In the village of Schänis stands the old heathen* tower that used to belong to a church, which burnt down in 1824. The grassy area in front is the old graveyard where one can see the St. Gallus Woman during the fasting times.

A carter once stopped at the nearby smithy to have his horses shod. Then he heard about the woman. He was brave enough and wanted to make her acquaintance. He went into the church with a light. There he did not find the woman, but he did find a “basket” full of rusty nails. He took two of them, which soon turned into coins. He went back to get the others, but the “basket” had disappeared in the meantime.

According to Dr Henne-Am Rhyn

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*Editor’s note: it says “Heidenturm”, which translates as “Heathen” or “Pagan” tower, which seems an unlikely feature of a church. Is the implication that this is a truly ancient tower that pre-dates Christianity (e.g. Roman) that was incorporated into a later church building? The tower’s Wikipedia entry suggest it was built around 1100, so this phrasing is a mystery.

Why “Kratte” (crate/basket) is in inverted commas is unclear.

Fronfastenzeit is time of fasting that was observed four times a year. Children born during time (Fronfastenkinder) were thought to be able to see ghost.

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379. Das St. Gall-Weibchen

Im Dorfe Schänis steht der alte Heidenturm; die dazugehörende Kirche, ist 1824 abgebrannt. Der Rasenplatz davor ist der alte Gottesacker, Da sieht man in der Fronfastenzeit das St. Gall-Weibchen.

Ein Fuhrmann hielt einst bei der nahen Schmiede, um seine Pferde beschlagen zu lassen. Da hörte er von dem Weibchen. Er war herzhaft genug und wollte mit ihm Bekanntschaft machen. Mit einem Licht ging er in die Kirche. Da fand er zwar das Weibchen nicht, wohl aber einen “Kratten” voll Roßnägel. Er nahm zwei davon, die sich bald hernach in Taler verwandelten. Er ging zurück, um auch die andern noch zu holen; aber der “Kratten” war unterdessen verschwunden.
Nach Dr. Henne-Am Rhyn

Schanis Tower Photo Credit: S Furey 27.12.202

Photo from J. Kuoni (1902)