Headless Ghosts, Drownings, and Mysterious Screaming at Niagara

September, 1814 - Fort Erie, Niagara Region -thought of checking out some of the haunted
Canada - The battle rages on. British troopshappenings in the region? There are a number of
maintain their hold on the Northeast corner of thethem, some sites of the bloody battles of 1814
fort and continue to fire cannonballs into theand others inexplicable and immersed in local
American defenders. The rest of the fort belongslegend and folklore. Folks have claimed battle
to those flying the Stars and Stripes, but thevisions at Chippewa Battlefield and Lake George,
redcoats continue to fight as the death toll nearsand others have visited ancient houses and inns
2000 men. Seemingly oblivious to the chaosthat produce moans and creaks seemingly of
around him, one young soldier calmly shavesotherworldly origin.
another, chatting merrily about prospects whenThe Mahoney Dollhouse Gallery at Bertie Hall in
the war is over. The streaking cannonball takesFort Erie, once a stop on the Underground
them both out, decapitating the soldier beingRailroad, is said to have been the site of two
shaved and blowing off the hands of the shaverterrible drownings. The tunnel into the basement
before crushing his chest. Then the powderflooded early in the 1800's and killed a slave
magazine explodes and the scene gets eerily quietcoming through to his freedom and later on the
as he loses consciousness.same type of incident killed the son of Captain
Fast forward to today. Fort Erie has been rebuiltForsythe, then owner of the property. The tunnel
and is now a major tourist attraction for those onwas sealed but apparitions can still be seen in the
Niagara Falls tours and visiting other sites aroundhouse and the dollhouses appear to move on their
Ontario. But It's not just the historical significanceown at times.
of the fort that draws people in. Visitors reportLast but not least on any Niagara Falls tour is the
strange apparitions of American and BritishScreaming Tunnel, located in the northwest
soldiers seemingly stuck in time where they oncesection of Niagara Falls at the end of a quiet road
stood, fought and died. One of the most commonjust off Queen Elizabeth Way. Legend has it that
sights is of a headless man and another with noa nearby farm caught on fire and a young girl ran
hands wandering the grounds together.screaming into the tunnel only to succumb without
When you book a Niagara Falls tour you expectbeing extinguished and burn to death. They say
to see the majestic wall of water the region isyou can still hear her scream late at night. If you
known for, visit some shops for a souvenir ordare you can visit the Screaming Tunnel and find
two, and maybe hit one of the many localout for yourself.
nightclubs if you're staying a while. Have you ever