UFO Potpourri No 387

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: no. 387
Date: DECEMBER 1994
Publisher: JOHN F. SCHUESSLER
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue, titled 'UFO POTPOURRI', focuses on the historical '1897 Airships' phenomenon, presenting a collection of articles and reader submissions originally from the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The content explores various sightings, explanations, and opinions surrounding the aerial craft that captured public imagination in 1897.

The Airship Problem (Reader Letter)

An article addressed to the editor of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, dated April 20, presents several reasons why the much-talked-of airship, with a man aboard, is considered a hoax. The author, ED M'LEAN from Tower Hill, Illinois, suggests that the planet Venus, appearing red as it sets, and toy tissue paper balloons fed by alcohol-soaked cotton, are responsible for the excitement. He argues that no known power is sufficient to lift and propel a craft of that size without a large, conspicuous reservoir, and that such a ship traveling at high speeds would freeze occupants. He also points out the impracticality of a car hanging below a reservoir due to resistance, making steering impossible. M'Lean concludes that the airship problem is as unsolved as perpetual motion, noting that past attempts have failed and likely will continue to do so unless an unknown power source is discovered. He questions where these reported airships 'hang up at' and expresses hope for future aerial travel but demands more proof.

Edison's Opinion

An article from NEW YORK, dated April 20, reports on Thomas A. Edison's skepticism regarding recent Western airship stories, labeling them as fakes. Edison believes that if an airship is ever made, it will not be in the form of a balloon but a mechanical contrivance powered by a lightweight, powerful motor, the invention of which is currently unknown. He likens the potential suddenness of such an invention to the discovery of Roentgen rays. However, Edison states he is not personally pursuing airship invention, preferring to focus on objects with commercial value, and considers airships to be mere toys.

Air Ship at Belleville

This section reports on an airship sighting in Belleville, Missouri, on Monday night, April 20. Several citizens of 'unquestioned sobriety and veracity' observed a bright red light in the northeast around 9:30 PM, visible for about an hour. Postmaster Irwin Wangelin and Mrs. Curt Heinfelden were among the witnesses. The object was seen traveling at great speed, alternately rising and falling. Other witnesses included Otto Rauschkolb, Fred Marsh, Lorena Kassius, and Officer William Letter. The light was plainly visible from Swansea, a village north of town, and its motion was not that of a balloon. The article notes that lawmakers saw the situation as an opportunity for increasing taxes.

Tax on Airships

An article from AUSTIN, Texas, dated April 23, details a resolution introduced in the Texas House of Representatives. The resolution addresses the current belief that an airship is flying around Texas carrying passengers and freight without paying taxes or adhering to established rates. The commission is instructed to establish special rates for airships and ensure compliance.

That Airship

This article, from CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, dated April 24, describes an airship that reportedly landed for repairs in the Tennessee Mountains. The machine, described as being in the exact shape of a shad (minus head and tail), is constructed of aluminum bonded with steel strips. It features two large wings with knuckle and socket joints, allowing for movement in any direction to control ascent and descent without gas loss. Propulsion is provided by two motors, one electric and one naptha, and a stern propeller with a nine-foot diameter. The shad-shaped portion is filled with hydrogen gas, providing a lifting capacity of 1,800 pounds. The passenger car is made of bamboo and aluminum. The navigator, identified as 'Prof. Charles Davidson,' explained that the machinery was out of order. The vessel was alleged to have left Sacramento a month prior and traveled across the country.

Another Vision of the Airship

This section, from JENNY LIND, Arkansas, dated May 5, reports on a sighting where residents claim to have conversed with the occupants of an airship. The town was alerted by cries of 'Airship! Airship!' The craft appeared from the northeast, moved southwest, then veered northwest. It descended near a spring at the foot of the mountain. Mr. Elijah Holenbeck, Assistant Superintendent of the Mines, Prof. Phelps, and James Davis followed it. They spoke with the manager and owner, George Autzerlitz, and his associate, Joseph Eddleman. They claimed their vessel could travel at speeds one-third faster than the fastest birds and subsisted on birds caught in flight. James Davis reportedly took a ride to Huntington, fifteen miles away, in ten minutes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the public fascination and debate surrounding airship sightings in 1897. The articles present a mix of skeptical explanations (misidentification, hoaxes), expert opinions (Edison's mechanical focus), and detailed eyewitness accounts of alleged craft. The editorial stance, as reflected in the selection of articles, appears to be one of documenting the phenomenon while also presenting critical perspectives and questioning the veracity of some claims. The inclusion of the Texas tax proposal and the description of the shad-shaped airship in Chattanooga add further dimensions to the historical context of aerial speculation during that period.