This article was published in the daily newspaper The Chicago Times-Herald, Chicago, Illinois, Saturday, April 10, 1897.
Warning: the airship stories must not be taken at face value as "UFO sightings." Evaluation of such stories is under way here.
Wausau, Wis., April 9. – What was supposed to be an air ship was seen passing over this city last night [April 8, 1897] about 10 o'clock. Lights could be distinguished from a dark object far up in the heavens, which had the appearance of being shaped like an egg. It was viewed by at least fifty persons.
Emmetsburg, Iowa, April 9. – Thursday evening a large reddish light was seen passing westward from this city and also from Rodman. It resembled a locomotive light and was perhaps 1,000 feet above the earth. The editor of the West Bend Journal saw it while waiting for a train and a long account of it in his paper. It is thought to have been a balloon or an airship. The persons who saw it are thoroughly responsible.
