| The first "Flying Saucer" convention had been set for Sunday, 4th of April, 1954, and I found myself with an invitation to attend with the Dean of the Flying Saucers, Frank Scully. With his book "Behind the Flying Saucers" he had 'placed his surviving foot in the |
By Ann McKittrick
The UFO Chronicles 4-10-1954 |
Dawn had scarcely broken when I found myself awake and excited over the proposed adventure. The Palm Springs morning was clear and lovely as always, Frank and his wife, Alice, I hoped were peacefully asleep in the guest room.
I thought of the things I had heard since my friend, Lily, a Southern Belle, had come to visit me, bringing with her a consuming interest in matters Saucerian. She wanted to talk with Adamski or Scully : We had tea with Mr. Scully, an old neighbor on Whitley Heights. His attitude was, and consistently is, that he was simply a reporter... he wrote what he heard the Scientists say. Later he put it even more tersely and to the point: "I maintain a Chekovian detachment." He has never seen a Flying Saucer.
Not so Kay Mullendore, whose lectures we heard : She is the 'Mama' of the F.S and the first woman to lecture on whatever was known of them..and she knew a lot. She told us that at Giant Rock, in the desert, where the convention is scheduled to take place, there is a man named George Van Tassel. He is a former air pilot, and for several years he has been receiving interstellar communications. There is a room under the Giant Rock and she herself has attended many of the 'seances' with fifty or sixty other people and has many transcriptions and tape recordings of the messages. She was present, she says, when a radio ham operator named George Williamson met Mr. Van Tassel for the first time. He, too had been receiving interplanetary dispatches by way of International Morse Code. Kay said that their data, separately received, tallied in every particulate.
The morning moved on. Alice reports that Frank has had a rugged night, and was quite ill. But he is F.S. Frank Scully Flying Saucer, has a part to play today and the Show Must Go On..and it did and we did!
Alice at the wheel, we turn off th highway after a few miles, and are in desert country. From the road long sandy wastes reach to distant mountains. Suddenly grotesque Joshua trees rise all around us,a few villages and then more desert. Frank listens with polite interest to all the tales I have picked up. There may be grains of truth, but around an idea like this, there is bound to be confusion, misinterpretation the dreadful muddle of crackpotism.'But', I quoted Somebody, "Truth crushed to earth, will rise again." Frank and Alice agreed.
By this time we are well out into the desert. The mountains have closed in a little and the roads is a single path, sandy and difficult to navigate, but Alice drives on, pulling to the side into deep sand to allow oncoming cars to pass. We seem to be a thousand miles from nowhere;the Space people couldnt have asked for a more inaccessible spot.
The very first sign appears at long last: There's a stick in the sand at a crossroad; it has a narrow red rag bobbing a little in the almost nonexistent breeze. What an insignificant bit of rag, I thought, to be the precursor of what portends the best colossal, earthshaking marvel...speaking acquaintance with worlds outside our own.
A sign accompanies the flag; 'George and the Gang Welcome You.' More in keeping with the sign is another sign that says simply: Spacecraft Conventions. Here as a new term. It seems the nickname derived from Kenneth Arnold, who was the first man to see the craft, near Mt. Ranier. He spoke of them as 'saucer-like'; they moved like a saucer skipping on the water, with an undulating movement.
More heavy, dusty road and then in the distance the spectacle appears like a desert mirage. Thousands of people, cars..and some airplanes. Rising above it all is the Giant rock itself : There is a red flag on top, it is shaped like a stocking. As we draw nearer we see that there is a large second rock, whitewashed, and to the left of us a mountain of rocks. Its side is covered with men, women and children sitting on the ledges, all looking toward a speaker who is on a stand erected on a small building. Our car moves thru the throngs who are standing, or sitting on cushions, army cots, boxes and newspaper, or are milling about. I feel like a companion to Calpurnia on a triumphal entry with Caesar. I try to see the people. My first impression of them and a continuing impression was of people on a holiday, on a picnic, at the beach. Outdoor people in bright plaid shirts and with sun glasses. The women for the most part in slacks and shorts. To my right are many airplanes, their owners calmly sitting in the shade of the wings. All are intently listening to the speaker. He is George Williamson, the radio operator from Wyoming, who is telling his story. "The Space People are friendly, they are good, they are peaceful" he is saying.
Mr. Scully has been recognized and I become alert to see the men who will approach us. First comes a young, tanned handsome man. He has a good, intelligent face. He is Jerry Baker; he has sort of adopted Mr. Scully with a 'let's get to the bottom of this saucer business' attitude. He reports that everything is well organized and is going nicely. There are five thousand people and about thirty five airplanes, from everywhere!
Then comes a Mr. Dorsey. He has been here all night, nearly a thousand people were there for the night. In trailers, sleeping bags, army cots etc. They were rewarded, for at about midnight there was a huge explosion. There was a great flash, a sharp report and about five a nutes later a loud blast with a rumbling and shaking everywhere. The people thought it was the Space fireballs exploding, but, he added, there is a Navy base over the mountain and it may have been some kind of detonation. Later I asked Frank why they didnt find out if it was the Navy. "There is no one to follow up these things "he said," I'm only a writer, I cant do it." I watch the crowd, but tune in enough to hear Mr. Dorsey speak of 'strange people.' The woman from Hollywood with the slanting eyes and odd face; and then Paul, whose grandfather is an Indian and who has done so much good work on the Dean.' Gracious, I thought, Space People!!!
Now to the car comes Mr. Van Tassel; My first thought is of Mr. Lindberg! The man is lean, tanned, slim and fairly tall. Blue eyes that are not piercing, but have looked far into the distance, like a mariner's. He is friendly and pleased to greet Mr. Scully. They speak of the explosion..."High in the air", he says " a big, radiant flash in the sky." Andelucci and Bethurum have both spoken. They have been on the Saucers, Frank is escorted off to the stand, he goes up the ladder steps on his crutches with his incredible agility.
He has equipped Alice and me with round badges. Our names and 'Delegate from Elsewhere. Orbit 7. ' Thats the lucky Orbit, he assured us. A daring man has climbed to the top of the huge rock..the people are still attentive; some continue to mill around. Why do they move? they just mill around among themselves, talking, speculating, telling of unbelievable things. Mixing up rumors and passing them on.
At this point Kay comes to take us over with her group. They have an army cot, plenty of cushions and have been there all night."The Space people were here" she tells us as we make ourselves comfortable, and as Frank is being introduced, "Oh yes, what is more, they exploded an enormous fireball." An extraordinary, circular cloud formation had encircled the speakers stand all morning, and someone had seen a flying saucer in it, and there are Space people here today. As a Palm Springs hostess, this information was welcome, as extra men are always at a premium for dinner parties.
Above us is the Old Trooper! I knew that he had been in considerable pain and there he was Carrying On..Mr. Flying Saucer himself! With his good looks, his strong voice and his inimitable wit, he soon has the crowd in the palm of his hand. "We are really pioneers" he says, "Here for the first convention of the Flying Saucers..." He knows how to skirt around the subject. They laugh, they applaud. All he says is Maybe yes, maybe no. He has never seen a saucer, he has not read the books of the men who have ridden on them. "After all authors do not necessarily take in each other's washing. And most of the time they can't afford to buy each others' books. To my delight I hear myself quoted. He mispronounces my name, and I'm the only one in the 5000 who hears it, but I do with that magnetic attraction we have for our own name. "Truth" he says" crushed to earth, will rise again."
Truth is going to take an awful beating on this flying saucer deal. To evaluate it, you can't discount it all. Much seems to check and dovetail..much is junk, but much has substance. Imaginations will run riot; we will unintentionally believe and embellish our own connotations; stories will fly, faster than the saucers; impending doom will be preached as it was in the year 1000, when France collapsed under the very weight of the warnings. As Frank is saying: " The trouble is, that retelling; wears off the surface and puts on a new sheen..its the way science fiction writers are born."
Under a beach umbrella a bald, undistinguished man is autographing his book. He is Truman Bethurum, a mechanic. His book, which I buy, is "Aboard a Flying Saucer". They cost three dollars, he is selling a lot of them, and I am glad for him. I also buy Mr. Van Tassel's little paper backed book "I Rode A Flying Saucer". Need I say I had them both autographed. On the table were a number of pamphlets and magazines. The small publications had notified people of the convention and 5000 had responded.
Now we disband for lunch! Everyone retreats to his own bailiwick or trailer or rock, as in our case. Alice has a perfect picnic lunch; a card table and chairs appear from somewhere, and we set up behind a very large rock. Planes come and go, droning thru the air. Looking up, I ask:"Do you suppose there are any Space people here?" Jerry, who has joined us, replies, "Yes, there are." "Oh, do you suppose so?" "I don't think so, I know so," he says quietly. "They tell me I am one,"Frank says, "Only I dont know it....Oh boy, are the gophers going to have a picnic when this is over. They'll be yelling at one another: 'Hey fellas look what I found." I said: "I'll bet the insect world instigated this meeting and not the space people at all. The man who fixed my car told me that humans were not the most intelligent form of life. Its the ants and the bees! Anyway, there'll be a hot time in the new town tonight. There's talk of a good deal of settling and building around here." By this time I am in the know, and try to pass on the usual misinformation. People have found Frank and he is surrounded by engineers and people Like That.
Alice and I walk down to investigate the Rock. A boy is flying high on a big swing that has been anchored securely into the rock up above. People are wandering around, aimlessly, and several are peering thru a window into the room beneath the rock where the experiments take place. This is the place we want to see, too. It is smaller than I had expected. Against the far wall are two tired davenports..and a Morris chair. There is a piano; near our window is a long shelf of books. We cannot see the titles, but I venture to say there are "The Lost Continent of Mu " Children of Mu" and perhaps "Oahspe! Kay has said that the Continent of Mu is rising . "Look at the Saltan Sea" Mr. Van Tassel said" The sea is not rising, the land around it is sinking." Behind the books are a few lovely, fresh water colors. Nearby, sitting on rocks are two sheriffs from Twenty Nine Palms. They are talking about the man who made the room under the rock. I cock my ear toward them, girl reporters from Mars that I am. "The man who built the room" the police are saying" noone knew who he was, or where he came from..he said so the police. "Don't come any nearer or I'll set off this dynamite I have on me." They did and he did. Probably a spy from Rooshia!
Mr. Van Tassel is already speaking. We are late. We find Kay and sit with her.. a fine view of the stand and everything else. "We fed thirty five people" she told us" "Everyone excited and talking about the Saucers. Even hard-headed business men are being convinced by the Adamski book. "Flying Saucers Have Landed." There is so much that can't be told yet...the Saucerians say we must not drop any more hydrogen bombs, for they set off such highly dangerous waves of radio activity...."
Mr. Van Tassel continues. And now hold your hats! "There ARE people here today, right now, in this audience, who are from Outer Space. But I am NOT going to identify them. There are 10,000 of these people on the Earth..." He leans easily on the railing, an earnest young man. He has on a yellow shirt, a yellow billed cap, tan slacks. Fairly usual garb for this part of the country; he speaks with facility, answers questions graciously and is in dead earnest. He believes what he is saying!
Some of the questions and answers were interesting to jot down:
First question: Is it possible to ask the space people to land at a convention?"It is possible to ask them, but it does not necessarily mean that they will land. They never actually land on the earth..everyone who has contacted them agrees that they hover near the ground, but do not touch the earth. To board them, there is a step up of about three feet.Can a person of this planet meet Space people if they would like to?
"They are always ready to make a contact with anyone ready to venture."What is their method of propulsion?
"Electronic instruments. Originally, by thought transfarence; they've been working for years to perfect method. Find 'Omni Beam' most effective." Mr. Scully is asked to give his theory of magnetic propulsion. It is beyond me.Is there intelligent life on Venus and Mars?
"Just flatly, yes."Are they friendly?
"Emphatically yes. All are agreed that their purpose is entirely one of friendly interest. They are under a law which is a unit..they cannot and will not harm anyone. But they will not allow us to be harmful either. They've said, if their laws permitted, they could take over our planet at any time. Mr. Van Tassel remarks: "You will remember, in Korea there was a Cease Fire order given and it was observed on both sides and fighting stopped. The order was traced and noone could be found on either side who had given it. There were Saucers flying over the Korean front."How do they adjust to our atmosphere?
"Same as we do. When we send a deep sea diver into the water, we prepare him for the condition. The atmospheric changes are not as great as they have been made out to be."Do you think they might take over our world?
Answer: "We have said their mission is peaceful. I don't think we've got anything they want". (Applause)Why is our planet so behind the times?
"In the Universe, time does not exist. There are only planes of progress. The earth is just below the middle plane."At what time of day do they usually land?
"Usually at night. The world is asleep and they do not want to infringe upon our rights."Mr. Bethurum says if a crowd was there, panic might occur, and someone get hurt. It seems, however that Mr. Adamski, contacted them in the daytime and the government air force has movies of the encounter."Is there disease on the planets?
"No, there is none. They live to be about 300 then die naturally..and there is rejoicing and celebrating, no mourning. They have just gone on to a vibration of a higher level."Mr. Berthurum says on Clarion, which is a planet hidden by the moon, there is no disease, no accidents. They drive mutronic jeeps with magnetic equipment wh which makes it impossible for them to collide. Much of our disease is caused by wearing metal on our person..and by sudden changes, from one condition to another. Change should take place gradually."Are there really some Space people here today? Will you have them come forward?
"I will tell you there are several here today. I will not identify they. One or two have made themselves known to me."Is there physical evidence of their landing?
"Yes, but we have to maintain secrecy."
By this time the sun is going behind the mountain. We are grateful for our coats and sweaters and begin to think of finding Frank and starting for home. On the high platform are Mr. Scully, Mr. Van Tassel, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Berthurum, Mr. Angellucci (whose story we have not heard), Mr. Adamski, Mr. Leslie, Mr. Arnold are not present. The people remain, they still stand, sit, mill around, buying milk from an enterprising man with a truck; the mountain is still lined with eager listeners.
The talk goes on, each man on the platform seriously giving his contribution to the extraordinary subject. They say there are a hundred people who have been on the saucers. The Space people do not use the word Saucer, but call the craft Ventlas. Where are the ventlas that have crashed and have been taken? Mr. Scully replies that for two years he has asked the Air Force, in a book, often in a syndicated column and there has been no energy. ..Mr. Van Tassel tells his story of contact with them right in this area. Conversation and communications are in excellent English, altho they seem to read thought and answer questions before they are formulated...Religion? We all worship the same creator, although on this earth, which, by the way, they call Shan, we worship in word but not in deed. The people of no planet die. Life is eternal!
The sun is setting. Mr. Van Tassel says the main purpose of the convention is to get the approval of those gathered, to address a telegram to President Eisenhower. "Project Flying Saucer" should be taken out of the hands of the military..these space people have made no act that would involve the military..we, the people of this country have a right to know the truth. To have a right evaluation by a proper investigating committee...It is so unanimously voted.
That has been my thought from the first! Why the assumption that these people if indeed there be these people, are enemies? It is Mr. Scully's earnest desire that some body in authority shall take hold of this thing, which, in suppression, is taking on monstrous proportions. Out of the debris of conjecture and hearsay, should be ferreted the grain or grains of truth. If there be truth, it will withstand the bombardment of skepticism and ridicule, for Truth, crushed to earth WILL rise again. The Space People are friendly,the Giant Rock men are friendly and earnest. There should surely b be a friendly and earnest hearing, and what facts are found, placed before 'us..the people.'
Now Alice and I go over to join Frank who has descended from the platform. We are stopped in our tracks by Mr. Van Tassel saying..'Frank! here's a dark horse! Every convention has to have a Dark Horse:'another man who has contacted a Flying Saucer A new man has joined the group; he might be a technician of some kind..and is. A radio technician from White Sands Proving Grounds. He is Dan Fry..he is not a speaker he says, he was a member of the Cup and Saucer Club, a few ham radio operators who get together over coffee and discussed the flying saucers....
The incident occurred on July 4th 1950. Now it can be told... He takes out a composition book, which is filled with his pencilled story. "Diary" he reads! Tonight I joined the realm of the F.S.B's. The Flying Saucer Believers. It was nine oclock in the evening, all the others had taken the bus to town......".
The rapt attention with which he was regarded was as fresh and complete as when the first speaker started hours ago. I knew that another Saucer book was being born and that I would be the first to try to buy it.
Mrs. Van Tassel thanks Mr. Scully graciously. As one housewife to another I suggest that she ask for a few volunteers to pick up the litter of cans and cartons. We make our departure and are back on the dusty road, going toward home, which is "Elsewhere" as our badge has it.
Up in the sky ahead of us is a most unusual cloud formation. "Like a bird in flight without wings" says Alice, "I've like a smashed frankfurter" says Frank, who is in the back seat, tired to the bone, but alert when any of our conversation interests him. "Oh look" from me," There is a wonderful rainbow in the bottom of the cloud. I have never seen anything like it, It must be for Frank, the Space child! " And Alice replied, with her carressing way with the [?] sound, "It is for all the World". It was for all the worlld like a sweet and lovely blessing.
The next morning at the breakfast table I had to report that all night I seemed to be dreaming of CUPS. Just rows of thin blue cups. No saucers. Of course the Scullys said no psychiatrist would have any trouble working that out.
But lets end the story with the beautiful rainbow in the cloud and say with Alice "It's a rainbow for ALL the World".
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