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October 22, 1954, Ecaillon, Nord:

Reference for this case: 22-oct-54-Ecaillon.
Please cite this reference in any correspondence with me regarding this case.

Summary:

An article in the regional newspaper La Croix du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais, told on page 4 on October 24, 1954, the story of the "Casimir's saucer", in which "Four Martians came to shake hands with a Somainois and spoke to him... in Chinese."

The newspaper reported that the Ostrevent area had been in turmoil since last Friday, at 07:30 p.m., because a flying saucer had landed on the Douai highway, with four occupants in it. The name of the "spectator" being quoted, the journalists went to see him.

It was one "Casimir Szymura, a minor in the pit Sainte-Marie, residing in Ecaillon, rue des hallots, 125", who told them that on Friday, October 22, 1954, around 07:15 p.m., he was riding a motorcycle on the national road from Douai to Valenciennes, in the territory of the municipality of Ecaillon, when he saw arriving in front of him "a highly illuminated machine in the shape of a submarine."

He said, "As this apparatus approached, my motorbike stopped suddenly, I could see inside four small occupants and the furniture. One of them approached me: he shook my hand, the top of his head came to my shoulder, I do not need to tell you that I was terrified that I did not understand what he had told, it sounded like Chinese, and moreover I was dazzled by the clarity of the craft. This lasted a few minutes. The occupant regained the saucer which flew at a vertiginous pace."

On the web, much later, local ufologist Jean-Pierre d'Hondt said that this "Szimura" man later reported that the handshake of the "Martian" had "like electrified him and gave him a vigor and a quick wit as he felt like a new man." In particular, he demonstrated that he had become unbeatable in billiards!

Author Jean Sider found that the case "remains interesting" to him because the witness was gifted this skill at billiards, and this he thinks, allows to think that the CE3 would hide a CE4 in other words: an "abduction", except that "there is no formal proof to support, I emphasize, what remains a mere supposition."

Later still, the "skeptical" ufologist Dominique Caudron, who is investigating in the North, his region, noted that the story of Casimir "Sczymura" was obviously a hoax: the Ecaillon mayor's secretary who knew Sczymura, thought it was a joke.

The joker had expanded his story, as appeared in the newspaper Nord Matin, Douai issue for November 7, 1954, on page 4:

"Recently, some of his friends who were rather skeptical, had gathered to hear his story. He performed gracefully. The handshake of the Martian electrified me, he said, and gave me a vigor, a quick wit that makes me another man now, look at billiards, for example, from the decent player I was, now I am unbeatable."

"Challenges were immediately launched, and for a few hours Casimir played like a great champion, and his great friend, whose name we will not mention, was the only one to beat him."

Dominique Caudron notes that thus he had not really become unbeatable in billiards. Caudron also points out that he personnally checked that the traffic on the road from Douai to Valencienne makes absurd that there would have been only one witness for this observation which would have lasted several minutes.

Author Julien Gonzalez indicates in the 2000's that when ufologist Jean-Marie Bigorne wanted to find the witness in the 1970s, the latter had died a few years ago.

Reports:

[Ref. cnd1:] "LA CROIX DU NORD" NEWSPAPER:

Scan.

Casimir's saucer...

Four Martians came to shake hands with a somainois and spoke to him ... in Chinese!

The Ostrevent region is in turmoil since last Friday at 07:30 p.m.: a flying saucer landed on the National Road of Douai and there were four occupants inside. The name of the "spectator" being cited, we went to see him.

He is Casimir Scymure, minor at La Fossé Sainte-Marie, residing in Ecaillon, Hallois street, 125.

Here's what he said:

I was riding on Friday at 19:15 p.m. my motorcycle, on the Douai National Road in Valeciennes, on the territory of Ecaillon, when I saw arriving in front of me a highly illuminated craft in the shape of a submarine. At the approach of this thing, my motorbike stopped suddenly. I could see inside four occupants of small size and samell furnitures. One of them got out and approached me; he shook my hand, the top of his head was at my shoulder's height. Needless to say I was seized with fright especially since I did not understand anything of what he said, it sounded like Chinese, and also I was dazzled by the luminosity of the craft. This lasted a few minutes. The occupant returned to the saucer that flew away at a tremendous pace.

Mr. Scymure is in France since 1925, he is a French citizen and his brother is settled as baker in Ecaillon.

We interviewed him for our readers, and anyone can go to him, he will tell his saucer story.

[Ref. cdn2:] "LA CROIX DU NORD" NEWSPAPER:

Scan.

THE MARTIANS MADE
OF CASIMIR (OF ANICHE)
A POOL CHAMPION!...

We had the opportunity to meet Mr. Casimir Szymura from Aniche, who, as we told, was the lucky seer of a flying saucer occupied, according to him, by four Martians!

Lately, some of his rather skeptical friends have gathered to hear his story. He did so with good grace. The final of his odyssey was even sweet.

"The Martian's handshake electrified me, he said, and gave me back a vigor, a quickness of mind that makes me another man now."

- About billiards for example as an honest player as I was, I have become unbeatable.

Challenges were immediately launched and for a few hours Casimir played as a great champion. A great ace, whose name we will not mention, was the only one to beat him.

"This is not surprising, it was reported to us, he is also magnetized."

[Ref. nmn1:] NEWSPAPER "NORD-MATIN":

Scan.

ANICHE

Casimir the "seer" is also
a billiard champion

[Photo caption:] Mr. Casimir Szymura (left) giving a demonstration.
(Nord-Matin pic.)

We had the opportunity to meet Mr. Casimir Szymura who, as everyone knows in our region, was the lucky seer of a flying saucer, occupied by four Martians, one of whom, he says, was no taller than the mayor of the Free Commune of Petit-Paris.

Recently, some of his rather skeptical friends gathered to hear his story. He did so with good grace. The Martian's handshake electrified me, he says, and gave me a vigor, a quick wit that makes me another man now. Look, at billiards for example, though I was an honest player, I became unbeatable.

Challenges were immediately launched and for a few hours, Casimir played like a great champion. His great friend, whose name we will not mention, was the only one to bet him. No wonder, it was reported to us, he is also magnetized.

[Ref. gni1:] GNEOVNI:

MORE AND MORE STRANGE: A MORE THAN DISTURBING COINCIDENCE

Always on Friday October 22, 1954, around 07:15 p.m. a few kilometers from the previous case another minor Casimir SZYAURA was riding a motorcycle on the RN 43 when he saw a machine in front of him brightly lit in the shape of a submarine. His motorcycle suddenly stopped. He could see inside the object four small occupants and the furniture. One of them left, approached him and shook his hand. His head put on the witness's shoulder he spoke in a language resembling Chinese. This lasted a few minutes; the witness was frightened and dazzled by the object. The little being returned to the saucer which flew away at a vertiginous pace. The witness later reported that the Martian's handshake had electrified him, and had given him the strength and alertness that made him feel like another man. In particular, he proved that he had become unbeatable at billiards.

(From "LA CROIX DU NORD" - 11/24/54 and 12/6/54)

The bulletin indicated that it was ufologist Dominique Caudron who found the Press article.

[Ref. dcn3:] DOMINIQUE CAUDRON:

On October 22, 1954, in the Lewarde Wood, Casimir Stawski, a miner of Polish origin, met a furry humanoid with bulging eyes, holding two tubes shiny like nickel in his clawed hands. It was around 3.30 p.m. But four hours later, a motorcyclist who was driving on the road to Douai, a few kilometers away, would have witnessed the landing of a machine from which humanoids had emerged, clearly less forbidding, who would have spoken to him in a language resembling Chinese. * * Not only is this witness also a miner of Polish origin, but his firstname is also Casimir.

* Vallée cites the case at the date of October 14
* * La Croix du Nord, October 24, 1954, page 4

[Ref. fru1:] MICHEL FIGUET AND JEAN-LOUIS RUCHON:

The two authors indicate in their book that on October 22, 1954, at about 07:15 P.M., in Ecaillon, Casimir Szimura rides his motorcycle on national road N 43. He sees an illuminated machine in front of him and its motorbike stops suddenly. He can see inside the apparatus resembling a submarine 4 small occupants and "furnitures." One of the occupants comes out of the machine and approaches the witness. Its head reaches the level of the shoulder of Szimura. They exchange a handshake. It speaks to him in a language resembling Chinese, lasting a few minutes. The witness is frightened and dazzled by the machine. The being then returns in the apparatus which flies away at a tremendous pace. The witness told that the handshake gave him a strength and a quickness of mind such as he felt another man.

They add that the witness had deceased when they wanted to investigate the case, and that their sources are the newspaper "La Voix du Nord" for November 24, 1954 and for December 6, 1954, and the GNEOVNI bulletin #2.

[Ref. mft1:] MICHEL FIGUET - "FRANCAT":

This ufologist noted:

CASE Nr CLASSIFICATION DATE HOUR PLACE ZIP CODE CREDIBILITY SOURCE
250 CE3 10 22 1954 22.30 Commune of Ecaillon 59176 E5 TD, T Casimir Szimun

[Ref. mft2:] MICHEL FIGUET - "FRANCAT":

Michel Figuet noted in 1986 his listing of dubious cases:

10/22/1954

Community of Ecaillon

Ufological research by GEOVNI (59)

Figuet does not detail the reason why the case was now classed as very dubious.

[Ref. jsr1:] JEAN SIDER:

The author indicates that on October 22, 1954, at 7:15 pm, near Ecaillon, in the Nord, Mr. Casimir Szimura was riding a motorcycle on the N 43, when he suddenly saw right before him what resembled a machine bathed in light, and at the same time his engine stopped working.

He was able to distinguish inside the phenomenal apparatus, four occupants of rather small size, as well as several different objects that he supposed to be furniture. One of the little figures came out of the machine and approached the witness, who noticed that the individual's head did not go over his shoulder.

The individual spoke to him in an unknown language that sounded a bit like Chinese, and even shook hands with him. The witness found himself somewhat frightened and dazzled by the powerful light emitted by the strange vessel, and perhaps because of this, did not react to this friendly effusion. Finally, the little creature re-entered its submarine-shaped aircraft, according to the witness, and the craft took off and walked away at a fantastic speed.

Jean Sider indicates that the local source is La Croix du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais, Lille, October 24, 1954, p. 4.

He adds that according to Figuet, at page 196, the witness later said that the individual's handshake had electrified him and imparted to him a vigor and an alertness such that he felt himself another man. It is amusing that he even claimed to be unbeatable in billiards.

He commented that this case "remains interesting" insofar as it implies a possible change of behavior of the witness and a relative improvement of his physical and mental state. Sider writes: "This observation could give the idea that this CE3 actually conceals a CE4, in other words: an "abduction", or experience of the 'kidnapping' type. I could say the same for other incidents of the same kind. Unfortunately, there is no formal evidence to support, I emphasize, what remains a mere supposition."

Further on in his book, Sider adds:

This case also suggests that another type of experience prevailed; which would have been obscured from the memory of the witness. Mere speculation, of course, but forty years after this wave, given what we have learned in the meantime, how can we not consider a possible "abduction" (or rather: psychic influence, which may have led to physical improvements)?

[Ref. lhh1:] LARRY HATCH - "*U* COMPUTER DATABASE":

4246: 1954/10/22 19:20 6 3:13:00 E 50:19:00 N 3333 WEU FRN NRD A:6

N42 nr ECAILLON,FR:MCYCLE EMES:CGR/FLD:4+FIGS INSIDE:1 speaks chinese:/r30p195

Ref#217 Jean SIDER: Le DOSSIER 1954 (2 vol.) Page No. 216 : FARMLANDS

[Ref. goe1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:

The Belgian ufologist indicates that in 1954, on October 22 in France in Ecaillon, "Towards 19:15 Casimir Szimura circulates by motorcycle on the N 43. He sees in front of him an illuminated machine. His motorbike stops suddenly. He can see inside the apparatus resembling a submarine, to 4 small occupants and 'furnitures'. One of them comes out and approaches the witness: its head reaches the level of Szimura's shoulder. They exchange a handshake. It speaks to him in a language resembling Chinese lasting a few minutes. The witness is frightened and dazzled by the machine. Then the being turns over it to the apparatus which flies away at vertiginous pace. The handshake would have given him a strength and a quickness of mind such as he felt to be another man."

The sources are noted "M. FIGUET/ J.L. RUCHON: 'Ovni, Premier dossier complet...' Alain Lefeuvre pub. 1979, p. 196".

[Ref. jdt1:] JEAN-PIERRE D'HONDT, GERU:

REGIONAL CATALOGUE

PARTICULARLY INTERESTING SIGHTINGS

by Jean-Pierre D'HONDT

http://broutind3.free.fr/geru/documents/jp_dhont/ecaillon_22octobre1954.html

October 22, 1954 Ecaillon

On October 22, 1954 at approximately 07:15 p.m., the witness, Mr. Casimir Szimura, was driving his motorbike on main road 43 at the level of the commune of Ecaillon, 59, when he saw in front of him a strongly illuminated machine having the shape of a submarine. His motor bike stopped suddenly and he could see inside the object four occupants of small size as well as the "interior." One of the occupants left the machine, approached the witness and shook hands with him. This character whose head hardly reached the shoulder of Casimir Szimura, spoke to him in a language which for the witness resembled Chinese! This lasted seemingly several minutes. The witness was frightened and dazzled by the luminosity of the machine. The small being reinstated his vehicle which flew away at a vertiginous speed.

Mr. Szimura later said than the handshake of the "Martian" had like electrified him and had given him a strength and an improved mind such as he felt to have become a different man.

Among other things he demonstrated that he had become unbeatable at pool!

References : Newspaper "La croix du nord" of 11/24/54 and of 12/6/54. GNEOVNI Bulletin Nr. 2.

[Ref. ars1:] ALBERT ROSALES:

192.

Location. Ecaillon, France

Date: October 22, 1954

Time: 1915

Casimir Szimura was riding on his motorcycle on route N-43 when he sees in front of him an illuminated machine. His motorcycle stops abruptly. The object resembles a submarine, and he sees four small occupants inside. One of them leaves the object and approaches the witness; its head reaches the level of Szimura's shoulders. They exchange a handshake. The humanoid then speaks in an unknown language resembling Chinese remaining there a few minutes. The being then returns to the object, which takes off and flies away at vertiginous speed. Casimir noticed that the little being was very strong, according to the handshake.

HC addendum

Source: Figuet, J L Ruchon

Type: B

[Ref. djn1:] DONALD JOHNSON:

Encounters with Aliens on this Day

October 22

1954 - At 7:20 p.m. engine of a motorcycle died in Ecaillon, Nord, France and then a cigar-shaped UFO was seen in a field by the rider. Four of more beings were seen inside the craft. One spoke an unintelligible language which sounded like "Chinese" to the listener. (Source: Larry Hatch, U computer database, case 4039, citing Jean Sider, Dossier 1954 et l'Imposture Rationaliste, p. 216).

[Ref. lcn1:] LUC CHASTAN:

Luc Chastan indicates that in the Nord in Ecaillon on October 22, 1954 at 19:15 "The witness ride a motorcycle on N43, on the community of Ecaillon. He sees in front of him an illuminated machine having the shape of a submarine. His motorbike stops suddenly, he can see inside the apparatus four occupants of small size and 'furniture'. One of them comes out and approaches him, its head reaches the level of the witness' shoulder. He speaks to him in a language resembling Chinese, lasting a few minutes. The witness is frightened and dazzled by the machine. Then the being reinstates its machine which flies away at a vertiginous pace. The witness said later than the handshake the being had given him had electrified him and had given him a strength and a quickness of mind such as he felt he was another man. He proved in particular that he had become unbeatable with billiards."

Luc Chastan indicates that the source is "Ovni, Premier dossier complet... par Figuet M./ Ruchon J.L. ** éd. Alain Lefeuvre 1979."

[Ref. uda1:] "UFODNA" WEBSITE:

The website indicates that on 22 October 1954 at 19:20 in Ecaillon, France "Electromagnetic effect: motorcycle engine dies. Unintelligible language. Cigar-shaped UFO in field. four or more beings inside. One speaks 'Chinese.'"

And: "An object was observed. Occupants of the craft were seen. Electromagnetic effects were noted. One object was observed by one witness on a highway. Four dwarves, each wearing a brown skullcap, were seen."

And: "Casimir Szimura was riding on his motorcycle on route N-43 when he sees in front of him an illuminated machine. His motorcycle stops abruptly. The object resembles a submarine, and he sees four small occupants inside. One of them leaves the object and approaches the witness; its head reaches the level of Szimura's shoulders. They exchange a handshake. The humanoid then speaks in an unknown language resembling Chinese remaining there a few minutes. The being then returns to the object, which takes off and flies away at vertiginous speed. Casimir noticed that the little being was very strong, according to the handshake."

The sources are indicated as Hatch, Larry, *U* computer database, Author, Redwood City, 2002; Rosales, Albert, Humanoid Sighting Reports Database.

[Ref. nip1:] "THE NICAP WEBSITE":

*Oct. 22, 1954 - At 7:20 p.m. engine of a motorcycle died in Ecaillon, Nord, France and then a cigar-shaped UFO was seen in a field by the rider. Four of more beings were seen inside the craft. One spoke an unintelligible language which sounded like "Chinese" to the listener. (Source: Larry Hatch, U computer database, case 4039, citing Jean Sider, Dossier 1954 et l'Imposture Rationaliste, p. 216).

[Ref. tai1:] "THINK ABOUT IT" WEBSITE:

Location: Ecaillon, France

Date: October 22 1954

Time: 1915

Casimir Szimura was riding on his motorcycle on route N-43 when he sees in front of him an illuminated machine. His motorcycle stops abruptly. The object resembles a submarine, and he sees four small occupants inside. One of them leaves the object and approaches the witness; its head reaches the level of Szimura’s shoulders. They exchange a handshake. The humanoid then speaks in an unknown language resembling Chinese remaining there a few minutes. The being then returns to the object, which takes off and flies away at vertiginous speed. Casimir noticed that the little being was very strong, according to the handshake.

Source: Figuet, J L Ruchon

[Ref. jgz1:] JULIEN GONZALEZ:

The author indicates that there was a close encounter of the third type near Ecaillon, Nord, on October 22, 1954, at 7:15 p.m.:

Casimir Szimura, a miner, was riding a motorcycle on the N43, in the commune of Ecaillon, when he saw before him a highly illuminated machine in the form of a submarine. His motorcycle stopped suddenly, he was able to see inside the aircraft four small occupants and "furnitures". One of the beings came out, approached him and shook his hand. His head reached the shoulder of the witness. He spoke to him in an unknown language resembling Chinese for a few minutes. The witness was frightened and dazzled by the craft, and then the creature re-entered its craft which flew at a dizzying pace.

Julien Gonzalez gives as additional information:

The witness later reported that the handshake that the being had given him had electrified him and given him such vigor and alertness that he felt like another man. He proved, in particular, that he had become unbeatable in pool (La Croix du Nord, November 6, 1954, an article titled "The Martians made Casimir (d'Aniche) a pool champion!").

It was not possible to re-investigate this case, because when Jean-Marie Bigorne wanted to find the witness in the 1970s, he had died a few years earlier.

The sources are indicated as La Croix du Nord for October 24, 1954, and November 6, 1954; Michel Figuet and Jean-Louis Ruchon, "OVNI: le premier dossier complet des rencontres rapprochées en France", page 195; Jean Sider, "Le dossier 1954 et l'imposture rationaliste", page 216.

[Ref. dcn2:] DOMINIQUE CAUDRON:

Dominique Caudron, a "skeptical" ufologist in the Nord, indicates that several catalogs, including "one century of landings" by Jacques Vallée, mention the encounter of a Polish miner, Casimir S ... (the spelling of his name varies depending on the source), with a scary, furry little being, who is interpreted as a "ufonaut", a UFO occupant.

He intends to show that no Polish miner named Casimir has ever seen an ufonaut, that there are in fact two Casimir S., one having seen a true false ufonaut, a being that really existed but was not an ufonaut, and the other a false true ufonaut, a being who would have been a ufonaute if it had existed.

It indicates that Gérard Barthel and Jacques Brucker, in "La grande peur martienne", Nouvlles Editions Rationalistes, Paris 1979, p. 78, wrote: "The newspaper 'La Croix du Nord' of 24 October 1954 reported the misadventure a Polish miner, Mr. Casimir S... He also met one of our hairy brothers coming from outside space, even better! "The latter spoke to him in a language resembling Chinese, but from the day when Casimir had been chatting with this 'ouranian', ... he became a billiard champion."

He mentions the following problem with the version of Barthel and Brucker: in his October 24, 1954 edition, La Croix du Nord did not speak of a furry man from outer space; the article of La Croix du Nord, edition of Lille, October 24, 1954, page 4, said in fact:

Casimir's saucer

Four Martians came to shake hands with a Somainian and spoke to him... in Chinese.

The Ostrevent area has been in turmoil since last Friday at 7:30 p.m.: a flying saucer landed on the Douai National Road and there were four occupants in it. The name of the "spectator" being quoted, we went to see him

This is Casimir Szymura, a minor in the pit of Sainte-Marie, residing at Ecaillon, rue des hallots, 125.

Here is what he says:

On Friday, around 7:15 p.m., I was riding a motorcycle on the national road from Douai to Valenciennes, on the territory of Ecaillon, when I saw a highly illuminated craft in the shape of a submarine.

As we approached this machine, my motorcycle stopped suddenly. I could see inside four occupants of small size and furnitures. One of them went out and approached me: he shook my hand, the top of his head came to my shoulder. Needless to say, I was very frightened, especially since I did not understand what he said "it was like Chinese" and moreover I was dazzled by the clarity of the craft. This lasted a few minutes. The occupant reinstated the saucer which flew away at a dizzying pace.

Dominique Caudron shows that there is absolutely no words of hairy being here; but three days later, another article of the same paper mentioned another Casimir, also a Polish minor, who had seen a hairy being, but this time without a saucer and without speaking Chinese:

Casimir (No. 2) saw Martians without a saucer in Lewarde

They have globular eyes, a tawny mane and no fingers.

All the mothers of Lewarde said yesterday to their children:

"You will not go to the wood again!"

It is not the great wolf that they fear, but the wood these days has very curious connections.

Judge for yourselves

A good miner, Casimir Stawski, 33, of the City of the Niveau, had gone Monday afternoon to stock up chestnuts.

Why did he take it fear and flight, at the speed of a running champion?

We shall soon know by listening to his narrative, but let it be pointed out that he leaped at once into the secretary of the mayor's office, who alerted the gendarmes to the Bois de Lewarde, a night which would have been much more beneficial to them with the head on a soft pillow.

But let's listen to Mr. Stawski:

- "I was in the wood, I saw two shiny tubes, I thought at first that it was the guns of the guard forester.

But I soon perceived that these tubes were in hands, and in the hands of which individual?

It was a being of a little more than a meter, his body was strong. His head, with slanting, globular eyes, emerging from the orbits, was surmounted by a sort of fawnish mane that descended on his shoulders. The body to the feet was entirely covered with hair. He wore a ruffle above his eyebrows. The hands were shiny and closed, with no fingers."

Dominique Caudron points out that the above article is from La Croix du Nord, for October 27, 1954, page 5. He comments:

Oh well! There were therefore two Casimirs, both Polish miners, who, a few kilometers distant, saw a mysterious being, immediately treated as "Martian" by the journalists.

The map contains the homes and places of observation of these Casimirs, namely:
1) Home of Casimir Stawski.
2) Place of observation of Casimir Stawski
3) Home of Casimir Sczymura.
4. Place of the alleged observation of Casimir Sczymura

He indicates that if Casimir Szymura's observation is narrated only by La Croix du Nord, that of Casimir Stawski is also narrated by La Voix du Nord, Douai edition, Nord Matin, Douai edition, and Nord Eclair. The newspapers gave other information:

Without his saucer ....

A "Martian" was walking in the wood of Lewarde

...

The other afternoon, at 03:30 p.m., he was in the wood of Lewarde, located 300 m from the road from Roucourt to Erchin.

At 120 meters from the edge of the wood, he quietly picked up chestnuts, when he perceived two tubes shining like nickel, projecting from a thicket. Mr. Stawski thought that the guard had been in ambush, and hid behind a tree. Then he thought that he was doing nothing wrong, and left his hiding-place to advance. He then saw a kind of mane and thought he was dealing with a beast or an old vagabond.

He gives the source as La Voix du Nord, Douai edition, October 27, 1954, page 5, and notes that the first impression of the witness is and that it was a vagabond; which is the right explanation, as he will show.

He then gives a copy of the article of Nord Matin, edition of Douai, October 27, 1954, page 4:

IN LEWARDE (NEAR DOUAI) A fantastic being, hairy, with strange eyes...

The gendarmerie, serving the Commune of Lewarde (near Douai), received the testimony of a mine worker, Casimir Stawski, 33, who resides at the cité du Niveau, 31, at Sin-le-Noble. He stated:

Last Friday at about 3:30 p.m., I found myself in the Lewarde wood to look for chestnut trees that were abundant, and I was lowered to pick up when suddenly I heard a sound of broken branches a few meters from me. I stood up and to my amazement I saw at a distance of 10 meters a kind of human being of small size - 1 meter to 1 meter 10 - but of very large body. And he was completely covered with hairs as if he had a brown fur, his eyes were oval and the white sprung considerably from the sockets, the nose seemed crushed at the base like that of a boxer, with a kind of cap on his head, with a bead around the forehead of which very long hairs escaped, which gave him the appearance of possessing a mane. He did not appear to have fingers but solid hands in which he held two brilliant iron rods about 30 centimeters. He had no shoes, but his feet were covered with hair. He did not speak to me and I was horrified, I fled to Bugnicourt."

A farmer did indeed see Mr. Stawski running scared.

He then explains his investigation, on March 2, 1979, at various administrations and various persons:

He discovered that at the mayor's office of Aniche neither Casimir Stawski nor Casimir Sczymura were registered on the electoral lists of the time, but that Casimir was confirmed to be a common name among the Poles.

At the police station of Aniche there is no file on Casimir Stawski, nor Casimir Sczymura, but it has been confirmed that to pick up chestnuts, it is indeed in Lewarde wood that one must go.

At the town hall of Ecaillon, the Mayor's secretary, who had been there since 1951, remembers the Sczymura affair and confirmed to him on the evening of March 2, 1979, that the witness had died.

Casimir Sczymura was born on February 16, 1912, in Germany, and died in 1972 in Douai. Mr. Sczymura's address given by the newspaper is correct. According to the secretary, Casimir Sczymura often passed by the national road from Douai to Aniche. The secretary knew him, described him as a brave man, an old bachelor, who would often play cards in Aniche's cafes, and had imagination. He remembers thinking about a joke at the time.

For the observation of Casimir Stawski, Dominique Caudron was able to question Mrs Stawski, who had given him a lot of unpublished information: she had an emotional memory of her late husband whose picture showed a man with a hard working look, with a very straight moustache, and not at all the looks of a joker or a timorous person.

Ms Stawski told Dominique Caudron that Casimir Stawski was born in 1921 in Poland, and lived in 31, cité du niveau, in Sin le Noble. Excellent father and strong nature, he was a pigeon fancier in a Dechy association and well known in Sin le Noble. Miner, he went to work at 4 o'clock in the morning and returned home about 1:30 p.m. In October 1954, he left almost every day to pick up chestnuts.

Ms. Stawski confirmed the newspaper's account. Mr. Stawski seeing the being approached found himself "electrified". He ran away without even realizing that he had lost a shoe en route although it was a lace-up shoe. When he reached the house, it was his wife who made him notice this; he was disturbed and spoke in hurried words. When he reached his house, he had his throat so tight that he could barely swallow the coffee his wife had served him. Mr. Stawski saw a doctor who found him concussed.

As soon as his observation was known, many friends came to make him tell his observation, which made him very uncomfortable because he no longer wanted to think about it. He no longer set foot in the woods of Lewarde and was so frightened for a while that one night he needed half an hour before opening to his own wife. He was suffering from sleep disorders for almost a month to a month and a half, and his watch was no longer working. The jeweler declaring it irreparable, he wore it no more, although it was new. The jeweler could not open the case of the watch which was like welded. Casimir Stawski died on September 19, 1974.

Mr. Stawski would have heard a loud noise of a propeller, and seen an object land and a little being descend, dressed in a bright garment, and approach him.

He then gives the explanation of the observation of Casimir Stawski, noting that ufologists are used to copying one another without going back to the sources closest to the case:

In 1969, Jacques Vallée cites himself, with his "Anatomy of a Phenomenon" of 1965, where he does not give his source.

In 1963, Michel Carrouges, gave as source "Paris Presse", which only copied a regional newspaper.

He notes that if these ufologists had consulted the weekly edition of the local newspaper, Douai Scarpe, October 31, 1954, page 2, they would have found this:

The Martian was only a tramp.

There was a great stir around the appearance of a Martian in the wood of Lewarde.

This phenomenon has found its explanation... down to earth.

The Martian was only a tramp, well known in the region, as far as Waziers.

The phantasmagoric being who frightened Mr. Casimir, the chestnut collector, was hairy because he had lost his razor in the galleys.

Another saucer ... broken.

He notes that this explanation is confirmed 24 years later by a letter addressed to the GNEOVNI on July 15, 1978, by a reader of the bulletin who used to frequent the Lewarde region at the time:

"A simple man, not being favored by life and bearing the name or nickname of CAPOTE, living in a shack in Lewarde, once said in a cafe in Lewarde, speaking about this incident: "I do not understand why he was afraid of me." It must be said that our simple Capote was sometimes clothed with the most unlikely objects, this story no longer makes anyone laugh and the elders of Lewarde can confirm this anecdote.

Caudron indicates that this explanation is also clarified by Mr. Henneuse, whom he interrogated on the evening of March 2, 1979. He was a guard and investigating officer at Lewarde since 1955, living at Lewarde at the time and confirming that he knows the story of the tramp taken for a Martian. The tramp was named Henri Foveau, and lived with another ragman named Hary, nicknamed "capote," who himself lived in a shack. Mr. Foveau was later nicknamed "the Martian". Mr. Henneuse did not recall Stawski, but it may be normal as he was in Lewarde only since 1955, when the "Martian" still lived there, but Casimir Stawski had not been there since then his adventure.

He notes that, unlike Mr. Henneuse, Mrs. Stawski, who lived in Sin le Noble, and not Lewarde, never seems to have heard of the explanation by a tramp.

Dominique Caudron comments that this misunderstanding is ultimately very interesting in light of the symptoms associated with UFO sightings. Here, at the sight of a simple tramp, dressed in a heterogeneous manner, the panicked witness runs away without even realizing that he has lost a shoe, his throat is tight, he is shocked, loosed sleep for more than a month, his watch no longer functions. All these symptoms are found in the observations of supposedly real ufonauts.

He indicates that the witness reconstructs his observation later,...

with a landing craft, and a shiny little being, while we know in detail the description of the being he saw, both by the newspapers of the time, and by the fact that the pseudo-Martian was known. Yet no ufologist came to stuff his head with saucer stories. The mere fact of talking with friends, who knew what the press had said about the many landings of the time, might have sufficed.

He adds that for the different versions of the Stawski case according to the ufologists, one can consult the website of Patrick Gross.

He adds that few ufologists mention the tramp, although this explanation was provided by a newspaper as early as October 31, 1954.

On the other hand, he mentions the explanation by an owl, an hypothesis that could account for the appearance of the top of the head, but not the hairy body, and hands holding two shiny tubes. Moreover, it is odd that the witness did not recognize an owl at less than 10 meters away and in broad daylight, especially since the owls are rather nocturnal.

[Note: this is a possibility that I had mentioned in this page initially, with, in my Explanations section: "Not looked for yet. Could be the tramp reported by D. Caudron, or an owl. The description corresponds in an absolutely confusing way with one of these birds... There is no UFO."]

For the observation of Casimir Sczymura, he indicates that it was a hoax; that the secretary of the town hall of Ecaillon, who knew the witness, thought of a joke.

He says that, in fact, this joyous bachelor added to his story:

Lately, some of his friends, who were rather skeptical, had gathered to hear his narrative. He performed with good grace. The Martian's handshake electrified me, he said, and gave me a vigor, a vivacity of mind that make me now another man. Here, for example, in pool, from the decent player I was, I became unbeatable.

Challenges came forth, and for a few hours Casimir played like a great champion. His good friend, whose name we shall mention, was the only one who beat him.

He indicates the source of the above: Nord Matin, edition of Douai, November 7, 1954, page 4.

He comments that Casimir Sczymura had improved on pool, but not to the point of being invincible; it could be the effect of the confidence in him that gave him his aura of privileged witness.

He notes that the account of his observation does not stand up: first his description of a submarine-shaped object, in which, although dazzled by the clarity of the craft, the witness sees four occupants and the furniture, is unbelievable. Then the observation would have taken place for several minutes on the road from Douai to Valenciennes, without being interrupted by the passage of a vehicle, as nobody else reports this luminous machine. Dominique Caudron says he went to the scene at the same hour to count the vehicles that passed, and there were several dozens a minute; it is therefore unlikely that the road was deserted for several minutes.

Finding that the alleged observation of Casimir Sczymura is as inconsistent as it is impossible, unlike that of Casimir Stawski, he concludes that this story is obviously invented.

He observes that, not content with believing this story, Jean Sider, in "Le dossier 1954 and l'imposture rationaliste", Ramuel, 1997, page 216, imagines it is even richer:

"This case remains interesting insofar as it implies a possible change in the behavior of the witness, and a relative improvement in his physical and mental state. This observation may give the idea that this CE3 actually conceals a CE4, in other words: an "Abduction", or experience of "kidnapping" type."

Dominique Caudron comments:

Yeah right! That cheerful bachelor would not have said it all. He would have concealed that he had been kidnapped into the saucer. Good old Jean Sider...

Explanations:

Map.

Probable hoax.

Keywords:

(These keywords are only to help queries and are not implying anything.)

Ecaillon, Nord, Casimir Szimura, stall, failure, motorbike, road, craft, machine, apparatus, submarine, occupants, four, small, langage, chinese, contact, fast, landing, luminous, illuminated, interior, inside, duration, effects

Sources:

[----] indicates sources that are not yet available to me.

Document history:

Version: Created/Changed by: Date: Change Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross September 2, 2005 First published.
1.0 Patrick Gross January 14, 2010 Conversion from HTML to XHTML Strict. First formal version. Additions [goe1], [djn1], [cnd1], [uda1].
1.1 Patrick Gross September 17, 2014 Additions [cnd1], [nip1], [tai1].
1.2 Patrick Gross February 18, 2017 Additions [jsr1], [jgz1], [dcn2]. Explanations changed, were "Not looked for yet. Probable hoax."
1.3 Patrick Gross December 28, 2018 Additions [dcn3], [mft1], [lhh1].
1.4 Patrick Gross January 7, 2019 Addition of the Summary.
1.5 Patrick Gross January 19, 2020 Addition [gni1].
1.6 Patrick Gross March 28, 2020 Addition [cdn2].
1.7 Patrick Gross May 9, 2020 Addition [nmn1].

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