Tabor Light Traditional Geocache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
You are searching for a three by four by two inch camoed cache. This trail is impassable for most vehicles and hiking may be a challenge when conditions are on the damp side, please bring your own writing utensil! I think I was quite generous with the D T rating due to the fear factor influence.
This cache takes you to the source of the Tabor Light of eastern Ssakatchewan. Although the Tabor Cemetery is nearly one half mile to the south, the cache location is near the source of the Tabor Light. May the Light help you locate the cache as my coordinate readings here were not consistent at all for some strange reason. The following is taken from (visit link)
A ghostly light seen at the Tabor Cemetery, 17 miles northeast of Esterhazy, caused a sensation in Saskatchewan for several weeks in 1938. It was front-page news, with extensive coverage on the radio. “The Tabor Light was sometimes described as a ball of fire, slightly reddish or pinkish in color, and occasionally flickering,” “Witnesses always said the glow appeared to be directed inward, the light never illuminated the surrounding area … and it would either dance among the trees skirting the cemetery, or speed along the road that ran past it.”
There were some superstitious people in Esterhazy who saw an evil omen in the spooky light. Descendants of the original Czech colony feared that the Tabor Light was a warning and that something sinister was going to happen. The Tabor Cemetery was remembered as a cemetery where atheists were buried, the Leader-Post reported on November 30, 1938. It was said that some of the Czechs who came to the country in 1885 “spread their gospel there was no such thing as a God or hereafter, and their people were buried in this ground."
The site became a popular spot for people from miles around. On the night of December 2nd, for example, the Leader-Post reported, “A laughing thrill-seeking crowd of more than 80 persons including a cameraman and reporter jammed the bleak Tabor cemetery … in a vain search for Esterhazy's phantom light.” About thirty cars from Churchbridge, Yarbo, and Langenburg were parked around the tiny burial ground for hours, the newspaper continued. “The presence of so many lights, however, definitely handicapped the watchers and made the task of shooting the strange ball of red fire a practical impossibility.” Eventually, the iron gates to the Tabor Cemetery had to be locked to stop the desecration of graves.
And from the November 26, 1938 Leader Post:
Weird Light at Midnight Hour Frightens Folk
Eerie and weird, and striking terror into the hearts of unbelievers, scoffers and superstitious people, the "Tabor Light" has started antics again about 17 miles northeast of Esterhazy. The ghostly light comes around at midnight, and there are hundreds of people to say they have seen it.
They are no longer the unbelievers who took delight in passing off the report by asking, "What brand were you drinking?"
Nearly Cost Life
During the past three weeks hundreds of people have seen this light. It has been the subject of investigation by the police. It almost caused loss of life, when a man driving his car down the road swerved into a ditch to avoid the light coming at him.
On Wednesday night, Nov. 23, 20 persons chilled at the midnight hour while watching for the light. Parked on the road at different places, these persons, among them a Leader-Post representative, were joking with each other, and saying that they had been "fooled again" when suddenly the "Tabor light" so named because it comes from the Tabor cemetery, appeared:
The joking stopped and the unbelievers, in awe watched the light as it came over the crest of the hill a quarter of a mile north of the cemetery. And not only once, but four different times the light was seen at 15 minute intervals.
One car after the first appearance, drove to where it had disappeared. The people in that car did not see the light again, but those in the other cars saw it in three different places.
The light is much like an automobile spotlight, exceptionally bright and pinkish in color.
Approaches at Terrific Speed
Apparently approaching the watchers at terrific speed, the light seemed to come to within 200 yards of the cars, shrunk to a pinpoint and disappeared.
"Just the headlights of a car" said the scoffers. Yet no evidence of a car's passing was found when they drove to the spot where the light appeared after a fresh fall of snow.
"Reflections from car headlights." the scoffers insisted. But the spectators all switched off their headlights, by agreement, and the second appearance of the ghostly glow was viewed in total darkness.
Tony Bernaski, of Esterhazy, guide for The Leader-Post representative, was as completely mystified as the hundreds of others who have seen the "Tabor light" on numerous occasions.
Bernaski claims it has been seen at intervals during the past 25 years, but recently has been reported as appearing almost every night.
Local residents express indifference, amusement and occasionally fear when discussing the phenomenon. One farmer, whose home is within three miles of Tabor cemetery, is all ready to move out if the spectre light continues. "You mark my words," he said, "that light is a no good sign." A similar happening in Poland in the 17th century, he claims, was followed by a plague which took a toll of many lives in the district.
Carefully investigated by a member of the R.C.M.P. last week, the explanation of the mystery seems as remote as ever.
Most of Wednesday night's spectators were quite "blase" but one lady was not particularly happy. "This is too darned spooky for me," said to the drive of the car, "Let's get out of here fast!"
The appearance of the "Tabor light" in the vicinity of a cemetery, on a lonely road, has been responsible for several attacks of the "jitters" among motorists. The speed with which it seems to approach has caused many to take hurriedly to the ditch fearing a collision. Just when the crash seems imminent, the light disappears and the motorist is left, doubting his own sanity.
R. R. Branton pioneer settler of the Whitewood district recalls a similar light seen near Whitewood in 1905. Mr. Branton says that although the light was seen by many settlers, no satisfactory explanation was ever offered for its appearance. Mr. Branton believes the residents of the Esterhazy district will be baffled by the "Tabor light" for a long time to come.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)