This article was published in the daily newspaper The Daily Palladium, of Benton Harbor, Michigan, Tuesday, April 13, 1897.
Warning: the airship stories must not be taken at face value as "UFO sightings." Evaluation of such stories is under way here.
Benton Harbor has Seen the Airship
Benton Harbor eyes are as sharp as anybody's and the rest of the world needn't think it can eclipse our vision when there are airships to be seen.
Several of our people have seen the airship that has already startled the inhabitants of seven states and was last reported to be hovering over Chicago. No less than three persons, so it is reported about town today saw the thing, head lights, tail lights, outriggers, illumination, and all. To be sure, no one can give an accurate description of the "critter", for that's one of the peculiarities of the airship seen elsewhere, and we want our airship to be as mysterious as anybody's. Moreover, everybody who sees it disagrees with everyone else as to its precise characteristics, altitude, rapidity of flight, Etc., but these are trifling details not to be considered at all as reflecting either on the accuracy of the beholders or the clearness of their eyesight.
Here as elsewhere, the nature of the airship is not known, but if it comes from Mars or any other planet we hope it has brought sufficient "atmosphere" of its own to exist until it reaches terra firma or gets near enough to be photographed.
Even New Troy residents claim to have seen the alleged airship, which has caused so much excitement. Some of the citizens of that quiet little village are ready to take their oath that an airship passed within 2,000 feet of them.
