The Chicago Times-Herald de Chicago (Illinois), samedi 10 avril 1897
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Cet "aéronef" à été vu à nouveau – c'est-à-dire, dans le voisinage. Pour sûr, il a aussi été vu à Kankakee, Mount Carroll et d'autres lieu au même moment, mais les gens dans ces villes doivent s'être trompés – ou alors il y a toute une floppée d'aéronefs cavorting about à travers les cieux. Le véritable "aéronef", celui qui a été vu ici, semble avoir un penchant pour Evanston, cette ville classique ayant apprécié sa 2nde observation depuis un fauteuil d'orchestre, tandis que Chicago contraignait ses yeux depuis le 2nd balcon. Il ne fait pas de doute que Evanston a vu quelque chose et que cela pouvait-il être d'autre qu'un aéronef ? Il ne fait pas de doute non plus que Evanston était excitée – et – à l'intérieur de la limite de 4 miles, également. Le 1er homme à l'avoir vu à donné l'alarme. L'alarme s'est répandue, et en 30 mn les rues étaient remplies de gens excités, les visages tournés vers le ciel.
A Chicago l'excitation n'était pas si grande, mais des centaines de gens souhaitent faire la déposition qu'il ne s'agissait pas d'une étoile filante dont la seule mission soit de convaincre l'humanité que le problème de la navigation aérienne a été résolu. Les hommes qui travaillent la nuit étaient montés sur les toits de [sky scrapers] et contemplaient l'observation étrange à travers des lunettes de terrain, des lunettes de marine et des verres fumés. L'officier Steve Rowan est monté sur le jardin du toit du Grand Théâtre du Nord et l'a regardé. Il indique it is a diamond detective’s star that will be presented to him for making that remarkable arrest of a "strong arm" woman the other night. Les Démocrates ont été convaincus qu'il s'agissait d'une resplendent platter containing appointments to city offices. Divers journalistes, staid, sober and sensible at other times, wouldn’t go home on their regular night cars, but hung around until daybreak just to see the end of the thing.
La lumière a été vue pour la 1ère fois dans les cieux vers 21 h. Elle était apparemment plus proche d'Evanston que de Chicago. Sa 1ère visite à Evanston fut le 3 avril. Cette nuit-là Chicago n'en eu pas d'aperçu. Il a été vu à 20 h 40, allant vers l'ouest-nord-ouest. La lumière était très brillante, plus comme une lumière électrique qu'aucune autre lumière, et émettait de curieux éclairs par intervalles. Il était apparemment à 1/4 de mile de haut. A 20 h 55 il monta haut dans les cieux et fut perdu de vue.
L'apparition du phénomène de la nuit dernière à Evanston gave rise to all manner of speculation in that suburb. Most of those who have read and laughed at the accounts from Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa about the supposed airship which has been taking a jaunt in those localities did not think it any laughing matter. Those who witnessed the passing of the lights in the heavens describe the sight much in the same way as the telegrams from the other side of the Mississippi River have done, and some of them are seriously wondering if some inventor has not succeeded in getting a big joke on the country.
One who was among the first to observe it says the object had all the appearance to him of being two cigar-shaped bodies attached by girders. He says he recognizes the fact that his imagination may have played no little part, and he was reluctant about committing himself.
Robert Lowen, who lives at 1920 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, noticed the moving light in the sky. The light appeared to be over the lake and was moving in a westerly direction. Lowen got a field glass and was able to discern four lights a short distance apart and moving in unison. The first was a bright white light and appeared to be operated like a searchlight. Behind it was a green light and farther to the rear were green and white lights set closely together. F. Newland, employed in Hill & Garwood’s drug and candy store, saw the ship. So did R.C. Libberton of the Evanston life saving crew, who was on duty at the station during the early evening. The large glass at the station was called into use and each person who looked through it declared that lights both green and white could be plainly seen.
While all this was going on in Evanston persons in the northwest section of Chicago were taking on interest in the aerial mystery. A great crowd gathered near Milwaukee and Oakley Avenues and gazed at the object, trying to figure out what it might be. It was called an airship for lack of a better name. It was said the object looked very much like a balloon, but the “red light” was plainly discernible. Many mounted roofs in the neighborhood and all the field glasses in the vicinity were called into play.
Nearly an hour after the strange lights had faded in the western heavens George Clem of Niles Center telephoned to the Evanston police that the residents of Niles had seen the light passing westward, a short distance south of the village.
It was decided to notify Professor Hough, the astronomer at the observatory, and learn if the peculiar phenomenon had been seen through the observatory telescope. At the time Professor Hough was taking an observation of Jupiter and had his instrument pointed directly across the lake. He said that the object had not crossed the range of the telescope and that to change the instrument would be the work of several hours.
Le professeur Hough evidently did not take stock in any “air ship” theories, and advanced the opinion that the strange light was caused by the effect of the atmosphere on the star Alpha Orionus [plus communément connue sous le nom de Betelguese. Le terme moderne est Alpha Orionis ou, A Orionis], which is of the first magnitude, and is in the constellation Orion. It rises early in the evening, and its course across the heavens is about the same as that of the moon. In Chicago it is first visible about 7 o’clock this time of the year. It reaches the zenith, he says, about the time when the mysterious phenomenon described as an airship was seen last night. The professor says the star is unusually bright in a clear atmosphere, and appears to be close to the earth. The star gradually disappears during the evening, and as it grows dimmer the effect of the atmosphere causes it to change color. Professor Hough made an observation late last night, but the conditions were not favorable. He says he will try again tonight.
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