The Aurora, TX UFO of 1897

[Hashi Lebwohl]

I had almost forgotten about this: apparently on 17 April 1897 a cigar-shaped airship crashed in the town of Aurora, TX, resulting in the death of the pilot who, according to eyewitnesses at the scene, was "not of this world". The remains are buried in a grave to this day but the cemetery association continues to deny all requests to have the remains exhumed for examination. Here is the Wikipedia article about it.

A few things are known about this incident, though:
1) a cigar-shaped airship was seen flying through the skies of the Midwest in 1896-1897; it was seen in places from California to Arkansas and was reported by a variety of eyewitnesses in newspapers
2) there is an unmarked grave in the 1890s section of the Aurora cemetery and ground radar images taken in 2008 show that something is down there
3) the foundation of a windmill on the property where the airship is claimed to have crashed does exist

Most likely a hoax, of course, but a couple of savvy inventors really could have built a bicycle-powered dirigible at that time and could have been traveling around the country before their untimely deaths when their ship crashed. Eyewitnesses in Aurora claimed that there was only one pilot, though, who supposedly had papers with undecipherable writing on them but there does not appear to be any evidence of those papers at this time.

I suppose someone could try to dig through missing persons records from the Sacremento area for the years 1897-1899 to see if any known inventors or hot-air balloon enthusiasts are among the missing.

Still...a fun story, as all such stories are. My GURPS Time Travel book even lists the incident as a possible plot hook for a story about time travelers stuck in 1896 trying to build a ship to get back home.

[Avatar]

Wonder why they won't let an exhumation take place?

--A

[Hashi Lebwohl]

That would take away from the mystery of the story.

[Avatar]

Do they make a lot of tourist money off it?

--A

[Fist and Faith]

Because you shouldn't dig people up over screwball stories. Sets a bad precedent. A week later, someone says this other grave contains a yeti.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

Do they make a lot of tourist money off it?

--A

Probably not nearly as much as Roswell but I am certain some local businesses make a little money from the story.

[Avatar]

Because you shouldn't dig people up over screwball stories. Sets a bad precedent. A week later, someone says this other grave contains a yeti.

I dunno...maybe I just don't have much sentimentality over 119 year old corpses.

I mean, we dig up thousand year old ones without a qualm...what's the difference?

Just dig it up and find out.

--A

[Fist and Faith]

I'm with you. Feel free to desecrate my grave when I'm dead. But I think most people feel otherwise. And the owners of the cemeteries can't have them thinking they or their loved ones will be dug up on a whim.

[sgt.null]

never heard the story or have heard of the town. will have to see where it is so we can visit.

[Avatar]

Well, in this case, there were no loved ones. (I don't intend to have a grave.)

--A

[Hashi Lebwohl]

never heard the story or have heard of the town. will have to see where it is so we can visit.

About 20 miles NNW of Ft. Worth or 15 miles almost due south of Decatur. From Ft. Worth take I-35 N, then 287, then 114 going West and you'll find the town.

[sgt.null]

thank you Hashi. we are heading to Granbury, Texas in a month or two for a weekend.

I will have to see when we are scheduling Ft. Worth. been to Dallas a handful of times.