Happy 115th Anniversary Aurora

Today is observed by conspiracy theorists, UFOlogists, and listeners of Coast to Coast AM as the 115th anniversary of the UFO crash in Aurora, Texas. Just about anyone with an internet connection or watched the X Files about 20 years ago has heard of the Roswell, New Mexico, UFO crash. However relatively few have heard of the Texas UFO crash 50 years prior. In the skies over Aurora in 1897, residents reported seeing a cigar shaped object. According to local legend on April 17, an unknown aircraft struck a windmill and crashed killing the pilot. According to an army officer, the pilot was not of this earth and was buried in the Aurora Cemetery and the evidence of the crash buried under the windmill. There have been several investigations into this story and not one has proved conclusive. The alien body is said to have been buried in an unmarked grave. The site of the windmill is said to have been converted to a well but was then sealed due to contamination (from the UFO?). In 1979, an article in Time Magazine quoted a long time resident as saying the story had been made up to help keep the town (which had been besieged by a fire and disease) alive. Despite this, a historical marker at the cemetery mentions the incident and people continue to discuss the long lost alien body. Regardless it makes a good story.