| ID | #1632418349 |
| Added | Thu, 23/09/2021 |
| Author | July N. |
| Sources | The Chattanooga News
|
| Phenomena | |
| Status | Research
|
Initial data
Chattanooga, Tennessee, NEWS, January 13, 1910, p.
TRAVEL OVER THE CITY
He came from the direction of St. Elmo, disappeared by the river near the island.
At 11 o'clock today, a plane flew directly over Chattanooga. It came from the south, was first seen in North Chattanooga, from where someone called The News office and said that it was approaching and should be over the terminal station. By the time the phone was hung up and the window was raised, the ship was crossing a little east of the Centennial Church, apparently east of the news office and almost directly above the Albert Theater. When News employees first saw the device, it was hovering high in the air, probably from 500 to 1000 feet.
He was traveling in such a form that he looked very much like an airplane, and the black object below in the parking lots looked very much like a person. As it moved forward, it shifted to the side, and its appearance changed to a cigar airship. It looked very white and obviously new, not discolored from exposure to light. He was driving fast from South Chattanooga. He passed the terminal station, the Albert Theater, and apparently disappeared from the street of Houston. Along the river and at this speed there was a thick bed of smoke coming from South Chattanooga. He is on the verge of going down.
While the balloon was moving rapidly a little to the east of the north, the flags at the customs office hung limply in a motionless atmosphere that could not set the balloon in motion. The smoke from the chimneys hung low and lifeless, indicating the absence of wind. If there was no strong current a few hundred feet above the ground, then the ship was driven by its own force.
Dozens of people in Chattanooga saw the flight, and these stories aroused great interest. To some, the gas cylinder seemed as big as a house; another said it was as long as a telegraph pole; another described it as an oblong hole 10 feet in diameter and 50 feet long.
Reports that such a vessel flew yesterday around 16: 00 in Huntsville, Alabama, raise suspicion that it is the same vessel; that the brave pilot landed in the dark and continued his journey this morning. The absence of a basket did not allow the pilot to spend the night or very long hours in the equipment.
A gentleman who was on East Eighth Street saw the ship fly almost directly overhead. He says that it passed to the west of the New Presbyterian Church and to the east of the Century, and that he could clearly see a man in the parking lots; that when he was opposite East Fourth Street, the navigator apparently released some of the gas, as he assumed, in order to turn the ship around, but he disappeared in a puff of smoke, and he could not say what became of him.
There was a thick ridge of fog and smoke along the river, so that even at the bridge no objects could be seen further than a short distance away.
A request from all possible points north of the river did not give any information about the ship. He seemed to have disappeared into the fog forever. The long-distance phone with Hixon, Daisy and other points did not bring any news.
Original news
Chattanooga, Tennessee, NEWS, 13 January 1910, page
AIRSHIP SAILED OVER THE CITY
Came from Direction of St. Elmo, Disappearing at the River Near the Island.
Some sort of an air-going craft passed directly over Chattanooga at 11 a. m. today. It came from the south, was first sighted in North Chattanooga, from where some one telephoned The News editorial rooms that it was coming and should be about over the Terminal station. By the time the telephone could be hung up and a window raised the craft was crossing a little east of Centenary church, evidently having passed just east of The News office and nearly directly over the Albert Theater. When The News staff first sighted the craft it was sailing high in the air, probably from 500 to 1,000 feet. It was traveling in such shape that it much resembled an aeroplane and a black object below in the stays much resembled a man. With the progress forward it shifted sidewise and its appearance changed to that of a cigar-shaped dirigible balloon. In appearance it was very white and evidently new, not being discolored by exposure. It traveled rapidly coming from South Chattanooga. It passed over the Terminal station, Albert Theater and disappeared apparently out Houston street way. A dense bank of smoke hung along the river and into this rate, coming from South Chattanooga. It being on the point of descendency.
While the balloon traveled a little east of north at a rapid rate, the flags on the custom house hung limp in a still atmosphere that would not have propelled a hot air balloon. The smoke from the stacks hung low and lifeless, indicating no breeze. Unless there was a strong current a few hundred feet above the earth, then the craft was propelled by its own power.
Dozens of persons in Chattanooga saw the flight and much curiosity was excited by the stories. To some the gas bag looked as big as a house; another said it was as long as a telegraph pole; still another described it as an oblong bad 10 feet through and 50 feet long.
Reports of such a craft passing Huntsville, Ala., about 4 p. m. yesterday give rise to the suspicion that this is the same craft; that the daring aviator landed at dark and resumed his journey this morning. The absence of a basket precluded the idea of the aviator spending the night or any very long hours in the rigging.
One gentleman who was on East Eighth street saw the craft pass nearly directly overhead. He says it passed west of the new Presbyterian church and east of Centenary, and that he could distinctly see a man in the stays; that when about opposite East Fourth street the navigator evidently expelled some of the gas, as he supposed, for the purpose of turning the craft around, but that it disappeared in a bank of smoke, and he could not tell what became of it.
Along the river there was a dense bank of fog and smoke so that even at the bridge no object could be seen more than a short distance.
Inquiry from every possible point north of the river failed to develop any news of the craft. It seemed to have disappeared into the fog for good and all. Long distance telephone to Hixson, Daisy and other points failed to bring any tidings.
Hypotheses
Investigation
Resume
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