State

This photo, mode with Super- Ponehro Prc»» «ut film ot f:4.7, long time c«po»urc, »how» the Brown Mountain light» through the comcro'» eye. Note thot many of the light» arc far above the Brown Mountain iummit; thc»c do not »ccm to move ond arc not included in the myitcry. But tho»e »ccn ju»t over the »ummit of the mountain, at upper left in the photo, ore authentic "Brown Mountain Light»." The camera thow» them for what they rcolly ore; it doe» not »how the apparent motion and color change »ccn by the eye of о viewer. Again, the Brown Mountain Lights People never lire of I he stories, but there's really no mystery at all. I ft lime for ;i new flock of lull stories about the Brown Mountain lights. But there is not likely to be one that can top that of Ralph Lacl, partially paralyzed former rock shop operator and writer of a Brown Moun¬ tain book. The scope of his book, “The Brown Mountain Lights,” is equalled only by the wide distribution of the little 30- page thing. Lael says he has had orders from every country in the civilized world except China and the Soviet Union, and has had correspondence from most. Lael and his present household, as¬ sistant Miss Juanita Calloway and her mother, Mrs. Nellie Hughes, ran the Outer Space Rock Shop on Highway 181. North of Morganton, until he suf¬ fered his stroke in March of last year. Half of his body was paralyzed; he now rests in a wheelchair. But until then he was robust, equal to the Brown Mountain hikes that he tells of in his book. Lad’s Story According to Lacl he saw the lights at close range, found them to be beings from another planet intent on warning «!/ BOB BBOWX the world of possible holocaust. Their flying saucer headquarters is inside a rock cavern in Brown Mountain, ac¬ cording to his book. They made friends with him and took him on a visit to Venus. As is the case with others who claim to have seen the lights at close range, Lael has only his word for the story — no other proof. But for a collector of lore, the little book is worth its cost, $1.25, from the author. 1522 14th Avenue N.F... Hickory, N. C. 28601. Readers React Since Lacl published his book, there has been no end to the mail he has received from readers; some of it is as sensational as the book. Here, for ex¬ ample. are a couple of the letters: Friend Lael: Light commands Seth Upa contact you. Voyage to abode of light. Friend Lad must travel as one of selected siben. Depart crystal cube during next big moon. Make ready. Light will guide. — Seth Upa S S F. Kingu Mato Grosso, Brazil Dear Mr. Lael: I read the ex¬ citing article about you in “Be¬ yond Magazine.” I wonder if the story is true or not. ... I wish I could explain to your creatures about some of the things I have discovered about our government. For one thing, the men the world’s people believe are their leaders really aren’t. Other unseen and unknown evil men con¬ trol and elect the world's leaders. I wish I could explain all about this to these creatures. If these creatures are thinking about de¬ stroying the world I want to beg them to first destroy these evil hidden world leaders because they are the ones who are causing most of the world's big problems. — Mrs. Mary Thornton 207 Wildwood Circle Hot Springs, Arkansas Lael says he cannot understand much of the cryptic stuff sent to him in letters. He docs not attempt to answer all of them, he says. Anyone can sec the famous lights if the weather is right. Anyone can photo- a THE STATE, MAY 1. 1971