Record Receives Messages From Several Who Saw It.
The story of the airship in last night's Record, has created a good deal of talk and surmise around town. Several responsible parties have come forward with the statement that they too saw the lights going in the same direction and about the same hour.
Dr. Farwell, who was at the Little Lake, telephoned last evening and stated that he saw the lights, but was of the opinion that they were attached to a balloon.
Others who saw the lights are opposed to this theory. Mr. Vernon, in conversation with the Record, and who lives on London street, said that about eight o'clock on Monday evening [August 9] he was sitting on the lawn in front of his house when he observed two lights in the air, as if over the Rand Drill. As the sun had gone down like a ball of fire he first thought that it was caused from the reflection from the West on a couple of ducks. When the lights got out of the range of the rays[,] he found that this was not so. The lights, he said, appeared to be attached to something that was in motion, and going rapidly.
Mr. Sorel, Belvidere street, drew the attention of Mr. Maguire to the strange sight.
The lights may have been attached to a balloon, but if they were[,] it must have been to a large one for an advertising or toy balloon could hardly have traveled such distance as these lights had apparently covered.
Coaticook, Aug. 12. – (Special) – The airship (?) was also seen at Coaticook. The correspondent of the Record and a Mr. F. Fisher were sitting in front of the former's residence on Elm street on Monday night about eight o'clock when the former observed three strange lights in the air. He drew his companion's attention to them. They were then at an altitude of about 1,500 feet. The lights were apart, appearing like a head light and a side and tail light. The object to which the lights were attached could not be seen but it was traveling at a rapid rate in an easterly direction. These parties had the lights in view for about two minutes.
Mrs. Dardeau, who was out in the country some distance from Coaticook[,] also saw the peculiar sight, and mentioned the fact to her husband on her return home, but her husband pooh poohed her story. He is now convinced that there was something to it.
Coaticook, Aug. 12. – (Special) – The chief topic of conversation here is about the airship. Your correspondent has been informed by Mr. Lucien Lord that he and four companions, and also a man named Lapointe, saw a cigar-shaped airship sailing in a northerly direction two weeks ago last Tuesday [July 27]. The time was about half-past six in the evening, and the sky was perfectly clear so that they could see it quite plainly.
Waterville, Aug. 12. – (Special) – While Mr. and Mrs. Cardwell were walking out last Monday evening about nine o'clock, they saw an airship sailing along in a southeasterly direction, prettily lit up. Undoubtedly, it was the same that was seen in Sherbrooke on that evening.
[courtesy of W. Ritchie Benedict]