The islands of The Bahamas are home to some of the last hand-wound, kerosene-fueled lighthouses in the world. Commissioned by the British government in 1833, eleven imperial lighthouses, as well as other historic lighthouses, have stood the test of time. They have been apathetic overseers in decades of triumph and tragedy, in trades of goods and people via the high seas. Many, just like us, are haunted by traumatic events past – memories that refuse to rest and decompose in the graveyard of our minds, but persist and wander through to present themselves as reminders of the worst.
18 miles north of Bimini, on the western edge of the Great Bahama Bank, stands Great Isaac. Great Isaac is a 137-foot overseer with eyes over dark water for 23 miles all around. Its existence from its very outset is marred by tragedy.
It was in 1833, that the chartered ship, Stanley, left England with large, weighty pieces of iron, glass, and machinery that would become Great Isaac. While unloading on the north tip of the cay, both of her anchors were dragged by a strong norther and the ship was driven onto off-lying reefs by onshore winds. The grounding tore a gaping hole in the hull. All of the workmen on the Stanley survived, but the cabin boy had been washed overboard and was struggling for his life. All concern had been above water, but the danger lay below. The cabin boy, in his attempt to reach the shore, was attacked by a shark that tore his body in two. The lower half of his body is buried on Great Isaac Cay. His spirit since wanders the cay and haunts Great Isaac…at least according to witnesses who have seen this young boy around from time to time.
Later decades brought to the cay new life…and new death, as local fishermen can attest. One day in the late 19th century, fishermen noticed a ship wrecked off the shores of the cay. Upon approach, broken ship parts and the mangled bodies of her passengers could be seen scattered over the land. Among them was the body of a young woman, still holding her infant. The baby boy had somehow survived the maelstrom. Since that ill-fated journey and the day fishermen steered away from Great Isaac Cay carrying a rescued infant boy, there have been reports of a ghostly grey lady wandering the grounds, up and down, and into the Great Isaac lighthouse in search of her child. Some say a full moon brings strange noises to the tiny island. Some say that even today, you can hear her moaning, wailing in sorrow as she searches about the lighthouse for her long-lost son.
Paranormal activity and mystery at Great Isaac do not end with the Grey Lady. On 4 August 1969, the light station was discovered undisturbed but abandoned. All food and gear were accounted for and nothing missing except the two keepers. Its two missing keepers were never found.
These are just a few tales of one lighthouse. Doubtless, there are many, many more.
Photo of Great Isaac by Matthew Potenski