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URECAT - UFO Related Entities Catalog

URECAT is a formal catalog of UFO related entities sightings reports with the goal of providing quality information for accurate studies of the topic. Additional information, corrections and reviews are welcome at patrick.gross@inbox.com, please state if you wish to be credited for your contribution or not. The main page of the URECAT catalog is here.

May 4, 1812, Manosque, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France, people:

Brief summary of the event and follow-up:

Dr. Louis-Joseph-Marie Robert, a doctor and naturalist from Provence, had published in July 1812 a descriptive historical record of earthquake phenomena in the Manosque region in 1812, describing the earthquakes, the damages, but also luminous phenomena, one of which attracted ufological interest.

After pointing out that some people had asserted that they had seen electric flames emerge from the earth during the first earthquakes on 20 March 1812 and several times in the neighboring communes of Beaumont thereafter, he reported a phenomenon that occurred on May 4, 1812:

On the main road from Manosque to Villeneuve, seven travelers who were in the coach of Digne, have been so frightened that they had preferred to stop at the low grade inn of Quatre-Tours, rather than go to sleep at Manosque.

Indeed, approaching the car, there was a luminous balloon that fluttered along the road, which split into four fires, and then "the sight of the travelers became so disturbed, that they thought they saw dancing around them, four men locked up, each in a lantern."

While the event is perfectly dated in this publication, French ufologists who quote it rather faithfully otherwide, gave various dates: Pierre Delval gives a general date of March 20, 1812, Figuet and Ruchon change a 1 into a 7 to give the date May 4, 1872, with Henri Julien, Figuet returns to May 1812, Albert Rosales takes the date by Delval of March 20, 1812, and Julian Gonzalez gives thevague March or April 1812 date.

Basic information table:

Case number: URECAT-001600
Date of event: May 4, 1812
Earliest report of event: July 1812
Delay of report: Hours, 2 months.
Witness reported via: Not known.
First alleged record by: Chronicle on earthquake related phenomenon.
First certain record by: Chronicle on earthquake related phenomenon.
First alleged record type: Chronicle on earthquake related phenomenon.
First certain record type: Chronicle on earthquake related phenomenon.
This file created on: September 30, 2017
This file last updated on: September 30, 2017
Country of event: France
State/Department: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Type of location: In a coach on a road.
Lighting conditions: Not reported.
UFO observed: Yes
UFO arrival observed: Not reported.
UFO departure observed: Not reported.
UFO/Entity Relation: Certain
Witnesses numbers: 7
Witnesses ages: Adults.
Witnesses types: Not reported.
Photograph(s): No.
Witnesses drawing: No.
Witnesses-approved drawing: No.
Number of entities: 1
Type of entities: Humanoid or human
Entities height: Not reported.
Entities outfit type: Not reported or not visible.
Entities outfit color: Not reported or not visible.
Entities skin color: Not reported or not visible.
Entities body: Not reported.
Entities head: Not reported.
Entities eyes: Not reported or not visible.
Entities mouth: Not reported or not visible.
Entities nose: Not reported or not visible.
Entities feet: Not reported or not visible.
Entities arms: Not reported or not visible.
Entities fingers: Not reported or not visible.
Entities fingers number: Not reported or not visible.
Entities hair: Not reported or not visible.
Entities voice: None reported.
Entities actions: Are each in a "lantern-like" objects resulting fro UFO split in 4.
Entities/witness interactions: None.
Witness(es) reactions: Observed, went.
Witness(es) feelings: Frightened.
Witness(es) interpretation: Not reported.
Explanation category: Possible extraterrestrial visitors.
Explanation certainty: Low.

Narratives:

[Ref. ro1:] DR. J. M. ROBERT:

(10)

March at four o'clock in the morning, that Rome was shaken, in consequence of the same trembling.

Here are the main terrestrial and atmospheric phenomena that have been observed.

Some persons assert that they have seen from the earth, electric flames, appearing at the first commotions (1). This phenomenon occurred again several times in the communes near Beaumont, since last March 20 [1812]; but the one which was seen on the 4th of May, on the great way from Manosque to Villeneuve, was so frightful, that seven travelers, who were in Digne's carriage, preferred to stop at the bad inn of Quatre-Tours, rather than going to sleep in Manosque: as the car approached, this luminous balloon which fluttered along the way divided into four fires, and then the sight of the travelers became so disturbed that they thought they saw dancing around them, four men locked up, each in a lantern.

At Sainte-Tulle and at Manosque, a great light, resembling an aurora borealis, was perceived like suspended in the air for a few minutes.

[... Other phenomena ...]

[Ref. pd1:] PIERRE DELVAL:

-"On February 12 and 13, 1873: earthquakes and luminous bodies".

In the annals of a fascicle deposited at the Bibliothèque de Marseille, in a description of the earthquake of 20 March 1812 in the south of France at Beaumont, one J. M. Robert mentions luminous phenomena that anifested themselves several times in the neighboring communes of this locality. The text refers to "... phenomena which have manifested themselves particularly between Manosque and Villeneuve d'Apert", "phenomena so frightening that seven travelers who were in the car of Digne, preferred to stop at the bad inn of the Quatre Tours rather than to go to sleep in Manosque. At the approach of the carriage, the luminous balloon which fluttered along the road split in four fires, and then the sight of the travelers was so disturbed that they thought they saw dancing around them were four men, each in a lantern. At Ste Tulle and Manosque, a great brightness resembling Northern Lights was seen suspended in the air for a few minutes..."

[Ref. fr1:] MICHEL FIGUET AND JEAN-LOUIS RUCHON:

The authors indicate that on May 4, 1872, on the road from Manosque to Villeneuve (Hautes-Alpes and currently Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), "The phenomenon seen was so frightening that seven travelers who were in Digne's car stopped at the bad inn "Les quatre tours" rather than going to bed in Manosque. On the approach of the car, a "luminous balloon" which fluttered on the way divided into four fires, and then the sight of the travelers was so disturbed, that they believed they saw dancing around them four men each locked up in a lantern..."

[Ref. hj1:] HENRI JULIEN AND MICHEL FIGUET:

The authors indicate that during new earthquakes in the region in May 1812, the panic of the populations was general, and seven terrorized travelers en route to Digne in a public patache were so frightened that they decided to stop at the inn of the Four Towers, very piteous, rather than at Manosque.

They swore to have seen a luminous globe split into four lights and turn around their car.

Inside there were four visible men, each enclosed in a "lantern".

The authors wondered how this could be the first known visit in Provence of extraterrestrial entities.

[Ref. ar1:] ALBERT ROSALES:

1.

Between Manosque and Villenueve [sic] d'Apert, France

On March 20 1812 at night, Several persons traveling by couch during the night of the earthquake saw what appeared to be a luminous balloon, which flew over them and seem to divide itself into 4 fiery pieces. At this point the stunned travelers saw around them four men carrying lanterns, locked hand to hand and dancing around the couch.

Albert Rosales indicates that the source is Pierre Delval Contacts of the 4th type

[Ref. va1:] JACQUES VALLEE AND CHRIS AUBECK:

The authors say that on 20 March 1812, near Manosque, France, four entities inside lights were seen.

On the road from Villeneuve to Manosque, seven travelers in the coach to Digne were scared when they observed a luminous ball that hovered over the path close to the coach. The object split into four lights. Four human figures were seen, enclosed inside the objects, which looked like lanterns. Terrified, the travelers chose to stop at the inn of Quatre Tours rather than going all the way to Manosque.

The source is indicated as: Louis-Joseph-Marie Robert, "Notice historique sur le tremblement de terre du village de Beaumont, departement de Vaucluse, et examen des causes qui ont pu determiner dans un pays non volcanique, 128 secousses successives dans 75 jours...", (Aix: Augustin Pontier, 1812), 10.

[Ref. jg1:] JULIEN GONZALEZ:

This author indicates that near Manosque, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France, in March or April 1812, at an unknown hour, there was an encounter of the third type by several anonymous persons.

Henri Julien found in the history of the earthquake of the village of Beaumont (Apt), department of Vaucluse, by Dr. Robert, physician of the king to the lazaretto of Marseilles, this narrative:

"... The earthquakes were felt from 20 March 1812 at midnight, until 28 March and from 6 April to 15 May 1812 (...) A few people assured that they saw electric flames coming out of the earth, this phenomenon has been repeated several times in the neighboring communes of Beaumont since March 20, but the one that was seen on the highway from Manosque to Villeneuve was so frightening that seven travelers who were in the car of Digne preferred to stop at the bad inn of the Quatre Tours, rather than go to sleep in Manosque. On approaching the car, a luminous balloon fluttered along the way and divided into four fires, the sight of the travelers was so much troubled, that they thought they saw dancing around them four men, each enclosed in a lantern. At Sainte-Tulle and Manosque, a great light, resembling an aurora borealis, was seen, suspended in the air for a few minutes... All the domestic animals uttered cries and screams (...) Finally, I finish this historical precision by pointing out that the earthquake of Beaumont coincides with the appearance of this body planetary that has shone so long on our horizon... "

Julien Gonzalez indicates that his sources are "Lumières Dans La Nuit" #313, pages 20-21; Michel Figuet and Jean Louis Ruchon in "OVNI: Le premier dossier complet des rencontres rapprochées en France", page 39; Henri Julien and Michel Figuet "OVNI en Provence", pages 55-56.

Points to consider:

I am truly amazed at this report. Of course, Dr. Robert blames the sighting to a "disturbed" eyesight of the witnesses; but, at least apparently, it makes no sense as eyesight issues would not have resulted in seven different people reporting the same complex thing of four figures locked each in a lantern.

Of course, come have theorized that earthquakes are sometimes of often preceded or accompanied by luminous phenomena; this is true to me, it was shown in many articles outside the ufology litterature. Then some "skeptics" argued that these electrical phenomena cause electromagnetic effects in people brain so that they "see things" such as UFOs and/or UFO occupants. But again, there is no reason that the people would have suffered the same imaginary vision. Specially in 1812, atime when any notion of "UFO sightings" or beings floating in the air after a "luminous ball" split was nothing publicized like it became many decades later.

The report does not have any solid "scientific" value, of course. But I find it quite interesting.

List of issues:

Id: Topic: Severity: Date noted: Raised by: Noted by: Description: Proposal: Status:
None

Evaluation:

Possible extraterrestrial visitors.

Sources references:

* = Source I checked.
? = Source I am told about but could not check yet. Help appreciated.

Document history:

Authoring

Main Author: Patrick Gross
Contributors: None
Reviewers: None
Editor: Patrick Gross

Changes history

Version: Created/Changed By: Date: Change Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross September 30, 2017 Creation, [ro1], [pd1], [fr1], [hj1], [ar1], [va1], [jg1].
1.0 Patrick Gross September 30, 2017 First published.

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This page was last updated on September 30, 2017.