Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1880 — A Thing of the Air. [ARTICLE]

A Thing of the Air.

Virginia City (M•*•> Entorprla*. Some four or five days ago we heard talk of a singular inhabitant of the air seen to pass over the Chinesequarter of the city. This thing was saidTo have four legs and to fly without wings. At the time we thought some person was trying to get off a sell and paid little attention to the story. Last evening, however, Tom Jackson, special officer for Chinatown, called -about the matter, desiring to ascertain if anything could he found in any encyclopedia in regard to any such creature of the air as we have mentioned. Mr. Jackson says the wonder began to be seen some days ago. It was first noticed by a little boy. who called the attention of Mrs. Jackson to it. The nondescript appears to be some kind of a flying reptile. It has a body shaped like that of a crab, some si*teen inches in breadth. From this strange body hang down four legs, about two feet in length and as thick as an ordinary walking stick. Nothing in the shape of wings is to he seen nor is there any flapping *is of wings. Tl ?e u creature sails through the air, with its legs hanging quite motionless, and appears to move without the slightest exertion of any of the knowrf kinds of flying apparatus. Since first observed it has passed northward regularly every morning about 8 o’clnck, and southward every evening shortly before sundown. It flies over the town at about the height of the International Hotel, and movea about as fast as a dove or pigeon. It is of a dark color, but not black. Mr. Jackson says he has seen the “beast” regularly every day for four or five days. He last saw it yesterday morning on its way north, but was not down in Chinatown at; the time it goes south watched the thing till out of sight in both directions, therefore is confident that it is no diabolical invention of the Chinese rigged to run on a string or wire. Besides, most of the residents of Chinaand are not a little troubled at the sight of it They unhesitatingly pronounce it to be the devil or a thing of the devil. Mr. Jackson is an'old resident of this city, and is well known as a truthful man.

“ay* it is understood that the president and council of the Royal geographical society are. considering a plan for a new arctic expedition. It is understood the route by way ofFranze Josef will be recommended ; but the mere feat of reaching the north pole will not be the main or even one of the principal objects of the expedition. It will be the unknown area WJMf the 79th and 80th degree of *■ while Uis^not Pian of establiahlng an observing station around the pole, can only consider them as subsidiary to the work of geographical explore-