Tar River ghost light — the phantom lantern of Edgecombe County, North Carolina

The Tar River near Tarboro in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, is associated with a legend of a ghostly light that appears along the riverbank. According to the most popular version of the story, the light is the lantern of a man who was murdered along the river — possibly a traveler, ferryman, or soldier — whose spirit searches the banks for his killer or for something he lost before his death. The light is described as a single, glowing orb that appears above the water or along the muddy riverbank, bobbing and weaving as though being carried by an unseen hand. It has been observed by residents of the area across multiple generations. Some witnesses describe the light as yellowish, like a candle or oil lantern, while others describe it as blue-white. The light reportedly approaches observers who stand still but retreats when they try to follow it, leading some witnesses on extended chases through the bottomland forest before vanishing entirely. The Tar River bottomlands, with their dense vegetation, swampy ground, and the constant sound of moving water, create a naturally eerie environment. The ghost light has been documented in North Carolina folklore collections and is considered one of the state's most enduring supernatural legends.