Wonders in the Sky (78 page)

24 September 1860, Nebraska City, USA Three unexplained objects in apparent formation

After sunset Mr. Joel Draper and ferryman Mr. Beebout saw a bright object low in the West. “While gazing with amazement at that, which in size, color, brightness and shape resembled one-fourth of the sun taken from its edge, we soon discovered another spot further to the right and a little higher, which was about one-third the size of the first; then another directly above the first, one-third the size of the second. All of these we soon discovered to be moving towards the south, or to the left of their former position, with great rapidity (…) as they moved, they all retained the same relation to each other as when they first appeared.”

The account goes on: “This took place after sunset, but, by means of the brightness of these bodies, it was as light as some ten or fifteen minutes before sunset. There were no clouds or vapors in the sky in that direction. They could not have been sun dogs or mock suns, for (such phenomena) remain, as long as they continue, in the same relative position to the sun.”

 

Source:
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
, 12 October 1860.

467.

10 November 1860, Washington, D.C., USA
Three unknown objects flying over the Capital

Just about sunset several witnesses observed an object “the size of a balloon” moving with great rapidity in a south-westerly direction: “Notwithstanding the light of day was still strong and clear, the illumination of the object was brilliant and distinct (…) We heard, while gazing at this wonder, that two similar ones had passed previously. The one we saw, after moving south-westerly, at an angle with the path of the sun, took a course directly west, and straight from us; fading gradually and very rapidly until lost from sight.

 

Source: Washington D.C.
Herald
and
Brooklyn Eagle
, front page, Friday 16 November, 1860.

468.

1861, North Atlantic Ocean: Three luminous bodies

Three luminous bodies are reported to have come from the North Atlantic Ocean and stayed in view for no less than ten minutes during a squall.

 

Source: “A Catalogue of Observations of Luminous Meteors,”
Report of the British Association
, 1861.

469.

4 October 1861, New York, USA
Mysterious object with occupants

About 6 P.M. a “mysterious balloon” passed over the city, with two men in it, from west to east at great height. Witnesses speculated that it was either “in the service of the traitors” or that it was “a device built by Professor Lowe, which had parted its fastenings,” both impossible explanations.

 

Source: The
New York Times
, 5 October, 1861.

470.

12 August 1863, Madrid, Spain: Maneuvering object

“The night before last there was observed on the horizon a luminous body that appeared towards the east, and it was promptly thought to be a comet. Its colour was reddish, and on the top part there could be seen an appendix or crown, that was doubtlessly ablaze. It was stationary for a long time; but later it began to move quickly in different directions: horizontally, rising, and lowering.”

The comet hypothesis is not tenable in this case.

 

Source:
Gaceta de Madrid
, 14 August 1863 (issue 226). Recorded by Franck Marie and Daniel Villain archives. Cited by Charles Garreau in
Alerte dans le Ciel
, 142.

471.

1 November 1864, Florence, Italy: Hovering white globe

“A white globe of fire many times larger than the full moon seemed hanging almost motionless in the air.” Shades of orange and blue passed over its surface. After a full minute it suddenly disappeared, vanishing on the spot. The witness adds: “Only just before its disappearance a smaller ball was seen immediately below it, of a fiery orange colour, the first one appearing at that moment of the same hue.”

 

Source: Madame Baldelli, “Large Fireball,”
Astronomical Register
3(1865): 53.

472.

4 December 1867, Chatham, England
A group of black disks

“On the afternoon of Monday the 4
^th
, between the hours of 3 and 4, I witnessed a very extraordinary sign in the heavens…The facts are as follows: I was passing the Mill by the water-works reservoir. On the gallery I observed the miller uttering exclamations of surprise, and looking earnestly towards the west. On inquiring what took his attention so much, he said: ‘Look, sir, I never saw such a sight in my life!'

“On turning in the direction towards which he was looking, the west, I also was astounded—numberless black disks in groups and scattered were passing rapidly through the air. He said his attention was directed to it by his little girl, who called to him in the Mill, saying, ‘Look, father, here are a lot of balloons coming!'

“They continued for more than 20 minutes, the time I stayed. In passing in front of the sun they appeared like large cannon shot. Several groups passed over my head, disappearing suddenly, and leaving puffs of grayish brown vapor very much like smoke.

“I am, sir, your truly, James E. Beveridge, Darland, Chatham.”

 

Source: Letter to the editor of Chatham News and Symonds'
Monthly Meteorological Magazine
(Dec. 1867): 8.

473.

8 June 1868, Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford, England
Unknown astronomical body

Astronomers recorded, at 9:50 P.M., a luminous object that moved quickly across the sky, stopped, changed course to the west, then to the south, where it hovered for four minutes before heading north.

 

Source: “Remarkable meteor”
English Mechanic
7 (July 10, 1868): 351.

474.