The Radioactive UFO of Maracaibo

At first it would appear that our ancient ancestors were visited by aliens.

Then from about 60 years ago, there have been repeated reports of UFOs but what of the time between?

There was at least one incident, as reported in the fairly new 1886 edition of “The Scientific American”. This article would become known as The Maracaibo Letter.

A letter was received from Maracaibo,Venezuela. In this letter is a description of an incident that happened there.

Nine residents were awakened by a bright light outside, they got up and investigated suspecting it may be a fire. What they saw was a bright light in the sky, the likes of which they had never seen before. Believing that this could be the end of days they fell to their knees and prayed.

According to the magazine, several days after this incident, all the trees in the vicinity of the bright light had died. Also all the witnesses became violently ill, one of the symptoms being inflammation inside the nose.

In 1886, no one referred to this as a UFO, which at that time was an unheard of phenomenon and science fiction novels were not yet in wide circulation.

With the knowledge of science that we have today, we know that radiation could account for the trees dying and the symptoms of the sickness described, match perfectly with that of radiation poisoning.

Although not called it, was it in fact a UFO sighting?

Some have said that it could have been ball lightning and others have said it could have been the planet Venus, bright in the night sky. Neither of these explanations though, would account for the radiation sickness.

I do not know as to whether or not this was a UFO but it is certainly a documented, unexplained mystery, one that must be filed along with so many others until perhaps the day comes when we can unlock their secrets.