Sighting

Clouds parted and in a reddish hue appeared a "regiment of men in uniform" followed by "two large three-masted vessels of war under full sail." Then "two human forms, male and female, standing with their faces towards each other, as if engaged in conversation" appeared before this "scene was closed by the forms of a swan and a peahen moving across and disappearing."

Transcription of the Times article:

*Extraordinary Phenomenon.* ? We have received
a circumstantial description of an extraordinary appearance
in the heavens which, on the morning of Saturday
last, was witnessed by two men who were out in a fishing
boat off Quigley's Point, in Lough Foyle. At a former
period this strange phenomenon, for which the known laws
of optics account only imperfectly, would have been regarded
as prophetic of national destinies; but the Fata Morgana of
Italy, and the singular appearances frequently witnessed
in the high Arctic latitudes, as well as around some parts of
the Antrim coast, demonstrate the essential reference of all
these optical wonders to some natural law, which science has
yet thoroughly to investigate. From the character of the
men to whom, in the present case, we allude, not the
slightest doubt can be entertained in regard to the fidelity
of their statement, which is, in substance, the following,
namely: ? That while on Saturday morning last, about
2 o'clock, they were in a boat fishing, off Quigley's
Point, they observed a phenomenon of a very strange
description. At the hour we have mentioned the
sky was of a more than ordinary dark and lurid aspect,
so much so that the men were apprehensive that there
would be a heavy fall of rain, when almost instantaneously
the clouds to the westward parted, and an
opening, as it were, of a reddish hue became visible, to which
their attention was directed. Then there appeared in the
heavens a regiment of men in uniform; and so minute was
the representation that the dresses of the officers could be
easily distinguished from those of the men. This passed
away in a panoramic manner, and was quickly succeeded by
the view of two large three-masted vessels of war under full
sail, which traversed the same space as their predecessors on
the scene, and at length they faded from the sight. The
mysterious vision was not, however, yet completed; for
their wondering eyes now beheld the appearance of two
human forms, male and female, standing with their faces
towards each other, as if engaged in conversation; and so
vivid was the outline of these figures that they distinguished
the male from the female, the former being apparently
clothed in a frock coat. This aerial personation of humanity
occupied about the same space of time as the two first mentioned.
This most bewildering scene was closed by the
forms of a swan and a peahen moving across and disappearing;
after which the sky assumed the sombre hue which it
wore previous to this strange illusion. Our informant
stated that one of the men who witnessed this scene was
filled with the greatest terror during its continuance.?
Derry Sentinel.

Sources

Tags