Alternate Perceptions Magazine, February 2021
The Midwestern Airship Wave of 1897 - Part 4
by: Rick Hilberg
From the St. Louis Post - Dispatch of April 16, 1897 on page one:
Seen At Bismark
Special to the Post - Dispatch
BISMARK, Mo., April 16 - From 8:10 until 8:35 o'clock last evening the airship was seen from this point. It appeared when first seen by Mr. George Clarkson, to be about 2,000 feet high in a western direction, traveling in a northern direction passing below the horizon about 15 degrees west of north. The lights were large and beautiful, showing quite as large an engine headlight with about one-eighth of the luminous body showing red. Its course was oscillating, at times showing a rapid descent, followed by a quick rise. Many prominent people assembled on the streets and viewed the great puzzle in wonderment.
Special to the Post - Dispatch
NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 16 - Three dispatches received by the Banner this morning from Clarksville, Tenn; Allensville, Ky., and Russellville, Ky., all report that the mysterious airship passed over those places last night. In each instance the wonder is said to have been witnessed by reputable citizens. The ship is described as a huge, long, dark object, with a headlight.
Special to the Post - Dispatch
WATERLOO, Io., April 16 - The city has been worked up today by the arrival of an airship, which anchored outside of town. It is a cleverly constructed fake about 40 feet long and 20 feet wide and 12 feet high, built up by a practical joker during the past week and brought out last night, a man from a town 10 miles distant attending it. Ninety percent of the people believe it to be real. Fully 5,000 people have visited it today.
From the St. Louis Star of April 16, 1897 on page three:
DUNKIRK, O., April 16 - The mysterious airship has passed here. It was seen in the eastern part of town within 300 feet of the ground. Marshall Mahon and others heard passengers in the airship talking loudly.
At Casston, O, Farmer James McKenzie reports that the airship passed over his farm. He saw something white thrown from the vessel. A party will leave here to search for the supposed message.
From the St. Louis Star of April 17, 1897 on page five:
BLOOMINGTON, Ill., April 17 - Reports of the mysterious airship were frequent last night. Telegraph operators at Rinken and Arrowsmith reported the ship sighted at 7:00 o'clock. A train crew saw the airship at Woodford at 8:00 o'clock. A few minutes later an Illinois passenger train arrived, and it was reported that a number of the train crew saw the ship between Barnes and Marna. At Vincennes, Ind., more than a score of reputable men saw the airship early last night.
From the St. Louis Post - Dispatch of April 20, 1897 on page ten:
What is supposed to be an airship was seen in Belleville Monday night. It appeared in the northeast about 9:30 and was visible about an hour. It was seen by several citizens of unquestioned sobriety and veracity.
Postmaster Irwin Wangelin was walking home with Mrs. Curt Heinfelden, when he noticed a bright red light in the heavens and called her attention to it. It was traveling at great speed, alternately rising and falling.
Otto Rauschkolb, Fred Mersh, Loren Kassius and Officer William Letter also saw it.
From Swansca, the north of town on the ridge, the light was plainly visible. Its motion was not that of a balloon.
From the St. Louis Star of April 20, 1897 on page seven:
NEW YORK, April 20 - Thomas A. Edison does not think much of airships. He was seen in his West Orange laboratory in regard to a late account of the movement of the airship, according to which a letter was dropped from it on a farm near Astoria, Ill., with a copper enclosure addressed to Edison and signed "C. L. Harris, Electrician Airship No. 3."
He said: "You can take it from me that that is pure fiction. I have had several men named Harris in my employ, but I know nothing of C. L. Harris. I have no doubts that airships will be successfully constructed in the near future, but it will not be in the form of a balloon. It will be a mechanical contrivance, which will be raised by means of a powerful motor, which must be made of slight weight. At present no one has discovered such a motor, but we never know what will happen. I am not, however, figuring on inventing an airship."
FINDLAY, O., April 20 - Mrs. Elanor A. Woodruf, a prominent woman of this city, has become insane over the airship. She went to a neighbor and requested him to make an airship after her own plans so that she could navigate it. She went into the street and stopped all passerby, and, pointing to the bright evening star, claimed it was her ship coming to take her and her friends on a long trip. She became violent and will be taken to the Toledo Insane Asylum.
From the St. Louis Star of April 20, 1897 on page three:
Special to the St. Louis Star
GREENFIELD, Ill., April 20 - The Much talked of airship made its appearance in this vicinity yesterday afternoon, and is vouched for by several farmers residing east of this place; but M. G. Sisson, postmaster at this place, was the most favored spectator. He was out walking in the woods that line the banks of Taylor Creek, about three miles east of here. He had just started to return to the city when his dog which accompanied him, ran to him and crouched down at his feet in abject terror. Mr. Sisson tried to drive the dog away from him, but his efforts were futile. He then thought of the much talked of panther [ a fortean cryptid, by chance? - R.H. ] that had been seen in that vicinity about a year ago, and supposed that it might be possible that it was still lurking around. Presently he heard a noise which seemed to come from above, and looking upward and to the northwest he beheld the airship approaching him. It was about 150 feet from the ground, but was not traveling very rapidly.
He thought that he could see someone standing at the bow, and when it grew nearer, he could distinctly see a lady standing on what seemed to be a step in front. She held in her hand a pole, on the end of which was a net; but presently could not at first understand what she was doing with this net: but presently he saw several pigeons in front of the ship. As the ship could easily travel faster than the pigeons, it would simply run up behind them, and the lady would reach out with the net and scoop them in. She caught six birds while he was watching her, and did it easily and gracefully. Mr. Sisson was discovered by the people on board, and immediately the speed of the ship was increased and it rapidly rose to a great height. It passed about 100 feet above him, and by its close proximity he was enabled to get a very good view of it. It was about 100 feet in length and about fifteen feet in diameter at its largest point. Its depth was probably twenty-five feet. It looked as if it was made of metal, and around its sides there was a walk or deck, which was protected by a kind of railing or net work.
Near the top were wings projecting on either side. The wings were about twenty feet in width, and reached nearly the entire length of the ship.
The wings were so arranged that the front of them can be raised or lowered at the pleasure of the pilot; but otherwise, they are stationary. When it is desired to raise the ship the front ends of the wings are raised to about an angle of thirty degrees, and the great velocity of the ship in its forward motion raises it. On the top, just behind the pilot house there was another device to assist in raising the vessel. It consisted of a large fan resembling a very large screw placed in a perpendicular position and revolved very rapidly. The motor power of this wonderful machine could not be discovered, it being inside.
A partly written letter was found near Hagaman, about nine miles east of this place, that is supposed to have been dropped accidently from the airship, and is in the possession of Mr. Thos. Bradburg. The printed letterhead reads "Airship Co., Oakland, Cal."
The following is written on the torn sheet:
"We are having a delightful time and plenty to eat. Mollie's scheme for running down birds and catching them with a net works excellently; we feast daily upon pigeon pie.
"Since starting out we have greatly increased the velocity of the ship. The following figures will give some idea of the speed which we are now able to make: St. Louis, April 15 8:30 p.m.; Chicago same evening, 9:33; Kansas city, one hour and forty minutes later.
