FIERY SERPENT IN THE SKY

On the next page is given an illustration of a wonder seen by the pilot of the steamer William Penn, on the Ohio River, on the night of March 21, 1843. An account of it was published in the Cincinnati Sun of March 27, 1843, and reads as follows:—LDT 65.2

“On Saturday afternoon, Mr. William Frances, pilot of the William Penn steamboat, a packet that runs between this city and Rising Sun, Ind., called personally at our office to give us the full particulars of the wonderful sight seen by him on the night above mentioned, fully impressed with the solemnity of the subject, and the awful responsibility of telling anything of this nature but what is strictly true. Mr. Frances informed us that he is a member of the church, and assured us in the most solemn manner that what he was about to relate was truth, and nothing but the truth, and that he is ready to convince any gentleman or lady that will call upon him.LDT 65.3

PICTURE-FIERY SERPENT IN THE SKY, 1843

“He states that as the Penn was on her trip to this city, when between Rising Sun and Aurora, about 11 or 12 P. M., he was steering the boat along, it being a star-bright night,-excepting a few clouds in the west, low down, sky clear,-when of a sudden a light burst forth, the whole face of the earth appearing to be lighted up, which so blinded him that it was with difficulty he could see anything, even the most near object. His first impression was that it lightened sharply, but its continuing convinced him that it must be something else, which he could not account for.LDT 67.1

“The captain of the Penn, James Pratzman, was sitting in the cabin at the time with three or four candles; he saw the light, notwithstanding, ran out on the guard, anxious to know the cause, and asked Mr. Frances if he saw the light.LDT 67.2

“He said he did.LDT 67.3

“‘What is it?’ said Captain P.LDT 67.4

“‘Dear only knows,’ answered Mr. F., ‘for I don’t.’LDT 67.5

“From that the captain disappeared from looking over the hurricane deck, and went below.LDT 67.6

“Mr. Frances, now being anxious to discover whence this bright light came, looked diligently out of the side of the pilot-house, in rather a southwest course, but nearly overhead, when he saw the outlines ofLDT 67.7