The Great Amherst Mystery
A young woman became the focus of violent poltergeist activity that included fires, flying objects, and messages written on walls.
The Great Amherst Mystery
In 1878, nineteen-year-old Esther Cox of Amherst, Nova Scotia, became the center of one of the most violent and well-documented poltergeist cases in North American history. The phenomena included spontaneous fires, objects flying through the air, physical attacks on Esther, and mysterious messages appearing on walls.
The Trigger
The disturbances began shortly after Esther was sexually assaulted by a local man. Her attacker fled town, and within weeks, strange things began happening in the crowded house where she lived with her extended family.
Esther experienced what appeared to be seizures. Her body swelled dramatically. Loud bangs came from nowhere. Bedclothes flew off beds. A doctor who examined Esther witnessed the phenomena firsthand.
The Phenomena
The activity escalated dramatically. Writing appeared on the wall above Esther’s bed: “Esther Cox, you are mine to kill.” Objects flew through the air. Pins materialized and stabbed into Esther’s face. Small fires started spontaneously throughout the house.
The fires were particularly dangerous, and Esther was eventually asked to leave the family home for the safety of others. The phenomena followed her wherever she went.
Investigation
The case attracted significant attention. Walter Hubbell, an actor, moved into the house to document the phenomena and later published “The Great Amherst Mystery” in 1888. He witnessed hundreds of incidents.
Numerous visitors also witnessed phenomena, including doctors, clergy, and police. The case was extensively covered in newspapers.
Resolution
The activity gradually diminished after approximately a year. Esther married and lived a normal life afterward, with only occasional minor disturbances reported.
Assessment
The Great Amherst Mystery is significant for its duration, the violence of the phenomena, and the number of credible witnesses. The connection between Esther’s trauma and the subsequent activity has led modern researchers to view it as a classic poltergeist case, with Esther’s psychological distress somehow manifesting as physical phenomena.