The Aurora, Texas, UFO incident reportedly occurred on April 17, 1897, when, according to locals, a UFO crashed on a farm near Aurora, Texas. The incident (similar to the more famous Roswell UFO incident 50 years later) is claimed to have resulted in a fatality of the pilot. This event has been a subject of fascination and debate for over a century, blending local lore with broader questions about extraterrestrial life.
Initial Reporting in the Dallas Morning News
On April 19, 1897, an article in the Dallas Morning News written by S. E. Haydon described the UFO crash. The original newspaper article describing the incident, by S. E. Haydon, "A Windmill Demolishes It," The Dallas Morning News, April 19, 1897.
The UFO is said to have hit a windmill on the property of a Judge J. S. Proctor two days earlier at around 6am local (Central) time, resulting in its crash. The pilot (who was reported to be "not of this world", and speculated to be a native of "Mars" according to a reported Army Signal Service officer named T. J. Weems from nearby Fort Worth), did not survive the crash, and was buried "with Christian rites" at the nearby Aurora Cemetery.
Reportedly, wreckage from the crash site was dumped into a nearby well located under the damaged windmill, while some ended up with the alien in the grave.
The Story of Brawley Oates and the Contaminated Well
Adding to the mystery was the story of Mr. Brawley Oates, who purchased Judge Proctor's property around 1935. Oates cleaned out the debris from the well in order to use it as a water source, but later developed an extremely severe case of arthritis, which he claimed to be the result of contaminated water from the wreckage dumped into the well. As a result, Oates sealed up the well with a concrete slab and placed an outbuilding atop the slab.
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Skepticism and the Hoax Theory
The hoax theory is primarily based on a 1980 Time magazine interview with Etta Pegues, an 86 year old Aurora resident who claimed that Haydon had fabricated the entire story; she stated that Haydon "wrote it as a joke and to bring interest to Aurora.
Despite the skepticism, the story has persisted, fueled by local legends and occasional investigations.
Investigations and Eyewitness Accounts
The incident has been investigated on numerous occasions. In 1998, Dallas-based TV station KDFW aired a lengthy report about the Aurora incident. Reporter Richard Ray interviewed former Fort Worth Star Telegram reporter Jim Marrs and other locals, who said something crashed in Aurora. However, Ray's report was unable to find conclusive evidence of extraterrestrial life or technology.
MUFON uncovered two new eyewitnesses to the crash. Mary Evans, who was 15 at the time, told of how her parents went to the crash site (they forbade her from going) and the discovery of the alien body. Charlie Stephens, who was age 10, told how he saw the airship trailing smoke as it headed north toward Aurora.
MUFON then investigated the Aurora Cemetery and uncovered a grave marker that appeared to show a flying saucer of some sort, as well as readings from its metal detector. MUFON asked for permission to exhume the site, but the cemetery association declined permission. MUFON's report eventually stated that the evidence was inconclusive, but did not rule out the possibility of a hoax.
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The Sealed Well and Subsequent Examination
The documentary featured one notable change from the UFO Files story - Tim Oates, grandson of Brawley Oates and the now-owner of the property with the sealed well where the UFO wreckage was purportedly buried, allowed the investigators to unseal the well, in order to examine it for possible debris. Water was taken from the well which tested normal except for large amounts of aluminum present; the well had no significant contents. It was stated in the episode that any large pieces of metal had been removed from the well by a past owner of the property.
Further, the remains of a windmill base were found near the well site, which allegedly refuted Ms. In addition, the Aurora Cemetery was again examined.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| April 17, 1897 | Reported UFO crash near Aurora, Texas | Local accounts |
| April 19, 1897 | Dallas Morning News publishes article by S.E. Haydon | Dallas Morning News |
| Around 1935 | Brawley Oates purchases property, cleans well, develops arthritis | Local history |
| 1980 | Time magazine interview with Etta Pegues, who claims the story was a hoax | Time Magazine |
| 1998 | KDFW airs report, interviews locals and Jim Marrs | KDFW |
| Various | MUFON investigates, finds eyewitnesses, examines cemetery | MUFON |
The Aurora, Texas, UFO incident remains a captivating tale, blending elements of local history, folklore, and the enduring mystery of unidentified flying objects. Whether a genuine extraterrestrial encounter or an elaborate hoax, the story continues to intrigue and inspire speculation.
Aurora, Texas UFO: The Mysterious Crash of 1897
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