the sides. But some observers thought they might be longer and
narrower, with a rounded base; this would make them agree with more
recent stories of cone-shaped objects with rounded tops seen in
American skies.

On August 26, 1894, a British admiral reported sighting a large disk
with a projection like a tail. And a year after this, both England and
Scotland buzzed with stories of triangular-shaped objects like those
seen in the Dutch East Indies. Although many officials scoffed at the
stories, more than one astronomer stuck to his belief that the
mysterious things might be coming from outer space. Since planes and
dirigibles were then unknown, there was no one on earth who could have
been responsible for them.

In 1897, sightings in the United States began to be more frequent. One
of the strangest reports describes an incident that began on April 9.
Flying at a great height, a huge cigar-shaped device was seen in the
Midwest. Short wings projected from the sides of the object, according
to reports of astronomers who watched it through telescopes.

For almost a week, the aerial visitor was sighted around the Midwest,
as far south as St. Louis and as far west as Colorado. Several times,
red, green, and white lights were seen to flash in the sky; some
witnesses thought the crew of this strange craft might be trying to
signal the earth.

On April 16, the thing, whatever it was, disappeared from the Midwest.
But on April 19, the same object--or else a similar one--appeared over
West Virginia. Early that morning the town of Sisterville was awakened
by blasts of the sawmill whistle. Those who went outside their homes