0215C-1747 - The Schwartzbach Poltergeist

0215 - Ancient Cases

Case Nr 5: from 1749.

M Johann Michael F7eischer’s Reliable report on a ghost which manifested itself in 1749 in the parsonage of Schwartzbach and outside of if, through throwing things, ringing, rapping and appearing.” Leipzig, published by Friedrich Lankisch’s heirs. 1750. (51 §§, archived in Wolfenbüttel, Weimar and Munich)

(M Johann Michael Fleischers Zuverläj3ige Nachricht von einem Gespenste, Welches sich 1749 zu Schwartzbach in der Pfarr-Wohnung, Auch ausser derselben. durch WerjJen; Singen, Schlagen und Erscheinung geäussert hat. Leipzig, Verlegts Friedrich Lanckischens Erben. 1750.)

The case of Fleischer starts on the summer evening of 1749 with repeated blows being made against the windows of the parsonage of the village of Schwartzbach. At this point in time, the parsonage was occupied by the parson F. C. Schilling who had just replaced his predecessor, the late S. Wächtler. The household at that time consisted also of: Wächtler’s widow, the mother and sister of Schilling, and a nearly 15 year old maid. The nightly bombardment of stones continued for nearly 10 weeks and it was also thrown with “excrements, toads, and similar beautiful things” (Fleischer 1750, § 41). What is unusual in this case is that those people who were hurt, were in fact seriously hurt by the stones, some of which were weighted as much as 7 pounds (Fleischer 1750, § § 15,23,24,36).

In addition to the bombardment with stones, other phenomena occurred which included strange sounds: “whistling from under the widow’s feet with a beauty which was said to excel that of a nightingale” (Fleischer 1750, § 29). Objects were said to disappear and reappear in another place. “On one day the bread is taken from the cupboard, brought to the attic and placed on the stairs, c10thes were rived off the washing line which was in the locked attic” (Fleischer 1750, § 34). As well as the above phenomena, features relating to haunting and not necessarily poltergeist incidents, occurred, as for instance a maid being grabbed by her hair (Fleischer 1750, § 24). Indeed as Fleischer described it, the Schwartzbach poltergeist appears to be a “special friend of the female gender” (Fleischer 1750, § 32). As for the evidential aspects, this case has “more than 50 independent witnesses who have seen and heard the throwing” (Fleischer 1750, § 42).

Source: https://annekatrinpuhle.de/blog/?page_id=738&lang=English

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse