Boo Y'All - The Shining Phantom Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

NCreviewer: No response from owner. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, just contact us (by email), and assuming it meets the current guidelines, we'll be happy to unarchive it.

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Hidden : 5/17/2009
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Welcome to the Cape Fear region – an area that is full of interesting history and unthinkable tragedy. As everybody knows, combining these two factors usually results in – you guessed it – ghosts. If you keep your eyes open, you may spot a cache…and a few lost souls who still call the Cape Fear region home.

This installment of the Boo Y’All series brings us to a rather unlikely spot – a convenience store called The Maco Depot. Maco Station, a point along the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, used to be located nearby…and was the site of a horrible accident that took a life. The story begins in the late 1860s, with a train approaching the station. Joe Baldwin, a brakeman on the train, became aware of the fact that the caboose in which he was riding had come uncoupled and was slowing to a stop on the tracks near the station. Another train was quickly approaching from behind, and a catastrophic collision was imminent. In an effort to warn the oncoming train, Mr. Baldwin grabbed a signal lantern and began to wave it frantically from the back of the stalled caboose. His efforts, however, were not rewarded – the second train continued along the track and crashed into the caboose, sending wreckage in all directions. Witnesses reported that Mr. Baldwin waved his lantern until the moment of impact, when the still-glowing lantern was hurtled into the swamp along with the rest of the debris from the crash. Later on, workers digging through the wreckage made a grisly discovery – Mr. Baldwin’s broken and lifeless body was recovered from the wreck…but his head was nowhere to be found.


Soon after the crash, locals began to experience something strange. Many claimed to see a mysterious light which seemed to originate in the swamp and then move along the line of the tracks. At times, the light seemed to be swinging back and forth. Others claimed to see a light which moved in an arc and disappeared into the swamp. Could this mysterious glow have been the ghost of Joe Baldwin, still hoping to avoid disaster by frantically waving his signal lamp? Sightings like these continued for years, and the story of the phantom Maco Light gained widespread attention. Unfortunately, the railroad tracks were pulled from the area in 1977 and all sightings of the inexplicable light ceased. Perhaps – with the train tracks removed – Joe Baldwin can finally rest in peace?

The Maco Depot - the site of this cache – is the only place in the area where you will be able to find any reference to this sad tale. If you venture inside, you’ll see a mural dedicated to the incident and some of the folks who work here (wearing conductor hats) will be happy to share the history with you. Please thank them for generously allowing this cache placement while you’re in there!

What a hoot! FTF Honors Go To hootgibson!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Guvf pnpur vf nf pbyq nf vpr!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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