According to the New York Sun and the New York Herald, on April 2, 11, 16 and 18, 1897, a mysterious light, like a powerful searchlight, was seen in the sky of Kansas City, Chicago, Evanston, Benton (TX) and finally in Sisterville, W. Va. The object associated with the light was variously reported as “shaped like a Mexican cigar… with great wings,” “two cigar-shaped objects with great wings,” and a “cigar-shaped, silken bag.” Brilliant red, white and green lights were seen below it. Prof. George Hough maintained that “the object seen is Alpha Orionis.”
–Charles Fort, New Lands, p.468-471 (The Complete Books of Charles Fort, Dover, c1974).