The Hoaxing of Harwich

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 September 1911, Page 4

The Hoaxing of Harwich

. "H.M.S. AIRSHIP NO. 1." Since the episode of tho cobbler of Koepenick there has not been such an amusing ihoax as that plaiyed on the good people of Harwich by four bluejackets attached to a vessel which was anchored in the harbour during the earlier part of last .month. The device on their caps of "H.M. S. Airsihip No. 1," and their plausible tales of a. landing in the locality after a journey in the arrow airship, induced a crowd to leave their beds at five o'clock one Tuesday morning to sec the start of another experimental journey to Scotland. Now the bluejackets are the heroes of the lower declcs. and in Harwich the question, "Did you seethe airship?' leads to hard words and illfeeling. The strangest part of the hoax lias in the little touches supplied by the bluejackets to .add the necessary air of versimilitudo. To the admiring townsmen who gathered to hear their modestly told adventures, they imparted the information that no man more than lOst 101b was allowed in the crew. Three of the men, sacrificing everything to their artistry, drank nothing but ginger beer. They had to, they said. Flying depended so much on nerves. Other details in their plausible story were that the airship carried a crew of eight men and two officers, all picked men, who had volunteered for the work. There were also guns on the ship, carefully described to the open-eyed audience in Harwich bar-rooms. Tt was on the Monday evening the four bluejackets descended on unsuspecting Harwich, and H.M.S. Airship No. 1 soon lured a little knot of locals into circulation. And then the naval men spread themselves out. Yes, they belonged to the boat recently launched at arraw. They had flown from Portsmouth, and arrived safely at Shortley. To-morrow they were going to make an early start on a flight to Scotland. "Wo shall probably reach a height of 6000 feet,' 'they said, "and carry out a series of experiments en route." And, modestly drinking their gingerbeer, the heroes allowed themselves to be drawn out into narrating vivid descriptions of the wonders or flying. The story spread through Harwich in half an hour. Before six o'clock next morning a crowd of yawning townsmen were on Harwich pier, all eyes straining towards Shorley. Those who had field-glasses brought them, and quarrelled about imaginary specks on tho borison. Half-past six came, and no airship. Some hitch in the starting, perhaps. The learned talked about guy-ropes and balloonets. Seven o'clock, and never a sign. Then the cold truth dawned on the watchers. Someone came with: news that there was no airship at Shotlcy, and slipping their field-glasses into cases they stole silently away.