Transcription of Simeon Perkins log, 12 October 1796
Account in script: (sic) “A strange story is going that fleet of ships have been seen in the air in some part of the Bay of Fundy – Wm Darrow is lately from there by land I enquired of him he says they were said to be seen at New Minas alone …. (illegible)… by a girl about sunrise & that girl being frightened called out & two men that were in the house went out & saw the same sight. Being 15 ships and a man forward of them with his hand straightened out- the ships made to the Eastward they were so near that the people saw their sides & ports – the story did not obtain universal credit but some people believed it – my own opinion is that it was only imagination, as the glow at sunrise might make some such appearance with being improved by imagination might be all. They saw -” ……….. (at least he did not say “Swamp Gas”)