Top 9 World’s Most Famous Ghosts (4 of 5)

The Flying Dutchman

Ah, speaking of the Flying Dutchman, it’s the world’s most famous phantom ship! This 17th-century vessel supposedly roams the seas as a glowing omen of doom. One popular version tells of Dutch captain van der Decken, who, during a storm at the Cape of Good Hope, refused to seek shelter and even loudly dared God to stop him. So what’s his curse? Oh, nothing too horrible, just sail forever without finding port. Sightings have been reported as recently as 1923 off South Africa, and the legend still sails on in Pirates of the Caribbean.

The Bell Witch

Between 1817 and 1821, the Bell family’s Tennessee farm allegedly became ground zero for a violent haunting. It started with John Bell shooting at a strange animal that vanished. Then came the long years of eerie noises, shaking walls, and attacks on his daughter Betsy. The ghost supposedly scared even Andrew Jackson, though historians note his involvement was likely invented to add credibility and shock value. Still, the Bell Witch remains an American ghost story staple.