Solving the Mystery of the First UFO Photograph

I first saw the image of what has come to be known as the first known UFO photograph many years ago, when someone in a chat room posted a link to it, or otherwise produced it. How odd and anachronistic the object looked in the very vintage photograph, among the scenic background of the snowy mountains. And more strangely, inspecting it closely, I noticed what looked like a swastika emblazoned on its side!

Checking the date, 1870, I felt a relief. Had the photo been taken over a half century later, there could be a sinister association with the mystery. But, as most know, the swastika, prior to its appropriation by the Nazis, was an ancient pan-cultural cross symbol, often associated with sun lore. I still felt an uneasiness though; the obviously mechanical craft displaying a recognizable symbol against the pristine American Victorian backdrop clearly seemed to show one of the notorious 'mystery airships' of the time.

Recently, I came across the photograph again, and decided to inspect it further. To my surprise, it seemed quite different; perhaps time has allowed graphics so much more resolution, or maybe I am just more discriminating and less wowed. But even at first glance, the photograph did not even seem to depict a UFO in the air-rather, an object encased in snow on the mountainside. I was disappointed, but felt I was absolutely correct in my assessment.

Looking very closely, the mountain and clouds are fairly easy to discern, and the white area directly below and to the sides of the object is definitely snowy mountain opposed to fluffy cloud. Small shadows that can be seen immediately to the left side of the object, as well as within the snow itself, support this idea. There's also some kind of vertical, indented 'track' in the snow to the left of the object.

Reading accompanying narratives about the photograph also provides some clues that support my hypothesis. The UFO photograph is actually a stereoscopic image-one of two photographs aligned on a card to form a 3-D effect, akin to the modern Viewmaster. According to information at the UFO Evidence website (via UFO artwork), the photo's description reads, "SUMMIT Mt. Washington WINTER 1870-1871 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1871, by CLOGH & KIMBALL, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington."

That the image actually has a title with no reference to the object may be important. Surely, if the object was a mystery at the time of taking or processing the photographs, a tag of 'mystery airship' or similar title would have accompanied it, since the great flap of 1897 had been merely three years prior, and was very widely known and documented. The lack of any descriptive title says a lot.

Further, stereoscopic images were made and sold in sets. There were many that were a kind of travelogue, documenting particular areas and events of interest, natural disasters, and anything considered important or newsworthy. For example, I have a set of stereoscopic images from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Together, the images tell a story, and were meant to be viewed in context with one another. Some of the photos are rather mundane, random and peripheral, while others are profound, poignant, and astounding.

Certainly, there are other images from this Mt.Washington set. Although I cannot confirm their same-set status, I have found other same-era stereoscopic images of Mt. Washington for sale on eBay. My guess is that when viewed as intended in context with the rest of the set, the mystery object is either clearly recognizable, or its identity is logically deduced.

But what in the world could this object embedded in the snow be? I thought it looked somewhat like a train, tipped on its side, with its underbelly exposed. But a train on the side of a mountain? I figured if I could prove that Mt. Washington sported a train track around the same time this photo was taken, I would be onto something. Within two seconds of doing a yahoo search, I felt I had struck gold.

The world's first mountain-climbing cog railway was built on Mt. Washington, in New Hampshire, in 1869, just one year before the photograph was taken. The train goes clear to the summit, so it is possible the object, even being as high as it would seem in the photograph, could be the train, or train cars.

One problem with the photograph is a lack of any kind of landmark to estimate an appropriate size for the object. But, viewing the photo with the idea that the object is the size of a couple train cars does not seem to pose any problems with perspectives, or imagining the distance of the camera to the summit area, or clouds around the mountain.

In searching for any other articles, references, or hints that the object is on the mountain, and not in the air, I came across only one item. In Saucer Smear, UFO historian Barry Greenwood writes in to tell of his firsthand account of viewing the stereo card in person. He confirms the notion that when viewed with a stereoscope as intended, the object is clearly on the mountain and not in the sky.

Greenwood states the photo "...showed a nearby mound of wind-drifted snow with a stick or some such dark object sticking out of the mound." Although I have not viewed the photo in person as Greenwood has, I wonder why a competent, professional photographer would choose to include a 'stick' in an otherwise pristine, scenic photograph.

The way in which the object is included and framed seems purposeful; it is the focal point of the photo. I suggest the photographer intended to document the object, and along with other photos, it was clear it was an object worthy of documentation-something associated with the spectacular and unprecedented mountain-climbing cog rail.

However, because the object is not absolutely clearly identifiable as a train, or rail cars, it poses some problems in identifying or dismissing it as such without some further investigation. As I stated before, it looks as the object may be tipped over on its side. It seems the first accidents on the railroad did not occur until the 20^th century, so that is probably not the explanation.

I know absolutely zero about railroads; I have attempted to investigate this further by posting in cog railroad bulletin boards, and asking for help in identification via yahoo answers, and other forums. Although almost everyone who responded said it could very possibly be a train or parts of a train, no one was willing or able to expound further, or do any kind of speculative forensics.

So, I am left to my naïve whims and fancies. Could this be a couple of stranded or compromised cars awaiting repair or towing down the mountain? Could it be a structure related to the rail and not a train part itself? Perhaps that 'swastika' is some type of mechanical device or part that will be a key in positive identification. Does that vertical track in the snow (I am not implying it is a train track) to the left of the object indicate some presence that could have been made in a rescue effort? There are also some other areas leading to/from the object at the base that look like they could be purposefully plowed.

I feel I have gone as far as I am able to go in an investigation of this photograph with my resources and ideas, and I welcome any further ruminations or information. I would also challenge the owner of the photo, Samuel M. Sherman, who purchased it on Ebay in 2002 for $385, to make the entire stereoscopic card image available so it can be evaluated.

Indeed, according to UFO Evidence (again via UFO artwork), "Sherman also stated that this photograph will not be locked up in some collection, but will be submitted to scientists for detailed analysis and the results made available to the public, which he says wants answers to the UFO mystery."

Sources:

Mount Washington Cog Railway, http://www.thecog.com/index.php
UFO Evidence, UFO Photograph, http://www.ufoevidence.org/photographs/section/pre1940/Photo134.htm
Saucer Smear, Issue 54, No. 6, July 5, 2007, Lettres to Ye Olde Editor, Page 9