The Aurora Incident

On April 17, 1897, during the Great Airship Wave, a mysterious craft allegedly crashed into a windmill in Aurora, Texas. The pilot’s body was described as “not of this world” by local officials, and was reportedly buried in the town cemetery with Christian rites.

The Airship Wave

1896-1897:

• Wave of sightings
• Across America
• Mysterious airships
• Before Wright Brothers
• Unexplained

The Dallas Morning News

April 19, 1897:

• Published account
• Written by S.E. Haydon
• Local correspondent
• Detailed story
• First documentation

The Crash

According to report:

• Around 6:00 AM
• Airship appeared
• Traveling slowly
• Engine trouble apparent
• Hit windmill

Judge Proctor’s Property

The crash site:

• J.S. Proctor’s farm
• Windmill destroyed
• Water tank demolished
• Debris scattered
• Wreckage extensive

The Pilot

The body found:

• Small being
• “Not of this world”
• Disfigured from crash
• Papers with hieroglyphics
• Unknown origin

Army Officer’s Statement

T.J. Weems:

• U.S. Signal Service
• Examined body
• Said “Martian”
• Based on appearance
• Professional opinion

The Burial

Townspeople decided:

• Bury with respect
• Christian ceremony
• Local cemetery
• Unmarked grave
• Humane treatment

The Wreckage

Debris described:

• Unknown metal
• Hieroglyphic writing
• Advanced materials
• Dumped in well
• Some kept

Years of Silence

Story forgotten:

• Town declined
• Population shrank
• Cemetery overgrown
• Story dormant
• Until 1970s

Modern Interest

1970s revival:

• Researchers visited
• Tried to locate grave
• Metal detector surveys
• Investigation attempts
• Media coverage

The Well

Investigators found:

• Sealed well
• On Proctor property
• Possibly contained debris
• Owner refused access
• Mystery preserved

Skeptical View

Some argue:

• Haydon invented story
• To boost town
• During decline
• No contemporary corroboration
• Possible hoax

Supporting Evidence

Others note:

• Contemporary newspaper
• Named witnesses
• Specific details
• Cemetery records
• Physical site

The Grave

Attempts to find:

• Metal detected
• In cemetery
• Possible location
• Never exhumed
• Protected

Texas Historical Marker

Official recognition:

• State marker placed
• Acknowledges story
• Tourist attraction
• Historical interest
• Legitimacy

Significance

Aurora case significant for:

• Pre-flight era
• Crash claim
• Body recovery
• Contemporary documentation
• Enduring mystery

Legacy

Whether hoax or history, the Aurora incident represents one of the earliest alleged UFO crash retrievals. The story predates the Wright Brothers and remains a fascinating piece of unexplained Americana.