Newspaper Clipping of the Day

Via Newspapers.com

Here’s an early version of those “aliens killed my livestock” stories.  (Just keep in mind that when old newspapers trotted out the "told by a person of unimpeachable veracity" card, that usually meant, "buyer beware.")  The “St. Louis Globe Democrat,” April 27, 1897:

Special Dispatch to the Globe. TOPEKA, KAN., April 26.-Millions have laughed at the Kansas air-ship, but the thing is no joke to farmer Alexander Hamilton, who resides near Yates Center, Woodson County. The air-ship not only appeared in plain view of Hamilton and his family, and frightened them out of their wits, but the captain of the vessel had the nerve to swoop down upon the cow lot and steal a 2-year-old heifer. At any rate, that is what Hamilton says, and a dozen well-known citizens, including State Oil Inspector E. V. Wharton, Sheriff M. E. Hunt and Banker H. H. Winter, testify that Hamilton's reputation for truth and veracity has never been questioned.

Hamilton claims that the air-ship visited his place a week ago to-night. He told the country people about it, but the report did not reach Yates Center till Saturday. 

"Last Monday night about 10:30 o'clock," Hamilton said, “we were awakened by a noise among the cattle. I rose, thinking perhaps my bulldog was performing some of his pranks, but upon going to the door saw to my utter astonishment an air-ship slowly descending over my cow lot, about 40 rods from the house.

"Calling Gid Heslip, my tenant, and my son Wall, we seized some axes and ran to the corral. Meantime the ship had been gently descending until it was not more than 30 feet above the ground, and ed of a great cigar-shaped a portion, possibly we came to within 50 yards of it. It consisted of a great cigar-shaped portion, 300 feet long, with a carriage underneath. The carriage was made of panels of glass or other transparent substance, alternating with a narrow strip of some material. It was brilliantly lighted within and everything was clearly visible. There were three lights, one light an immense searchlight and two smaller, one red and the other green.

"The large one was susceptible of being turned in any direction. It was occupied by six of the strangest beings I ever saw. There were two men, a woman and three children. They were jabbering together, but we could not understand a syllable they said. 

"Every part of the vessel which was not transparent was of a dark reddish color. We stood mute in wonder and fright, when some noise attracted their attention and they turned their light directly upon us.  Immediately upon catching sight of us they turned on some unknown power, and a great turbine wheel, about 30 feet in diameter, which was slowly revolving below the craft, began to buzz, sounding precisely like the cylinder of a separator, and the vessel rose as lightly as a bird. When about 300 feet above us it seemed to pause and hover directly over a 2-year-old heifer, which was bawling and jumping, apparently fast in the fence. Going to her, we found a cable about half an inch in thickness, made of the same red material, fastened in a slip-knot around her neck, one end passing up to the vessel, and the heifer tangled in the wire fence. We tried to get it off, but could not, so we cut the wire loose and stood in amazement to see the ship, heifer and all rise slowly, disappearing in the northwest. We went home, but I was so frightened I could not sleep.

"Rising early Tuesday morning, I mounted my horse and started out, hoping to find some trace of my cow. This I failed to do, but coming back to Leroy in the evening found that Link Thomas, who lives in Coffey County, about three or four miles west of Leroy, had found the hide, legs and head in his field that day. He, thinking some one had butchered a stolen beast and thrown the hide away, had brought it to town for identification, but was greatly mystified in not being able to find any tracks in the soft ground. After identifying the hide by my brand, I went home, but every time I would drop to sleep would see the cursed thing, with its big lights and hideous people.  I don't know whether they are devils or angels, or what; but we all saw them, and my whole family saw the ship, and I don't want any more to do with them.”  

The Yates Center "Advocate" said that Hamilton looked as if he had not recovered from the shock, and every one who heard him was convinced that he was sincere in every word he uttered. Hamilton has long been a resident of Kansas, and is known all over Woodson, Allen, Coffey and Anderson Counties. He was a member of the House of Representatives early in the 70s. He staked his sacred honor upon the truthfulness of the story. 

The following affidavit is given in support of Hamilton's reputation as a truthful man: 

"Affidavit--State of Kansas, County of Woodson--ss.: As there are now, always have been and always skeptics and unbelievers whenever there truth or anything bordering upon the improbable is presented, and knowing that some ignorant or suspicious people will doubt the truthfulness of the above statement, now, therefore, we, the undersigned, do hereby make the following affidavit: That we have known Alexander Hamilton from one to thirty years, and that for truth and veracity we have never heard questioned, and that we do verily believe his statement to be true and correct. 

"E.V. Wharton, state oil Inspector: M.E. Hunt, Sheriff; W. Lauber, deputy sheriff, H.H. Winter, banker; H.S. Johnson, pharmacist; J.H. Stitcher, attorney; Alexander Stewart, justice of the peace; H. Waymyer, druggist; F. W. Butler, druggist; James W. Martin, Register of Deeds; Rollins, postmaster. 

"Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of April, 1897. 

"W. C. WILLE, Notary Public”