This is a little know UFO case that that occurred more than 125 years ago. It happened just outside the town of Maracaibo, Venezuela. Maracaibo is the second largest city in Venezuela with well over one million inhabitants, therefore this did not happen way out in the country.
This UFO appeared in the sky, it made a humming noise, it illuminated the entire area and house for a period of time. It was not accompanied by heat but it did cause burning. By all accounts the nine family members were exposed to some type of radiation poisoning.
The following account was published in Scientific America Dec. 18, 1886. The account was written and sent by Warner Cowgill from the American Consulate.
More than 125 years ago, on December 18, 1886, a remarkable letter appeared on page 389 of the latest issue of Scientific American. Dated November 17th and posted from the U.S. Consulate in Maracaibo, Venezuela, the letter from Warner Cowgill related an incredible incident occurring on the night of the previous October.
If the newspaper clip is difficult to read I am recapping the first two paragraphs below.
During the night of 24th of October last [1886], which was rainy and tempestuous. a family of nine persons, sleeping in a hut a few leagues (a league is anywhere from 2.5-5 miles) from Maracaibo [Venezuela], were awakened by a loud humming noise and a vivid dazzling light, which brilliantly illuminated the interior of the house.
The occupants, completely terror stricken, and believing, as they relate, that the end of the world had come, threw themselves on their knees and commenced to pray, but their devotions were almost immediately interrupted by violent vomiting and extensive swellings commenced to appear in the upper part of their bodies, this being particularly noticeable about the face and lips.
— Walter Cowgill
The only other know case (that I am aware of) that even comes close to this type of incident is the Cash, Landrum Case. Certain aspect of this case are very similar, in this case two women and a young boy encountered a bright object in the sky when they were driving. One of them immediately thought it was the second coming of Christ or the end of the world and began to pray. All three experienced vomiting, skin burns and one had significant hair loss. The object that appeared in the sky was diamond shaped.
You can read about the Cash Landrum Case with photos and video by clicking here.
Of course you cannot rule out some type of natural phenomena such as ball lightening or some electrical freak incident but that seems highly unlikely after all this time.
My best guess would be that this was some type of craft that was experiencing mechanical problems, it got to close to the ground and exposed the people to radiation.
While I am sure this was a tragic event for the family involved it does make you smile regarding the innocence of the person reporting this story from the Consulate. The likelihood of this event being reported and published by a government official in the last 70 years would be next to nil.
