UFO Potpourri No 385

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: no. 385
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, dated December 1994, presents "THE 1897 AIRSHIPS PART II," a compilation of articles originally published in the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The content focuses on a wave of sightings of mysterious aerial phenomena reported across the Midwestern United States in April 1897.

Article Summaries

WHAT LIGHT DO WE SEE?

This article, dated St. Louis, MO., April 11, addresses the numerous reports of an aerial object seen at night. It notes that the sightings are widespread, including in prohibition states, suggesting the witnesses are not under the influence of alcohol. One witness, Richard Butler, an Iowa farmer, described the object as cigar-shaped, approximately 35-40 feet long and 6-8 feet broad, with several windows on the side through which lights were visible. The structure above was apparently inflated. Butler's team was startled by the object, causing them to fall into a ditch. The article highlights that scientists and astronomers are taking these reports seriously, training telescopes to investigate, and considering the possibility of visitors from Mars. It emphasizes the need to solve this mystery to avoid suspecting the temperance and veracity of the witnesses.

AERIAL WONDER SEEN IN ST. LOUIS

Dated St. Louis, MO., April 12, this piece reports that the mysterious aerial wonder, which had been generating comment for a week, was seen by many in St. Louis on Saturday night. William Mulhall observed a strange light and alerted R.H. Pardee, a druggist, and George A. Miles, a clerk. A crowd gathered as the object moved northward with a peculiar color and unswerving flight along the horizon. Fifteen workmen at the Lindell Railway car shops also saw the light. Conductors on the Citizens' line reported it visible from the western end of the line on Saturday night but not Sunday. Professor H.P. Pritchett, an astronomer at Washington University, stated he did not see the airship from his observatory, which is low and affected by smoky atmosphere, preventing observations below 30 degrees elevation. He acknowledged the witnesses' veracity and expressed willingness to keep a lookout.

PASSED OVER CHILLICOTHE

This dispatch from Chillicothe, MO., April 12, reports that many residents saw what they believed to be a mysterious airship. A bright white light, described as about the size of a headlight, passed over the north part of the city and moved west. The hull of the ship was not visible.

PHOTOGRAPHED IN CHICAGO

Reported from Chicago, IL., April 13, Walter McCann of Rogers Park claims to have photographed the airship on Sunday morning, with three witnesses corroborating his account. McCann described the object as a large cigar coming from the south, clearly not a balloon. He used his son's camera to take two photographs in clear sky conditions.

SALISBURY SEES IT.

From Salisbury, MO., April 13, this report details how skepticism turned to belief as citizens saw the airship around 8 o'clock. It appeared northwest of town, moved against the wind briefly, then abruptly shot into space northeast. A large light was seen below and a smaller one above the front end, with a black band around the central part.

GIRARD VIEWS THE AIRSHIP

Dated St. Louis, MO., April 14, this section details a sighting in Girard, Illinois. P.F. McCraner, William Street, Frank Metcalf, and Ed Steeples reported seeing the airship. McCraner, the night operator, was alerted by the Carlinville operator that the airship was heading towards Girard. McCraner observed the object approaching the ground rapidly. He and the others followed it and saw the craft drop behind trees about a quarter-mile away. Before they could reach it, the ship rose to a great height and disappeared north. They reported seeing persons in the boat and a large letter 'M' on its side. Upon reaching the landing spot, they found distinct imprints of a man's feet, suggesting someone had exited the ship. McCraner expressed willingness to make an affidavit. A reporter from the Post Dispatch confirmed McCraner's reliability with the Western Union Telegraph Office. A dispatch from Carlinville also mentioned the airship passing over that place Tuesday evening, seen by hundreds, and also at Sherman and Williamsville.

HAD PEOPLE ON IT

Reported from Perry, Oklahoma, April 14, this article states that the airship had appeared in Oklahoma, with hundreds reporting sightings over the past few days. Fifty people saw it in the last two nights. A dozen men saw it at Guthrie five days prior, and two days before that at South McAlester. Col. Yates, a newspaper editor, described the object as nearly 100 feet long and about one-fourth as wide, moving north with a light that shone and disappeared like a flashlight or lightning bug. He also claimed to see persons inside the machine, accompanied by four others.

AIRSHIP LANDED

This brief report from Springfield, Illinois, April 15, mentions a rumor that the famous airship had landed safely nearby, with three uninjured men aboard who spoke freely with observers.

AIRSHIP VIEWED BY TELESCOPE

From St. Louis, MO., April 16, Dr. Leo Chaplan reported observing the airship again. Thousands saw the bright searchlight, and the craft's outlines were seen through a telescope. Dr. Chaplan stated the airship moved considerably in five minutes, taking a northwesterly course, then veering west, and finally north. He compared its appearance to Venus and Sirius, noting the object behind the light was distinctly visible.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread sightings of mysterious aerial phenomena in 1897, the descriptions of these objects as airships, and the attempts to reconcile these sightings with scientific understanding. The editorial stance, as reflected in the compilation of these reports from a reputable newspaper like the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, is to present the evidence and eyewitness accounts seriously. The articles emphasize the credibility of the witnesses and the need for investigation, suggesting that these events are not merely products of imagination or intoxication. The inclusion of astronomical observations and expert opinions, even if inconclusive, indicates an effort to provide a balanced perspective while acknowledging the unexplained nature of the phenomena. The overall tone is one of serious inquiry into a significant historical event of unexplained aerial sightings.