairs. Everyone’s eyes were the size of tea saucer.
Who is the “boss” in the crypt?
The tomb of little Mary lay in the far corner. Flipped on its side Mrs. Goddard’s coffin was standing against the wall. Miss Dorax’s coffin was rotated 90 degrees. The blacks ran in horror to hide: they were sure that they would be blamed for the abuse of the dead, and White did not rest until they hang 1-2 “niggers.”
Experience didn’t let them down: the “damn niggas” really sounded and one was already dragged to a tree. The poor fellow cried, swore and swore that he had nothing to do with it, but who and when believed the word of the black slave? The negro was not hanged just because slaves became roads. But for the suspects of several suspects were brutally flogged. In the crypt put things in order.
In the autumn of 1816, 2-month-old S.V. was buried. Ames, opened the crypt. The coffins, like last time, were scattered. Blamed again slaves. Six months later, they brought to bury Samuel Brewster – again in the crypt a real rout reigned.
No one could explain what was happening: a few people constantly secretly come to the cemetery, hardly move blocking the entrance to the crypt marble slab, coffins are pulled apart, some of which weigh more than 100 kg, and then leave without forgetting carefully put the input plate back in place?
Parish priest with several respected residents carefully examined the crypt for secret passages, examined each crack – a secret hole was not found. Coffins put in place, the crypt was covered with a stove.
Investigation of Lord Combermer
On July 7, 1819, Tomasina Clark passed away, descending from kind of Chase. For a long time Barbados did not see such numerous funerals. Behind the coffin, in addition to relatives and friends of the deceased, hundreds curious, betting on the go. Arrived at the funeral himself the governor of the island, Lord Combermer, to whom rumors have already reached “bad crypt.” When the crypt was opened, those who put on another chaos in the tomb, won.
The governor ordered this time to fill the entire floor in the crypt even a layer of fine white sand. Made an accurate placement drawing coffins. The crypt was not just covered with a stove, but also flooded it around the edges cement, in a fresh solution the governor left his prints press, the responsible persons invited by him did the same.
The Lord turned out to be an impatient man, did not wait for another death of one of Chase’s relatives and a year later ordered open the crypt. April 18, 1820 several gathered in the cemetery thousands of people. First checked for the presence of seals – they were on location. After that, they broke the cement and moved the slab to the side.
Combermer was the first to descend into the crypt. The coffins were again scattered throughout the tomb, and the hardest one is Thomas Chase, who in 8 people brought the crypt, stood upright. The floor of the crypt was even a layer of fine white sand, on which there was not a single trace – neither the feet of the vandals, nor the coffins themselves. The discouraged governor ordered coffins to take out and bury in different places.
Photo from open sources
Since then, the crypt of the Chase family has been empty. Although places in it many who want to bury their dead relatives in it are not is. Numerous researchers of this incident no clear explanations.
Locals believe that “hosted” in the crypt the spirit that imposed Miss Dorax’s hands upon herself. But if the dislike of the spirit of the girl to it is clear to her father who ruined her what Mrs. Tomazina displeased her Goddard and children, one of whom was 2 years old, and the second 6 months? Barbados shrug: “We mortals cannot understand the spirit.”
Posted by Klim Podkova
The islands
