Article in the Omaha, Nebraska Bee for February 2, 1897
Several Hastings people report that an air ship, or something of the kind, has been sailing around in the air west of this city. It was first noticed sometime last fall when it was seen floating in the air about 500 feet above the ground, and after standing still for about 30 minutes, it began to circle about and took a northerly direction for about two miles, after which it returned to its starting place and sank into oblivion.
Since that time it has not been seen until last Sunday evening, when it was
observed standing nearly still, a few miles west of Hastings and seemingly
about 800 feet in the air.
At first sight it had the appearance of an immense star, but after closer
observation the powerful light shows by its color to be artificial. It
certainly must be illuminated by powerful electric dynamos for the light sent
forth by it is wonderful.
At 9:30 last Monday night (January 25, 1897) the large glaring light was seen to circle around for a few minutes and then descended for about 200 feet, circling as it traveled at a remarkable speed for about two miles and then slowing up it circled for fully 15 minutes, when it began to lower and disappear as mysteriously as it had made its appearance...A close watch is being kept for its reappearance.
On February 5, 1897, the Omaha, Nebraska Bee reported that the UFO had been sighted again, this time at Invale, a tiny farm town 40 miles south of Hastings, near the Kansas state line. The UFO was seen by people returning from a prayer meeting.
It (the UFO) seemed to be conical-shaped and perhaps 30 to 40 feet in length, with a bright headlight and six smaller lights, three on a side, and seemed to have two sets of wings on a side, with a large fan-shaped rudder," the Bee reported. The Invale witnesses claimed to have heard rumbling engine noises and the voices of the airship's occupants.
According to the Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital, Topeca, Kansas of March 31, 1897, in an article titled 'Strange Light in the Sky' the UFO was seen the morning of Sunday, January 24, 1897. People thought a mysterious inventor was experimenting with an 'airship' about 10 miles west of the small city. The UFO circled for a few minutes and then zoomed away to the north.
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