18 October 1954
(The Recorder, Port Pirie, Australia)
Source: Trove, National Library of Australia, Canberra,
ACT,
Australia
The whole article:
“A strange glowing object, shaped like a top, was seen
in the sky south-west by west from Pirie by Constable Bernard A. Egel, of
Pirie, and other watchers on Saturday night (16 October 1954).
The object, which made no sound, was observed by the
constable for about 15 mins. before it disappeared from sight, to be followed
by another glowing object for a brief period.
Constable Egel told ‘The Recorder’ yesterday that he
had been patroIIing his beat about 9.20 p.m. on Saturday when an agitated man
and a girl had told him they had seen a strange object in the sky. He had
immediately accompanied them to Memorial Park.
‘When I first saw the light it was hovering over Spencer Gulf, south-west by west of Pirie. It appeared to
be about 1,000 ft.
above the sea and about two to three miles out from Pirie. It changed color
from red to orange, then green and, finally white. The light was larger at the
top and tapered at the bottom, appearing in the shape of a top or an inverted
electric bulb,’ said Constable Egel.
Changed Color
‘After we had watched it for about five minutes, it
began to travel directly away from us, losing altitude. It moved about 10 miles and then stopped
and hovered in a small circle, moving slowly, and constantly chancing color.
‘After having hovered in that position for about
another five mins., it began to travel away again and continued out of sight. We
watched for a few minutes but saw nothing as the light was extremely dark and
the moon had not risen at that stage.
‘Following a brief interval either the same light or
another appeared low over the sea about 10 miles out. It appeared
to rise from the sea to a height of about 100 ft. and then travelled directly
away out of sight.
Iridescent Light
‘An iridescent light came from the object, which
changed color slowly. The changes of color were most definite. I had seen the
light for at least 15 mins., but the other persons had watched it for about 15
mins. before approaching me.
‘The man who reported the object to me said that it
had first appeared in the shape of a top with colored lights round the middle,’
added Constable Egel.
A party of motorists returning to Pirie, which
included Mr. C. P. Murn (editor of "The Recorder") also reported
having seen a strange red light in the sky shortly after sunset on Saturday.
The light had also appeared south-west by west of Pirie.
A strange light glowing in several changing colors was
seen about 8 o'clock last night high in the sky by Mr. Eric Sard, of Warnertown,
and several other persons. It disappeared after a few minutes.”
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/96165936
Satellite photo of Port Pirie, Australia (tageo.com)
(tageo.com image)
