Witnesses /

Unnamed lad from the char-à-banc service at Chão de Maçãs

Villager

A lad working the char-à-banc service at Chão de Maçãs station (Sabacheira, Tomar), about 10 km from Vila Nova de Ourém. Asked by Avelino de Almeida on 12 October 1917 whether he had seen the Lady, he answered with a sardonic smile.

From Chão de Maçãs (Tomar)The surrounding regionAttitude beforehand: Sceptic1 passage · Other 1917 events
Other 1917Second-handSaw nothingPress reportScepticCrowd scene
As told by Avelino de Almeida
English

Jumping down, after a long journey, at about four in the afternoon yesterday at Chão de Maçãs station5, where religious people who had come from distant parts to attend the “miracle” also got off, I asked a young lad from the regular “char-à-banc”* service point-blank whether he had seen the Lady yet. With a sardonic smile and a sidelong look, he did not hesitate to answer:

Português

Ao saltar, após demorada viagem, pelas dezesseis horas de hontem, na estação de Chão de Maçãs5, onde se apearam tambem pessoas religiosas vindas de longes terras para assistir ao “milagre”, perguntei, de chofre, a um rapazote do “char-á-bancs” da carreira se já tinha visto a Senhora. Com seu sorriso sardonico e o olhar enviezado, não hesitou em responder-me:

— All I ever saw there was stones, carts, motor cars, beasts of burden and people!

— Eu cá só lá vi pedras, carros, automoveis, cavalgaduras e gente!

Editors' notes (1)

5 Also known as Fátima Station.

5 Também conhecida por Estação de Fátima.

DCF III-1, Doc. 87 · press · 12 Oct 1917 · also printed in DCF III-1, Doc. 155ScanLink
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