Lake Ariel, 1948-1949: casa pega fogo após “objeto” cair no telhado, e as cinzas vão parar no laboratório

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. Form No. 1. This case originated at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. File No. 62-2542 VFH. Report made at: Philadelphia, Pa. Date when made: 6-15-49. Period for which made: 5-20-49. Report made by: James L. Kirkland. Title: UNKNOWN SUBJECT; FIRE, SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, UNKNOWN DATE; GEORGE KINGTON, COMPLAINANT. Character of case: MISCELLANEOUS - INFORMATION CONCERNING. SYNOPSIS OF FACTS: FREDERIC MARQUARDT submitted ash residue to Fire Marshal's Office, Philadelphia, Pa., which made chemical analysis. MARQUARDT of opinion that fire may have been caused by military flare or "flying saucer". - C - DETAILS: This investigation is predicated upon a letter received from the office of the Fire Marshal, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated May 19, 1949, advising that ashes had been received from one F. MARQUARDT, purportedly from a fire which had continued to burn for twelve hours. A chemical analysis of the ashes had been requested. The Fire Marshal's Office noted that MARQUARDT had at one time worked for the Atomic Energy Commission. Captain MICHAEL HANNAN, Fire Marshal's Office, advised that there had been received through the mail on April 21, 1949, an ash sample with a request for analysis. In the letter of transmittal, MARQUARDT had pointed out that the fire had continued to burn twelve hours after water had first been applied. The original letter of transmittal was examined and reflected that an object had entered the roof of the building, caused an explosion, and threw people out of bed. Captain HANNAN said he attempted to locate MARQUARDT at his residence, [address omitted], but had been unsuccessful. He added that at the time the building manager had commented that MARQUARDT had been employed by the Atomic Energy Commission. MARQUARDT was then requested by letter to appear at the Fire Marshal's Office. Approved and forwarded: L. V. Boardman, Special Agent in Charge. Copies: 2 - Bureau; 2 - Philadelphia.

PH 62-2542. Acting Chief GEORGE KINGTON advised that he had interviewed MARQUARDT at the time he came to the office since Captain HANNAN was absent at the time. He said that he then learned for the first time that the fire in question had taken place near Scranton, Pennsylvania, and had occurred about six months previously. This caused the Marshal's Office to withdraw from the case on a question of jurisdiction and MARQUARDT was advised that any further action on his part should be referred to the State Police authorities. At the same time, KINGTON furnished MARQUARDT with the results of the analysis which had been made of the ash submitted, and which analysis had been made by Dr. EDWARD BURKE, City Chemist, Chemical Laboratory, Room 875, City Hall. This report reflected that the ash contained Magnesium, Aluminum, Iron, and Calcium in the form of silicates, sulphur and carbonates. FREDERIC MARQUARDT was interviewed at his place of business, the H. A. KULJIAN COMPANY, Broad Street and Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At this time he advised that he had received the sample of ash from a friend, WOODY SHAEFFER, Lake Ariel, R. D., Wayne County, Pennsylvania, through the mail. He said that Lake Ariel is about one mile south of South Canaan, near Scranton, Pennsylvania. He stated that SHAEFFER's house had burned about six months ago, that the fire had occurred at night during a storm and that a large object had struck the roof and ignited the house which had burned to the ground in less than an hour. He said that he had not been present during the fire but that these details had been furnished by letter from SHAEFFER at the time a sample of the ash was forwarded for analysis. He said that he was of the personal opinion that the ash might be a part of a military flare or a "flying saucer". He pointed out that he has been advised by associates in the engineering field that one of the characteristics of some types of flares is the fact that they burn for a considerable period. He stated that the mass of the ash residue had remained ignited for a period of twelve hours. He also stated that he did not think there had been an explosion but that a loud noise had probably been caused by the vacuum created as the missile or object struck the roof. He added that there remains a quantity of the ash, amounting to one bushel, at SHAEFFER's premises at Lake Ariel. - 2 -

PH 62-2542. MARQUARDT advised that he had been employed by the Atomic Energy Commission at Oak Ridge until 1943. He was entirely rational. He discounted the theory that a portion of a meteor had struck the house on the basis of the chemical analysis made by the City Chemical Laboratory. MARQUARDT advised that at the suggestion of the City authorities, he had written to SHAEFFER and suggested that any further inquiries be directed to the State Police. The file of the Philadelphia Office reflect that the records of Immigration and Naturalization Service were negative to an inquiry concerning FREDERIC S. MARQUARDT, OEM (Bureau File 77-30297). The files of this office likewise reflect that MARQUARDT by letter received August 14, 1947, requested of this office the identity of a powder or dust used to catch thieves. Inasmuch as there is no violation indicated within the Bureau's jurisdiction, there is no further investigation being conducted in this matter. However, the ash residue obtained from the Fire Marshal's Office is being forwarded to the Bureau Laboratory for any interest or study the Laboratory may desire to conduct relative to flares or in connection with the possibility of the presence of "flying saucers". - CLOSED - - 3 -