2 December 1879
(The South Kentuckian, Hopkinsville , Kentucky
Source: Newspapers.com
The whole article:
“In this sensational country, when startling events crowd one another thick and fast, what transpired in the presence of some unsophisticated country folk living in the eastern portion of this country a few days since, may not elicit more than a passing notice and, it may be, a sceptical sneer from the worldly reader. But knowing Abe Goodpaster, his wife and his aged mother to be honest, truthful reputable citizens, living a quiet, unpretending life and mixing little with the world, we think their story worthy of more than passing notice and therefore give it to our readers as told to us:
“In this sensational country, when startling events crowd one another thick and fast, what transpired in the presence of some unsophisticated country folk living in the eastern portion of this country a few days since, may not elicit more than a passing notice and, it may be, a sceptical sneer from the worldly reader. But knowing Abe Goodpaster, his wife and his aged mother to be honest, truthful reputable citizens, living a quiet, unpretending life and mixing little with the world, we think their story worthy of more than passing notice and therefore give it to our readers as told to us:
About a half an hour by sun on Friday evening, the 7th
inst., Mrs. Goodpaster stepped from her house into the yard to hang out some
clothes which she had been washing. The sky was a perfect azure blue and not a
cloud was to be seen. Presently there appeared high up in the heavens an object
of such unusual appearance that the attention of Mrs. Goodpaster was at once
riveted. Slowly it descended to within twenty feet of the earth, seemingly
about seventy-five yards distant and directly over a cleared field. Here it
assumed the form of a man of majestic and commanding appearance. A series of
graceful gesticulations with the hands were first gone through with and then
the figure with bowed head assumed a devotional attitude. Somewhat recovered by
this time from the wondering surprise which chained her to the spot, Mrs.
Goodpaster rushed into the house and called her mother and several children
into the yard all of whom saw distinctly that which we have described. The
figure then mounted into the heavens and was soon lost from view.
Other persons in different parts of the neighbourhood
saw an unnatural object in the sky the same evening, some of whom thought it
was a balloon. We did not pretend to have a theory but are firmly convinced
that Mrs. Goodpaster, her mother and children honestly believe they saw a man
descend from the sky and then ascend again late Friday evening on the 7th of
this month [most likely 7 November 1879]. They were so very loth to communicate
that which they knew seemed so impossible that the news did not reach this
place until a week after the occurrence.”
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