Subj: THE BOX Part Six
Date: 5/20/00 7:43:15 AM Central Daylight Time
From: N.E. Collins

The fire that ravaged Collinsport later that same day would have leveled the town had it not been for the wet weather and the quick response of the community. Many of the inhabitants of the small fishing village found refuge from the billowing, noxious smoke by gathering down by the docks, where the ocean breezes blew back the fumes. Several homes were destroyed and there were not many structures that did not sustain some damage.

It was first believed that lightening was the culprit of the disaster, but a handful of witnesses came forth who declared that they had seen a ball of fire from the sky hurl itself down on the village! No one would have given this story much credence if it had not been for the fact that two of the witnesses were men whose opinions were highly respected. The local doctor and the chief of police were amongst those who claimed that "fire from heaven itself" rained down on Collinsport creating a path of death and destruction in its wake.

It was not until the fires had been put out that the little child, Samantha Evans, came forward with her story about the fireball. She said it had not come from up above, but from the direction of the great estate of Collinwood. She was only twelve years old, but in no time the population was in full support of her claim. The townspeople were only too ready to blame yet another catastrophe on the name of Collins.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.