Case file · Close encounter
Alexander Hamilton's calf-napping airship
In April 1897 the Yates Center Farmer's Advocate printed rancher Alexander Hamilton's affidavit that an airship over his farm near LeRoy, Kansas, lassoed a heifer with a red cable and flew off with it.
1897 CE · 38.09, -95.63 · status: hoax
The account
Signed statements vouching for Hamilton's honesty were printed with it, and the story was republished for decades as a classic early UFO case, including in 1960s books.
The sceptical view
In 1977 Jerome Clark, through interviews and research into Hamilton's affidavit, showed it was a tall tale written for a local liars' club.