It is one of the most debated and documented supernatural events of the 20th century. On October 13, 1917, in a muddy field in Portugal, a crowd of roughly 70,000 people—believers, skeptics, and journalists alike—stared at the sky and saw the impossible.
The video above captures a rare and compelling piece of history: a 1957 interview with Dominic Reis, an eyewitness who was present at the Cova da Iria that day. Speaking in broken but passionate English, he recounts the terror and awe of the "Miracle of the Sun."
The Context: A Soaking Wet Crowd
The interview begins with Reis describing the harsh conditions. Historical records confirm that October 13, 1917, was marked by torrential rain. The crowd had gathered because three shepherd children (Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta) had predicted that the Virgin Mary would perform a miracle "so that all may believe."
Reis mentions "soldiers trying to stop us." This is a crucial historical detail. The Portuguese government at the time was staunchly anti-clerical and had previously imprisoned the children to stop the gatherings. On this final day, authorities set up barricades to prevent the massive influx of pilgrims, but the crowds broke through, wading through "3 inches of water and mud."
"The Sun Started Dancing"
Reis’s testimony aligns perfectly with thousands of other accounts from that day. He describes the sun "breaking" through the clouds and then behaving erratically:
"The sun started rolling... like dancing from one place to another."
"We see the sun come right into the tree."
This matches the "zig-zag" motion described by other witnesses, including Avelino de Almeida, a pro-government journalist for the newspaper O Século, who famously reported that the sun "danced" in the sky.
Reis vividly recalls the sheer terror of the moment the sun appeared to detach from the sky and plummet toward the earth. "Everyone started howling and crying," he says, noting that his mother grabbed him and screamed that it was the end of the world.
The "Impossible" Detail: Dry Clothes
Perhaps the most scientifically baffling part of the event—and the one Reis emphasizes with visible astonishment—is the aftermath.
After standing in pouring rain for hours in deep mud, and after the sun had "crashed" toward the earth and retreated, the physical environment had changed instantly.
"The ground was dry just like the floor here... and our clothes felt completely dry... just like it came from the laundry."
This detail is cited by many researchers as evidence against the theory of "mass hallucination." While a crowd could theoretically share a visual hallucination due to religious fervor or staring at the sun, a hallucination cannot dry soaking wet wool clothing and turn deep mud into dry dust in a matter of minutes.
Why This Video Matters
It is easy to read history books and view the event as a distant fable. But seeing the face of a man who was there, hearing the tremor in his voice as he says, "I can't get it out of my mind... it was a real miracle," bridges the gap between folklore and reality.
Whether one views the event through the lens of faith or skepticism, Dominic Reis’s testimony stands as a fascinating primary source—a firsthand report from the day the sun danced.
Sources & Further Reading
The Interview: The footage is from a 1957 interview conducted by John Haffert, co-founder of the Blue Army (World Apostolate of Fatima).
Journalistic Account: You can read the original article by Avelino de Almeida in the October 15, 1917 edition of O Século, where he documented the event for a secular audience.
Historical Context: The True Story of Fatima by John de Marchi offers a comprehensive collection of witness testimonies, including scientists and atheists who were present.
