What Was It?

Daily News de Galveston (Texas), 2 septembre 1892 Clark, J. E.: "airship, Texas, 1892", Magonia Exchange, lundi 10 décembre 2007

WAXAHACHIE, Tex., Aug. 31. – A strange and unaccountable object was noticed about 11 o’clock last night moving through the air in a northwesterly direction, but so far THE NEWS reporter cannot find any one willing to stake his reputation for wisdom by giving the thing a name.  Several persons were aroused from sleep by hearing a man halloa [cry out a greeting].  On getting up they discovered a strange object moving along at some distance above the housetops.  The “what is it” was as large [as] or larger than a sugar hogshead and seemed to be a kind of balloon.  One witness says there were several colored lights attached to the thing.  The halloaing undoubtedly proceeded from the airship, indicating that a man was taking an aerial voyage.   The wonder was seen passing over the northern part of the city and was witnessed by persons at least a quarter of a mile apart.  Nobody knows how far it traveled or the nature of its mission.  Those who saw it are responsible, truthful people.