The New York Times, New York, USA, for November 25, 1906, reported that the day before, late in the afternoon, a balloon with two men landed in the woods back of Pleasantville. The newspaper said that it is supposed that the occupants of the balloon were Dr. Samuel Ottinger and John Gratz, who were said to have departed from Philadelphia for this balloon trip at noon that day.
The newspaper said it was believed that the men intended to come to Atlantic City after landing, but they could not be found, although inquiries have been made everywhere. The balloon was reported that the balloon was good condition and that the men had landed without mishap.
| Case number: | URECAT-000934 |
|---|---|
| Date of event: | November 24, 1906 |
| Earliest report of event: | November 25, 1906 |
| Delay of report: | 1 jour. |
| Witness reported via: | Not known. Newspaper story. |
| First alleged record by: | Newspaper. |
| First certain record by: | Ufology website RR0. |
| First alleged record type: | Newspaper. |
| First certain record type: | Ufology website. |
| This file created on: | July 22, 2009 |
| This file last updated on: | July 22, 2009 |
| Country of event: | USA |
| State/Department: | New York |
| Type of location: | Woods. |
| Lighting conditions: | Late afternoon. |
| UFO observed: | UFO is a balloon. |
| UFO arrival observed: | Not reported. |
| UFO departure observed: | No |
| UFO/Entity Relation: | Certain |
| Witnesses numbers: | 1 |
| Witnesses ages: | |
| Witnesses types: | Not reported. |
| Photograph(s): | No. |
| Witnesses drawing: | No. |
| Witnesses-approved drawing: | No. |
| Number of entities: | 2 |
|---|---|
| Type of entities: | Human |
| Entities height: | N/A. |
| Entities outfit type: | Not reported. |
| Entities outfit color: | N/A. |
| Entities skin color: | N/A. |
| Entities body: | N/A. |
| Entities head: | N/A. |
| Entities eyes: | N/A. |
| Entities mouth: | N/A. |
| Entities nose: | N/A. |
| Entities feet: | N/A. |
| Entities arms: | N/A. |
| Entities fingers: | N/A. |
| Entities fingers number: | N/A. |
| Entities hair: | N/A. |
| Entities voice: | N/A. |
| Entities actions: | Landed in their balloon. |
| Entities/witness interactions: | None. |
| Witness(es) reactions: | Not reported. |
| Witness(es) feelings: | Not reported. |
| Witness(es) interpretation: | Dr. Samuel Ottinger and John Gratz land in their balloon. |
| Explanation category: | Balloon landing or rumor. Not UFO-related. |
| Explanation certainty: | Certain. |
[Ref. ny1:] "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NEWSPAPER:
|
STRANGE BALLOON LANDSJersey Folk Puzzled by a Visitation and a Disappearance. ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Nov. 24. -- A balloon in which were two men landed in the woods back of Pleasantville on the mainland late this afternoon. It is supposed that the occupants of the balloon were Dr. Samuel Ottinger and John Gratz, who are said to have come from Philadelphia on a balloon trip at noon to-day. It was believed that the men after landing intended to come to this city, but they cannot be found, although inquiries have been made everywhere. The balloon is reported to have been in good condition and the men landed without mishap. |
[Ref. jb1:] JEROME BEAU:
Jérôme Beau published this article:
|
Landing of a strange balloon New York Time[s], November 25, 1906 Jersey people puzzled by a visit and a disappearance. Atlantic City (New Jersey), November 24, – A balloon in which were 2 men landed in the woods behind Pleasantville on the continent late this afternoon. It is supposed that the occupants of the balloon were Dr. Samuel Ottinger and John Gratz, who are said to have come from Philadelphia in balloon at midday today. It was thought that the men afte[r] landing intended to come in this city, but they could not be found, in spite of the requests made everywhere. The balloon is described as being in good condition and the men having landed without mishap. |
He indicates that the source is "Clark, J. E.: 'mystery balloon and occupants, New Jersey, 1906', Magonia Exchange, Tuesday, December 11, 2007".
Pleasantville, where the balloon reportedly landed, is a village in the state of New York.
The New York Times, July 26, 1906 said: "HIGH-FLYING DOCTORS: About 5,000 people showed up yesterday to watch two physicians, Samuel Ottinger and T. Chalmers Fulton, go up in the balloon Orient so they could monitor how each other's heart, lungs and blood operated at various altitudes. They said they reached a height of 20,000 feet, which is apparently quite a feat. The doctors said, it was the greatest height ever attained in the skies above American soil. It's about as high as Mt. McKinley."
There is of course absolutely nothing strange in this 1906 balloon landing. The men landed in Pleasantville, were not found in Atlantic City, but this is nothing extraordinary since it was only supposed that they would come to Atlantic City and they could simply have gone elsewhere. The whole thing certainly has nothing to do with UFOs.
| Id: | Topic: | Severity: | Date noted: | Raised by: | Noted by: | Description: | Proposal: | Status: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None. | ||||||||
Balloon landing or rumor. Not UFO-related.
* = Source I checked.
? = Source I am told about but could not check yet. Help appreciated.
| Main Author: | Patrick Gross |
|---|---|
| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editor: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Created/Changed By: | Date: | Change Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | July 22, 2009 | Creation, [ny1], [jb1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | July 22, 2009 | First published. |
