Fiery Pillar Phenomenon over Carlisle

“On the morning of April 3 a somewhat startling phenomenon was visible for many miles around Carlisle, and was seen by scores of people. Between four and five o'clock in the morning a ball—or, more properly speaking, a pillar—of fire passed from east to west over the city of Carlisle, and was plainly visible for fully a score of miles around. The fiery substance resembled an ordinary rocket in size and shape, and seemed as though it were prevented from falling by some invisible connecting cord. It travelled at a pretty quick rate, throwing a lurid glare over every spot that it passed. It was perceived to pass over Carlisle and travel in a westerly direction, being plainly visible at Cumnersdale and at Glasson, the latter place being fully nine or ten miles distant from Carlisle. At Glasson, a respectable yeoman watched the pillar intently, and he says that it caused a great heat, while another person, in the same locality, says that the fiery substance seemed to pass within a score or two of yards of him, and that the heat was almost overpowering. Suddenly it exploded in the air, and the report, which resembled the discharge of cannon, was heard for a great distance around. — Millennial Star 31:16”