The corpse that sat up and spoke

Newfoundland unexplained - Newfoundland has a great tradition of what are known locally as death tokens. A death token is where a person becomes aware, through some paranormal means, that a person close to them has either recently died or that their death is about to occur.

The victim may appear visually to the grieved, or the loss may be communicated in some other way, such as through the stopping of a clock or some unexplainable event. Tokens have taken the form of animal figures, strange noises, moving lights, and voices calling as if from a great distance.

The belief that the spirit of a loved one would appear at the moment of their death was not uncommon throughout Newfoundland's history, and even into the present day. Sometimes, in special circumstances, powerful emotions even had the power to blur the line between life and death altogether.

An example of this can be found in the strange tale of Mrs. Dower of Conche. It is a tale worth remembering at this time of year, in particular, when the seal fishery is so much a topic of conversation.

On March 10, 1873, Skipper Edward Dower left Conche with his son on board his ship to prosecute the lucrative seal fishery. Mrs. Dower, who loved her husband very much, became ill a week after he had left and within a matter of hours died, much to the shock of the community.

In those days there was no way to get word to the woman's husband about her demise, and so plans were made up to wake the woman and bury her. Surprisingly, during the second night of the wake for poor Mrs. Dower, Capt. Dower's ship slipped back into port. It sailed into the harbour, its flag at half-mast.

No sooner had the ship entered the port than a truly miraculous event occurred. Much to the terror of the mourners keeping vigil beside her, the dead woman emitted a great sigh and suddenly sat straight up in her coffin.

"I am tired," spoke the corpse. "I have been far. I have been with Edward."

While this may sound unbelievable, apparently she had. When Skipper Edward Dower reached his house, he told the assembled crowd that the ghost of his wife had appeared to him while on the ice. Convinced that he had seen a token of her death, he put his flag at half-mast and returned home with his son to attend the funeral.

The spirit of his wife, it seems, had followed his ship out to the seal hunt while her body remained at home, such was her love and anxiety for his safety. The good captain, it is said, never went to the ice again.

Like Mrs. Dower, the story is one that refuses to die. It was written up many years ago by Joseph Smallwood in the Book of Newfoundland. Most recently, the story was the inspiration for the 2002 novel, "The Ghost of Ellen Dower," by Newfoundland writer Earl Pilgrim.

Several years ago, while visiting Conche, I met a gentleman by the name of Dower. After talking for a little while, I asked him if he was related to the famous Ellen. He told me he was, and he then proceeded to relate his own version of the tale which had been handed down from generation to generation. Giving the popularity of the tale, it will no doubt be one of those old Newfoundland stories that will survive for generations yet to come.

Dale Jarvis can be reached at info@hauntedhike.com