VISIT BY SPACEMEN TO OUTBACK

By John Dux

At about 11 p.m. on June 22, 1977, gold prospector Albert Smith noticed three lights in the sky. Silently and slowly they moved down toward him and then nestled in a clump of trees near his camp.

He saw figures emerge amid dazzling lights.

This began the most incredible two days in the life of 47-year old Albert.... the two days in which he claims he was visited by people from another world at his lonely camp on the Bulloo River in far southwest Queensland.

Smith is not Albert's real name. But that's what we said we would call him when he agreed reluctantly to an interview.

He claims he spoke to the visitors, watched them play games with what appeared to be lightning balls, saw them disappear and then reappear and stood spellbound as the intergalactic travelers created instantaneous rain.

Albert recalled his meeting with the 35 men and women from a place they called BEGUA.

He said: "It was in near freezing weather yet the women were wearing summer-type clothing."
"The men were dressed in what looked like gray businessmen suits. They all appeared very human but their skin was a blue-gray color.

"Their craft were about 50 meters high, each with five supporting legs.

"The leader said his name was Behnar. When I touched him it felt like I was touching very soft rubber.

"When I asked them questions they seemed to know what I was going to say before I said it.

"And I think they only permitted me to ask what they wanted me to.

"I'm sure they had control of my mind for those two days. I think their powers were almost limitless."

Albert said the aliens could speak English but only in whispered tones. "They appeared to be able to communicate with their hands as well.

"Only a few of them stayed near the camp. The rest went down to the river.

"One woman told me she was 490 years old. She looked it too; like a mummy from some sort of Egyptian tomb."

"At one stage they all started to play a game with hundreds of these balls which seemed to throw out lightning.

"These people could leap 60 meters in one jump.

"When they left the only thing that remained was a very heavy smell of kerosene. There were no marks or objects left to prove their existence.

"Just before they finally disappeared the leader told me he was going to make rain. A short time later it suddenly started to pour.

"It was eight days before the rain stopped.

"I wanted to see their craft taking off but again I think they controlled me.

"I was lying in bed and could not get up. It seemed like I had 200 kilograms of lead in my legs."

The June visit was the fourth experience Albert has had with visitors from outer space since he began prospecting in the area five years ago.

In the winter of 1973 he saw a fleet of 16 spacecraft hover over the area and then move away.

In May the following year he approached a cigar-shaped craft hovering above the ground.

He saw men in the cockpit and a woman at one of the windows. It sped away in what appeared to be a flash of light.

And in June 1976 another brilliantly illuminated craft appeared.

Albert said "I have not yet approached the authorities about this.

"A lot of other things happened which I don't want to talk about at this stage.

"No one will believe me until I get proof and that's what I intend to get as soon as I possibly can.

"I will be going back to the area in late February but this time I will have a camera. I have begun to document all these experiences.

"I am very scared and frightened about going back but they did not harm me the first time. I hope they won't if they visit me again.