Sheba the Ghost Dog - Walker's Cay, Abaco Islands

A ghostly Caribbean  legend of the canine sort is that of a phantom dog that has been known to rescue distressed swimmers along the shores of Walker's Cay in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas.

A phantom dog roams the beaches of Walker's Cay.  It can be seen swimming out to sea and then vanishes into thin air.

Back in the 1800's, a sailing ship named the Richmond, was making for Bermuda when the vessel was pounded by a hurricane.  On board was a family of which there were two little girls and a family dog, a German Shepard named Sheba.  The ship finally succumbed to the pounding waves and broke up.  The dog being ever so faithful as dogs are, swam to one of the girls as she grabbed the dog, he swam to a nearby shore.  The dog dove back into the water to retrieve the other little girl.  Neither were ever seen again.

Since then, to this day on the shores of Walker's Cay, during heavy seas and especially when a hurricane is approaching, a German Sheppard has been spotted swimming in the ocean just off shore.  It has been seen swimming out away from the shore, then disappears into thin air.  It is believed that this is the ghost of Sheba, the family dog that perished centuries before attempting to save the shipwrecked little girl.

There have been several accounts of the dog actually rescuing people over the years.  Helping struggling and drowning swimmers to shore when they are in distress, only to return to the sea and disappear.

Walker's Cay National Park, Abaco Island, The Bahamas is said to be haunted by a ghostly dog that roams the beach during extreme weather

The waters of Walker's Cay is now a national park.  The island is surrounded by a natural barrier reef and is a haven for marine wildlife.  The island does feature an air strip, hotel and restaurant. A great place to get some scuba diving in and just maybe you'll catch a glimpse of Sheba if you are there during bad weather.

Groover's Ghost of Richmond Bridge - Tasmania, Australia

In the village of Richmond in Tasmania, Australia, a bridge traverses the Coal River along the B31 or what was formerly known as 'convict trail' which served as a main transport route of work gangs from the penal colony of Port Arthur to the growing Hobart Town.  The bridge is said to be haunted by a former convict overseer and and a dog.

Richmond Bridge in Tasmania, Australia is said to be haunted by the ghost of George 'Simeon' Groover and a spectral dog

George 'Simeon' Groover started out his life in Tasmania as one of it's convict residents.  He was sent there for stealing and served out his term, then managed to get a job as a convict overseer around 1829.  He was also given the dubious job of flogging the prisoners when they got out of line. It was said that he became very brutally good at it, torturing many prisoners in his time as overseer.

Built in 1925 by convict labor, what was then known as Bigge's Bridge served as an easy way to traverse the river at Richmond.  One day in 1832, this bridge was the scene of a tragic end for George Groover.  The gang of convicts he was overseeing, took advantage of Groover's drunken state and took out their vengeance on him right there at the bridge and then threw him over the side into the river.

Haunted Richmond Bridge still stands today as one of the oldest bridges of its kind still in use in Australia

Over the years many passing over the bridge have witnessed the specter of a man pacing back and forth across the bridge.  It is believed that this is the ghost of George Groover.  Strangely enough, a phantom black dog has also appeared on the bridge.  Many claim that it appears and then just as suddenly, disappears without a trace. Groover's Dog as it has come to be known, usually manifests itself in the evenings and presents itself only to women and children.  There has also been sightings of a man in a straw hat appearing to be wearing convict attire, strolling across the bridge on occasion.  This is believed to be a prisoner that grew weary of the brutal conditions and threw himself over the side of the bridge while crossing one day.

Richmond Bridge still stands today as one of the oldest bridges of its kind still in use in Australia.  So if you are ever traveling on the B31, keep an eye out for phantoms of the past as you are passing over the haunted bridge at Richmond.