Mecklenburg & Hamburg, Germany — 4 November 1697
Two wheels in the sky
Two enormous, glowing wheels are shown in a picture with crowds watching the sky. This was primarily seen between 6 and 7 P.M.: “A great fiery ball in the shape of a cannon ball was seen floating.. .which phenomenon or air sign also above the horizon of Hamburg at the same time but below was seen floating a cross shape…” After a quarter of an hour the ball emitted a bang. It then “disappeared from the sight of many thousands of spectators.” After the same delay the cross-shape, described as having “a sulfur-gleaming, bright shining terrible lightning” also departed. Fig. 28: Mecklenburg phenomenon
Source: Case: W262