This article was published in the daily newspaper The Courier-Herald, Saginaw, Michigan, Wednesday, April 14, 1897.
Warning: the airship stories must not be taken at face value as "UFO sightings." Evaluation of such stories is under way here.
20 Reputable Battle Creek Claim to Have Seen it
Niles, April 13 -- About a dozen people saw what they believe was the airship last night. It came from a southwesterly direction and was going about 40 miles an hour in a northwesterly direction. It seemed then to be about half a mile high. It looked like an immense ball of fire. Although the night was clear, the ship's outlines were not visible. Editor A. J. Shakespeare, of the Gazette, is among those who saw it.
