UFO ROUNDUP Volume 8 Number 21
Volume 8
Number 21
June 11, 2003
Editor: Joseph Trainor
E-mail: Masinaigan@aol.com
LARGE CIGAR-SHAPED UFO SIGHTED IN SOUTH AFRICA
"Is it a star or is it an unidentified flying object?"
"People living in the Boland area," located about 150 kilometers (90 miles) east of Cape Town, South Africa, "were asking this queston on Tuesday," May 27, 2003, "after observing an unusual light phenomenon in the Worcester area. Many people phoned regional radio stations with the news that they had seen a UFO."
"Nic Marais, breakfast show DJ (disk jockey) on KFM 94.5, told Die Burger that a Cape Town salesman phoned him at about 6:45 a.m. to report the incident, followed by similar calls confirming the sighting."
"A man named Deon was travelling on the (highway) N1 towards Worcester and phoned to say he saw a cigar-shaped UFO right below the moon."
"It was apparently gliding above the clouds with a smaller but very bright light alongside. He said he had been looking at the lights for quite a while and said it was definitely not an aircraft."
"According to Marais, other listeners had also seen the unusual light but thought it was a star. One said the huge light was the morning star (Venus--J.T.) and the other light what remained of the previous evening's stars."
"Cris Louw, 28, founder of the UFO aid organisation SAUFOR, says no one had informed them of the unusual light above Worcester."
"Officials of Cape Town's air and navigational services say nothing unusual was reported on Tuesday morning."
"Spokesperson for the Worcester police, Susan Beneke, says they hadn't been informed of the incident, either." (See the South African newspaper Die Burger for May 28, 2003, "Cape Town residents spot cigar-shaped UFO." Many thanks to Jim Hickman for forwarding this newspaper article.)
(Editor's Comment: Welcome to Africa Screams Week at UFO Roundup. South Africa isn't the only spot on the continent having a Fortean event. You won't believe what's going on in Nigeria these days. Read on...)
CENTAUR CAUSES PANIC IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
"Women in Maru," a large town near the Zamfara River in northern Nigeria, "have been found to remain inside in the evening for fear of a strange creature which chases them."
"The News Agency of Nigeria has learned that a mysterious creature, said to be half-man and half-horse, usually appears in the early hours of the morning or the evening."
The creature fits the description of a centaur of Greek mythology, the most famous ones being Centaurus, Chiron and Sagittarius. However, the Nigerian version is distinctly African. It was described as having close- cropped hair, a goatee, horse-like ears, with a man's torso sprouting from a horse's body where the horse's neck usually is. The creature had two human arms and four equine legs, and, from the human neck down, it had the black-and-white striped coloration of an African zebra.
"The appearance of the strange creature has crippled the socio-economic activities in the town, especially at night as people prefer to stay home from 4 p.m." until sunrise the next morning.
"The creature is believed to have appeared in different locations" in Maru "and is causing much anxiety and fear among residents, particularly women."
"When contacted about the issue, one of the sons of the Emir of Maru, Alhaji Isa Maru, said the rumour was strong and 'we are still trying to get to the root of it.'"
Maru is located about 600 kilometers (360 miles) north of Lagos, the capital of Nigeria. (See the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report of May 18, 2003, "Strange creature forces Maru women indoors." Merci beaucoup a Robert Fischer pour cette article de journal.)
(Editor's Comment: Africa has certainly had its share of "creature sightings" this year. First it was vampires in Malawi. Then it was Larry the Were-Hyena, also in Malawi. Next came the Invisible Man of Zambia. And now a centaur in Nigeria! Will the Dark Continent play host to any more visitations in 2003? Stay tuned.)
TWO MORE CALVES ARE MUTILATED IN ARGENTINA
"Field researchers specializing in the subject of animal mutilations--Raul Chavez and Esther Urban--pointed out that 'so far this year (2003) we have accounted for more than 60 mutilations in La Pampa and Buenos Aires" provinces in Argentina.
"They noted that 'thanks to the fact that they already know us, and know we research the subject, cattle ranchers inform us when mutilated animals are discovered. We then obtain samples which we send to the University of Buenos Aires and document everything on videotape.'"
Chavez and Urban "referred to the two most recent cases, on (Friday) May 16 and (Saturday) May 17 (2003), respectively--between 45 and 30 kilometers away from Santa Rosa," the capital of La Pampa province.
"The first of these took place on El Martin ranch 45 kilometers (27 miles) northwest of the Pampan capital and involved a year-old calf weighing 200 kilograms."
"On the left side of its head, the absence of the outer ear was evident along with the entire inner ear, its eye and an oval-shaped flap of skin, measuring some 30 centimeters in diameter. The absence of vulva, edge of the anus, hyoides, larynx, pharynx and a segment of the trachea, as well as part of the upper muscular mass, was also noted."
"An entire animal was found on (Saturday) May 17 (2003) on a rural property located 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of Santa Rosa. It was a two-year-old calf weighing 250 kilograms and missing half its tongue with a cauterized incision and missing the left ocular orb."
Chavez and Urban "stated that in both cases samples were secured for subsequent study and analysis by professionals." (See the Argentinian newspaper El Diario de la Pampa for May 24, 2003, "Two more calves found mutilated." Muchas gracias a Scott Corrales y Gloria Coluchi para eso articulo de diario.)
CHUPACABRA KILLS FORTY CHICKENS IN CHILE
"Farmers in a Chilean village are reportedly blaming vampires or aliens for the deaths of 40 chickens," an event similar to Chupacabra attacks elsewhere in the South
American nation.
"According to the newspaper El Diario Austral, the chickens were found dead with their insides scattered all over the owner's backyard in Perquenco," a town in the department of La Araucania about 400 kilometers (240 miles) south of Santiago de Chile, the national capital.
"Juana Raasch, owner of the farm, said, 'It was a horrible scene. But the strangest thing was that there was no trace of any other animal that could have done it.'"
"'I have raised them (chickens) for seven years, and I have never seen anything like that. I would know if it were the work of a pig, dog, wolf or cat. What happened here was out of this world.'"
"Police sent to the farm were puzzled by the fact that there was no evidence of an intruder, either animal or human."
"A spokesman said, 'It seems silly to talk about vampires and aliens, but you never know around here.'"
"'This farm is well-protected with all sorts of wires and fences, and I don't see how an animal could have come in here.'"
"'This is not the first time something bizarre like this has happened around here, and we have never come up with a normal explanation.'" (See the Chilean newspaper El Diario Austral for May 18, 2003, "'Vampires or aliens' blamed for Chilean chicken slaughter." Muchas gracias a Scott Corrales para eso articulo de diario.)
UFO HOVERS OVER BELFAST
On Friday, May 2, 2003, at 11 p.m., Trevor Thomas was in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK when "facing east" he saw "what at first I thought was an aircraft light shining in my direction, from approximately 1,000 feet (300 meters) in the air over Belfast. It shone continually without flickering, and there was no sign of any pilot lights. It shone for approximately 10 minutes without moving at all."
"There was no sound of motors or any engine (noise) to accompany it. Then, without a trace of engine or aircraft sound, the light just disappeared. May I point out that the light was at least three times the brightness of the North Star (Polaris). It was a white light, round, spherical shaped." (Email Form Report)
COUPLE SPIES A UFO IN DUNOON, SCOTLAND
On Sunday, May 25, 2003, a couple "was walking down a hill next to the street we live on" in the West Bay section of Dunoon, Argyllshire, Scotland, UK "when I turned to my right and saw a bright green-yellow oblong shape moving really quietly horizontally across the top of the Bishop's Glen (hills)," the female witness reported, "I said, 'Did you see that?' He said he saw the same thing and noted that there was no noise."
"It was travelling faster than the speed of the (RAF) fighter jets that fly over here on training regularly. The object made no noise, moved quickly, was 'luminous' green/yellow, and I noticed slight pinkish tinges around the edges. Then it just disappeared."
"It was going from north to south, very big and very fast. Didn't know who to report it to. Found your Web site." (Email Form Report)
UFO SPOTTED OVER THE WISCONSIN DELLS
On Wednesday, May 28, 2003, at 9:45 p.m., Steve H. was at the Wisconsin Dells, a geologic feature 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Madison, the state capital, when he spotted an unusual object approaching.
"The object was about the size of my thumbnail," Steve reported, "I was sitting outside, looking at the Big Dipper (constellation Ursa Major). It was a bright white light that appeared to come out of total darkness. I watched it slowly fade out or dim as it moved towards the south."
"About a half hour later (10:15 p.m.) I saw another object east of the Dipper which acted in the same manner. It was a clear night at the time of this sighting." (Email Form Report)
MAGENTA-COLORED UFO SEEN OVER GEORGIA
On Wednesday, June 4, 2003, at 12 midnight, eyewitness Juliet S. was outdoors at her home in Athens, Georgia (population 100,266), a city located 67 miles (112 kilometers) east of Atlanta when a UFO appeared from the northeast.
"It was a big bright light that lit up the whole area," Juliet reported, "I saw it in the sky floating, and it flew along about 20 feet (6 meters) in the air over my head. Bright purplish in color, sort of a magenta, and it looked like a big raindrop. And I heard a noise that sounded like electricity mixed with a type of gerbil noise. It went about 70 miles per hour."
"I was freaked. I thought my family was in danger. It was not seen by anyone else in the part" of Athens, Ga. "where I live." (Email Form Report)
TWO GREEN-FIREBALL UFOs SEEN IN OMAK, WASHINGTON
On Wednesday, May 28, 2003, at 10:30 p.m., the male eyewitness was outdoors at his home in Omak, Washington state (population 4,721), a small town on Highway 155 approximately 125 miles (200 kilometers) northwest of Spokane, when he spotted "a UFO heading north towards Alaska or the Yukon."
"The second one headed the same way at 11:10 p.m. The first one came from the southeast, and the second one came straight from the south over Omak. They were both heading north towards the Mackenzie Mountains."
"They both glowed green, and they looked like glowing green balls. They both seemed to be traveling fast when I saw them, till they disappeared about four seconds later."
"Sometimes I got the impression that they were trying to imitate a planet. They were in outer space with the stars." (Email Form Report)
THREE TRIANGULAR UFOs FLY OVER NORTHERN UTAH
On Friday, May 23, 2003, at 11:30 p.m., Ralee Gomez was outdoors at her home in Clearfield, Utah (population 25,974), a city on the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake approximately 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Ogden, when "a UFO suddenly appeared from the south."
"We were sitting on the porch, facing the southeast, looking at the sky," Ralee reported, "Then, appearing from the south, we seen a close-knit formation of three glowing UFOs zooming in, hovering for a split-second, then changing direction towards the west, then (to the) north very fast. Not a jet. Totally clear skies, no clouds at all, no shadows following the glow."
Ralee described the UFOs as "bright, glowing, whitish-yellow--three solid objects, triangular in shape, a perfect formation. Speed faster than any F-16 (fighter) or B-2 (bomber) we see everyday." (Email Form Report)
(Editor's Note: Hill Air Force Base is located two miles (3 kilometers) east of Clearfield, Utah.)
CROP CIRCLES APPEAR IN RURAL NEW JERSEY
A number of crop circles were discovered two weeks ago in Lake Mount Bethel Township, near Larison's Corner, New Jersey, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Trenton, N.J.
"When Lisa and Pete Andrews noticed odd patches of tall grass knocked down in a field next to their house, the first culprits that came to mind were little green men."
"Although the Andrewses don't readily believe their North Delaware Drive neighborhood was visited by creatures from another world, the damage has the couple, their neighbors and a National Weather Service meteorologist stumped."
"'A herd of buffalo?' said weather service meteorologist Art Kraus, when asked what could have caused the patterns."
"The field is owned by a farmer and planted with tall grass. It adjoins the Andrews' property."
"Lisa Andrews said she and her husband were preparing to plant some apple and cherry saplings Sunday afternoon (May 25, 2003) when they noticed the 2-foot-tall (0.6- meter-tall) grass lying flat in irregularly shaped patches throughout the field."
"The stalks of grass were lying in the same north-to- south direction with stems bent close to the ground and matted together. About two dozen patches ranging in size from that of a beach towel to about 100 feet (30 meters) across dotted the field."
"There was no apparent pattern to the patches and no clue as to what had caused it."
"No tire tracks or footprints could be seen leading into the field."
"Most bewildering, Lisa Andrews said, was a large flattened patch near the edge of the field. A narrow strip of the uncut grass stood in a straight line with the Andrews' neat lawn on one side and flattened grass on the other."
"The damage wasn't there the night before, and Pete Andrews said he was awake most of the night and didn't hear or see anything unusual."
"The field is just a few dozen miles from the Bucks County (Pennsylvania) setting of the Mel Gibson movie Signs. With that movie in mind, Lisa Andrews said she at first thought the patterns might be a type of crop circle."
"In Signs, extraterrestrials preparing to invade Earth begin leaving crop circles around the world to serve as signposts for their armada."
"For years, crop circles have been a curiosity around the world, but mostly in southern England, where mysterious signs and patterns began appearing in farm fields in the early 1970s."
"Some believe the patterns were created by aliens, and paranormal investigators have recorded strange energy fields and unexplained balls of light in areas where circles have been found, according to The Crop Circular, a crop circle research Web site."
"Others say the circles are simply a prank pulled by people with too much time on their hands."
"The Andewses looked to their neighbor, Phil Palmer, 19, who lives across the street."
"Palmer denied any role in the appearance of the flat patches but did say he and his father, who used to own the field, saw a similar flat spot in a crop there three years ago (the year 2000--J.T.)."
"Meteorologist Kraus said wind-driven rain, intense wind or a downdraft from a thunderstorm could cause crops or tall grass to be knocked flat, but there wasn't any weather like that overnight Saturday or Sunday."
"The highest wind recorded overnight at Lehigh Valley International Airport" in Pennsylvania "was five miles per hour (8 kilometers per hour), Kraus said. And only light rain fell overnight, according to weather service records."
"'It doesn't sound like it was really atmospheric or weather-related,' he said, 'Sounds like it was more likely caused by people or animals.'"
"Or maybe it really was little green men." (See the New Jersey newspaper Express-Times for May 26, 2003. Merci beaucoup a Robert Fischer pour cette article de journal.)
CROP CIRCLE APPEARS IN LONE STAR, TEXAS
A solitary crop circle appeared three weeks ago in Lone Star, Texas (population 1,631), a small town on Highway 259 about 70 miles (112 kilometers) east-northeast of Dallas.
"It's not exactly a crop circle, but some East Texans in Lone Star are baffled by some strange markings on the ground."
"Residents of Lone Star feel they've had an encounter. Lone Star resident Gayle Tigert said that someone or something made a strange circle pattern on her front lawn that she discovered on Monday," May 19, 2003.
"Odd dusty burned grass in regular intervals have many thinking of outer space. We often hear tales of circles in crop fields, but had a UFO actually landed in an apartment section" in Lone Star, Texas?
"City authorities are explaining it as a fungus but don't really have an answer. Whether a prank or a natural phenomenon, it remains a mystery." (See the KLTV broadcast for May 23, 2003, "Strange circle in Lone Star." Many thanks to Robert Fischer and Bob Hallmark for this report.)
From the UFO Files...
1937: SOLITARY UFO SEEN OVER THE ATLANTIC
Sightings of "daylight discs" during the pre-Roswell era...i.e. before July 1947...were rare. But they did occasionally occur. Such as the one below, which took place on July 22, 1937.
That evening, "at 9:04 p.m. EDT (the USA's Eastern Daylight Time, or New York City time--J.T.)," operators at the Radiomarine Corporation in Chatham, Massachusetts picked up radio messages from two ships at sea.
Located on the outer reaches of Cape Cod, the station "said it had picked up a message from the American freighter Scanmail which said it had picked up a message signed GSVP, the radio call letters of the British freighter Ranee."
Earlier, the crew of the Ranee had seen a strange object in the sky, a silvery cigar-shaped object which they called "a plane." However, when the crewmen sighted the object, their vessel was approximately "500 miles (800 kilometers) off (east of) Cape Race, Newfoundland (Canada)" at latitude 47 degrees, 10 minutes north and longitude 44 degrees, 10 minutes west.
Both the USA's Civil Aviation Administration and the British Air Ministry were notified. "A check by 'aviation authorities' of the United States and Canada could not identify the plane or the flier and did not reveal any planes missing."
Transatlantic flights were still a novelty in 1937. Col. Charles A. Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic had taken place only ten years earlier. Less than a hundred people had crossed the ocean by air. Few planes existed that could venture so far from shore. Four-engined propellor aircraft like the American B-17 bomber and the German Focke-Wulf Condor were still on the drawing boards.
Observing the mystery object after dark, the Ranee's crew's "message said that 'navigation lights' were visible but that identification numbers were not."
In UK, the (Air) Secretary "appointed a member to investigate." But the mystery of the Ranee sighting was never solved. (See Doubt--The Fortean Society Magazine for September 1937, "Something in the Sky," page 4.)
Letter from the Editor
After UFO Roundup missed a week of publication in April, your editor hoped to get through the rest of 2003 without interruptions. Alas, it was not to be. On May 20, 2003, your editor packed up the office supplies and moved to a new location here in Duluth, Minnesota. The move was necessitated by the landlord's desire to sell the building where we previously resided. Upon arrival at our new locale, your editor put together the computer only to find that it wouldn't power up. So, for the first time in eight years, the UFO Roundup computer went to the repair shop. The first visit solved the power problem, but the repair work had paralyzed the mouse, so a second visit became necessary. As a result, the newsletter was offline for two weeks.
So much for striving to fit 52 issues into the year 2003.
Your editor will be almighty grateful if there are no further interruptions in the publication schedule. Meanwhile, your editor would like to sincerely thank our correspondents...particularly Scott Corrales, Gloria Coluchi, Steve Wilson Sr., Robert Fischer, Anton Anfalov, Ayesha al-Khatabi, Jim Hickman and Mary Lou Jones- Drown...who continued to collect paranormal news stories while UFO Roundup was offline. Thanks also to the Duluth, Minnesota Public Library, who offered the use of the Computer Lab to your editor to gather the submissions.
That's it for this week. Join us next time as we present UFO, Fortean and paranormal news from all over the planet Earth, brought to you by "the paper that goes home- -UFO Roundup." See you next week!
