Editor's Note: This article has been faithfully transcribed from the original Beyond the Veil Magazine, Issue #53.
Archive Reference: BTV-053-02
The Moving Coffins Mystery Solved?
Issue #53: May 1983
In Issue #33, we examined the mysterious case of the Chase vault in Barbados, where coffins repeatedly moved despite the vault being sealed. It remains one of the classic mysteries of the supernatural.
Now, a researcher has proposed an explanation that, while not supernatural, is nonetheless remarkable.
The Case Reviewed
Between 1812 and 1820, coffins in the Chase family vault in Christ Church, Barbados, were found disturbed each time the vault was opened. Heavy lead coffins, requiring multiple men to carry, were thrown about as if by some tremendous force.
Governor Lord Combermere investigated in 1820. The vault was sealed with his personal mark. Sand was scattered on the floor to record any footprints.
When the vault was opened, the seals were intact, the sand undisturbed, and the coffins scattered in chaos.
The family removed the coffins and buried them elsewhere. The mystery has never been solved.
The New Theory
Dr. George Hunte, a Caribbean historian and engineer, has proposed an explanation based on the vault’s location and construction.
The Chase vault lies near the coast and below the water table. During heavy rains, groundwater would flood the vault. The water would then slowly drain away.
Lead coffins, being sealed and airtight, would float when the vault flooded. As the water receded, the coffins would settle in random positions, far from where they had been placed.
The sand scattered on the floor in 1820 would have been disturbed by the water, then re-settled as the water drained, leaving no visible trace of disturbance.
The Evidence
Dr. Hunte points to several factors supporting his theory:
Vault Location: The vault is indeed below the water table and subject to groundwater intrusion.
Lead Coffins: The Chase coffins were lead-lined and would be buoyant when sealed.
Timing: The disturbances occurred during the hurricane season, when heavy rains would cause flooding.
Lighter Coffins Undisturbed: The wooden coffin of Mrs. Thomasina Goddard was not disturbed, as a wooden coffin would not float.
The 1820 Investigation: If the vault flooded and drained between sealing and opening, the sand would resettle, and the coffins would appear to have moved without explanation.
Objections
The theory, while ingenious, faces objections:
No Water Evidence: When the vault was opened in 1820, no water or water marks were noted. Flooding sufficient to float lead coffins should have left traces.
Coffin Positions: Some coffins were found standing upright against walls. Floating coffins settling as water drained might tip over, but would they stand on end?
Local Knowledge: Barbadians of the period were familiar with flooding and water tables. If the vault regularly flooded, someone should have noticed.
The Governor’s Investigation: Lord Combermere was an experienced military man. Would he have missed evidence of water intrusion?
A Partial Solution?
Dr. Hunte’s theory may explain some of the phenomena without explaining all of it. Perhaps flooding contributed to some coffin movements, while other disturbances had different causes.
Science often finds that supernatural mysteries have multiple contributing factors. A single explanation rarely accounts for all observations.
The flooding theory is testable, at least in principle. If the vault could be examined and monitored during heavy rains, we might determine whether it floods and whether coffins would be affected.
But the vault has been empty for over 160 years. The opportunity for direct observation has long passed.
Conclusion
The moving coffins of Barbados may have a natural explanation. Dr. Hunte’s flooding theory accounts for several puzzling features of the case.
Yet doubts remain. The theory does not perfectly match all the evidence. And no one in the early nineteenth century, when the disturbances were occurring, suggested flooding as an explanation.
Perhaps the truth lies in a combination of natural and supernatural factors. Perhaps the flooding disturbed the coffins, and something else, something we cannot explain, arranged them in their final positions.
The Chase vault remains empty. The mystery, despite Dr. Hunte’s contribution, remains unsolved.
Readers with expertise in hydrology or vault construction are invited to share their thoughts with our research department.