The following news item appeared in The Evening Reporter of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, on April 4, 1906, page 3. Apparently there was a man in Franklin, Massachusetts, who played an April fool’s prank on his town.
JOKER CAUSES EXCITEMENT
Franklin People Were Looking For A Wrecked Airship
Franklin, Mass. April 4. – A practical joker, who resides in North Franklin, near the Medway line, was the cause of considerable excitement in that town yesterday when he told several that an airship had broken down and struck the ground near his farm. The statement went the rounds fast and by the middle of the afternoon everyone was talking about the affair. A large number spent their time and money for car fares to come to North Franklin to see the stranded ship. Early Tuesday morning a large number saw what they believed to be an airship in the skies, and when told that it had broken down by the North Franklin genius, were quick to swallow the story.
