1897 April 12, Illinois, CE3 203

    “Nilwood. On the property of Z. Thacker, 19km north of Carlinville, an unknown object landed. Before the three witnesses could reach it, the craft, which was shaped like a cigar with a dome, rose slowly and left majestically toward the north. Witnesses: Edward Treeples, William Street and Franklin Metcalf.”

    “Girard, near Green Ridge. A large crowd of miners saw an unknown object land 3km north of Green Ridge and 4km south of Girard. The night operator of the Chicago-and-Alton Railroad, Paul McCramer, stated that he came sufficiently close to the craft to see a man emerge from it to repair the machinery. Traces were found over a large area. The object itself was elongated like a ship with a roof and a double canopy. It left toward the north.”