UFO Potpourri No 384

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: no. 384
Date: December 1994
Publisher: JOHN F. SCHUESSLER
Address: P.O. BOX 58485, HOUSTON, TX 77258-8485
Fax: (713) 488-3121

This issue of UFO Potpourri delves into the historical phenomenon of the 1897 airship sightings that captivated America. The magazine presents a collection of newspaper articles from the era, primarily from the ST. LOUIS STAR and the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, to provide evidence that these were not mere myths or sensationalism, but reports of physically real, solid, flying objects witnessed by thousands.

The 1897 Airships

The lead article, "THE 1897 AIRSHIPS," asserts that despite modern researchers dismissing these sightings as fables, a review of the actual newspaper coverage from 1897 reveals a number of reports describing solid, flying objects operating in the atmosphere. It notes that some articles from the time poked fun at witnesses, while others suggested witnesses actually met and spoke with the airship crews. The ST. LOUIS STAR, in particular, devoted considerable space to these reports.

Regional Sightings and Reports

Oklahoma: In Norman, Okla., on April 12, Adventists reported an airship with a glittering light that moved erratically, causing them to make sinister prophecies.

Delaware: Farmers near Wilmington, Del., reported on April 13 that they had seen the same mysterious airship in January, suggesting it was a recurring phenomenon.

St. Louis, Missouri: On April 14, a mysterious airship was again visible over Taylor Avenue, traveling east. It was observed from the Christian Brothers' College and the Sixth District Police Station. Near Taylor Avenue, the object seemed to dart upwards and was then hidden by clouds.

Michigan: On April 14, reports from Coldwater, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, and Niles indicated that an airship was distinctly seen in the heavens, approximately a mile high, with a blazing white light in front and red and green lights on the sides.

Ohio: On April 16, in Dunkirk, Ohio, the airship was seen within 300 feet of the ground. Marshall Mahon and others reported hearing passengers talking loudly from the airship. Farmer James McKenzie of Casston, Ohio, reported seeing the airship pass over his farm and observed something white being thrown from the vehicle, which a party intended to search for as a possible message.

Illinois: On April 17, reputable men in Bloomington, Ill., reported frequent sightings. Telegraph operators and train crews sighted the ship. A train crew at Woodford saw it at 8:00 o'clock, and later, hundreds of reputable men in Vincennes, Ind., also reported seeing the airship.

Greenfield, Illinois: On April 20, Postmaster M.G. Sisson of Greenfield, Ill., had a close encounter. While walking in the woods, his dog became terrified, and he then saw the airship approaching. He estimated it was about 150 feet from the ground, not traveling rapidly, and later increased speed. He described it as being about 100 feet in length and 15 feet in diameter, made of metal, with a walk or deck protected by a railing. It passed about 100 feet above him.

Milan, Missouri: On April 24, Milan, Mo., reported the appearance of a "wonderful airship." It was described as resembling an engine's headlight and moved from the southwest over the city before taking a southeasterly course.

Scientific and Media Reactions

Post-Dispatch Investigations: Telegrams received by the POST-DISPATCH on Saturday morning from correspondents in four central states confirmed sightings of a luminous body moving northwesterly with different colored lights. Thousands viewed it in Chicago. Max L. Hosmar, Secretary of the Chicago Aeronautical Association, declared it an airship.

University Involvement: On April 10, telescopes from Washington and St. Louis Universities were set to sweep the skies to observe the phenomenon. Professor Henry S. Pritchett of Washington University expressed mystification, stating, "I know what you wish to speak about... and I will frankly tell you I am as mystified as anyone. Can it be possible that it is an airship? Why, of course it can..."

Professor Hough's Theory: Professor Hough of Northwestern University suggested it might have been a star, but this was ridiculed by many Chicagoans. Professor Pritchett countered that Venus, the brightest star, was not in that part of the sky, and clouds would have obscured it.

Thomas Edison's Skepticism: In New York on April 20, Thomas A. Edison dismissed the airship question as unsolved and likely pure fiction. He referred to a report about a dropped message from an airship near Astoria, Ill., addressed to him and signed by "C.L. Harris, Electrician Airship No. 3." Edison stated he knew no such person and believed that while airships would be constructed in the future, they would be mechanical contrivances, not balloons.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the persistent reporting of mysterious aerial phenomena in 1897, presented as a serious subject worthy of investigation despite some contemporary skepticism and ridicule. The editorial stance appears to be in favor of acknowledging the validity of these historical eyewitness accounts, as evidenced by the presentation of numerous newspaper clippings and the emphasis on the number of witnesses and the physical descriptions provided. The magazine aims to document these historical events, contrasting them with modern interpretations and highlighting the scientific and public reactions of the time.