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skies. They were not disappointed. Strange flying lights seemed to be everywhere. They were seen over Boston Common, and throngs in Marlboro, South Framingham, Natick, Ashland, Grafton, North Grafton, Upton, Hopedale, and Northboro witnessed them. Because the lights moved against the wind, balloons were ruled out as an explanation. Something carrying a searchlight that ‘‘played from side to side” passed over Willimantic, Connecticut. Here is a summary from the Providence, Rhode Island, Journal (December 24, 1909): As on Wednesday night, the light was first reported passing over Marlboro about 6:45 o’clock. The light, which was at a height so great as tomake impossible a view of its support, disappeared to the southwest in the direction of Westboro and Worcester. It was traced from North Grafton, not far from Worcester, through Grafton, North Grafton, Hopedale, and Milford, and then after being lost sight of reappeared in Natick about 7:30 o’clock, going in the direction of Boston. Observers are positive that it was a searchlight. At 7:45 it was seen from Boston Common, by the testimony of several persons, among them men who were at a prominent clubhouse on Beacon Hill. At Northboro and Ashland, early in the evening, the population turned out en masse to watch the light pass overhead. Observers at several points report that while the light was generally steady, occasionally it flashed, and once or twice it disappeared entirely. That night Mr, Tillinghast was not ‘‘aloft.”’ Reporters found him and extracted this statement from him: I was out of Worcester last night. Where I was is my own business. It may be that I flew over the city, but that is my own business, too. When I said recently that I had flown from Boston to New York and returned, I said nothing but what was true. I have an airship which will carry three or four persons and will make the speed I claimed for it — that is, about one hundred twenty miles an hour. When I get ready, I shall speak fully and not until then. An unnamed “‘staff correspondent for the United Press” was report- edly arrested for trespassing when he tried to get to the bottom of the Worcester mystery. Following up rumors, he visited the estate of John B. Flexible Phantoms of the Sky / 103 The Mysterious Shed