Newspaper Clipping of the Day

Via Newspapers.com

This quirky little story appeared in the “Boston Globe,” June 19, 1883:

Mr. J. J. Bell of No. 32 South William street received a long, narrow box by express to-day. He had the box opened and there was disclosed an immense sword, which is supposed to have been used in ancient warfare. The sword was found embedded in the muddy soil at the side of the creek that passes through the farm of Mr. Daniel D. Bell, a brother of Mr. J. J. Bell, near the village of Accord, Ulster county, N. Y.  The weapon is five feet ten inches long, and the blade is from two to three inches broad. The hilt and a portion of the blade are covered with curious characters and hieroglyphics, the deciphering or which the owner has thus far been unable to have accomplished. The characters and hieroglyphics are composed of rows of little indentations evidently made with the point of some very sharp and hard instrument. 

Mr. J.J. Bell said to a Telegram reporter: "There are people in Ulster county who believe that this sword dropped down from the sky in a flaming ball of fire, but I do not credit any such theory. Other persons think that the weapon must have belonged to a prehistoric race of men. Still others are sceptical enough to affirm that the sword was made by a modern blacksmith for the purpose of hoaxing the public.

As far as I am concerned, I have no theory to advance. The sword was found on my brother's farm, as described. It was covered with a thick coating of rust, but has been scoured bright." 

Judging from the length and weight of the sword, a man who could use it successfully in battle would have to be 8 or 10 feet in height and strong in proportion. It is provided with a heavy hilt and guard, and was evidently intended to be wielded with both hands. Hundreds of downtown businessmen called at Mr. J. J. Bell's office today to see the wonderful weapon.

[Note:  Regarding the "flaming ball of fire," other newspaper reports state that what appeared to be a meteor crashed on the site where the sword was subsequently discovered.]