State

Still the Light For 60 years It has appeared near Maco, and no one has ever been able lo explain it. Editor* Note: Last summer, the editor nent to Maco to try to see the famous Light of Maco. Our party waited an hour, along with others, but no light appeared, and we learned that on some nights the phenomenon is absent Like many others, we had scoffed at the appearance of this unexplained light, but in recent years we have heard many reliable witnesses swear that they have seen It. Much against our prejudices, we ha>c been com¬ pelled to accept this testimony, coming from serious and reputable citizens from every section of the slate, who were as skeptical as we were until they were convinced by per¬ sonal experience. The accompanying article might be termed a typical account, though acounts DO vary in minor details. We are inclined to believe that the light has differ¬ ent manifestations, perhaps depending upon the atmosphere. A strange phenomenon can still be seen on the railroad tracks near Maco. North Carolina, fifteen miles west of Wilmington. Every summer it becomes a fad for parties to make nightly ex¬ cursions to the spot where a weird light races madly up and down the rails like the headlight of a fast express with the hand of a mad engineer on the throt¬ tle. It is a mystery” which has afforded thrills to hundreds of people. A party usually selects a rather dark night for the trip. Dark nights arc more conducive to a better view of the light. The cars arc parked just off the highway. You walk a hundred yards or so down a lonely dirt road toward the railroad. An oil lamp flickers faintly from the window of a lone farm house, shimmering its shadows on the walls within. The hilarious voices, that had been so jovial on the trip down, become subdued and speak only in a whisper — if they speak at all. The silent band climbs stealthily up on the cindered path to await the com¬ ing of this phenomenal light, which ap¬ pears every few days. Through every¬ one's mind looms the uncanny story of the flagman’s lantern. Some 60 years ago. in this desolate place, a flagman hung from the rear of a slow freight, waving his lantern frantically at the onrushing passenger train that was rapidly overtaking him. The approaching engine paid no heed to his signal and came plunging on. The flagman stuck to his post, swinging his lantern futilcly. The powerful loco¬ motive rocketed into the freight, telescoping the rear box cars, and sandwiching the flagman. As the ter¬ rible impact crushed out his life, the lantern, symbolic of his departing spirit, was hurled meteor-like down the tracks. It fell a considerable dis¬ tance from the wreckage, rolled into a ditch, smouldered, sputtered, and went out. A short while after this tragedy, his lantern appeared every night at regular intervals, and since, it has never failed to make its timely ap¬ pearance. You feel alone, standing here in this awful silence. The crowd seems to be apart from you. Alone, here, to relive the event of that fateful night. There THE STATE. June IS. 1969 9