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1905 A STRANGE LIGHT

Mr. Arthur Mee writes: "I have received a number of communications relative to the curious light seen in the sky on the evening of March 29, I did not see the light myself.

The evening was a clear one, according to my note-book, and I observed a meteor in the east at 9.15; but was not on the look out at the time of the phenomenon. Moreover, anything seen in the southern sky at Llanishen is interfered with by the glare of Cardiff and the Dowlais Works.

The first I heard of the light was from my friend Mr. Gunstone, of Llanishen, who saw the strange beam of light at the time specified in the south-east. He and others watched it for some time, and he was sure it was neither from the works nor a searchlight.

Mr. T. Skeats, of Whitchurch, watched the band of light for sometime, and was much struck by it. Mr. Ansaldo, of Llandaff, writes that on the evening in question about ten o'clock he saw in the south-east what at first looked like a long cluster of stars obscured by a thin film or mist. It gradually grew brighter and brighter until it looked like an incandescent light, and lasted for about 25 or 30 minutes. Mr. Ansaldo saw several people watching it.

Mr. J. Havard, Peterson-Super-Ely, says he and several others saw the light, which looked like an iron bar heated to an orange-coloured glow, suspended vertically.

These accounts are explicit but other less on, or referring to other lights or on other dates, are to hand from Mrs. James Thomas, Haverfordwest; Mr. Jesse Williams the chemist, and Mr. Wm. Yeo Talbot-street, Cardiff. I confess I am unable to explain the above phenomenon, and only wish I had seen it for myself. Perhaps some other correspondent can help to clear up the mystery."

Source: 'Weekly Mail' 15 April 1905.