The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-03
NEAR PACIFIC GROVE.

Two Fishermen Say They Saw the:
Airship on the Ocean Beach. :.
PACIFIC GROVE, CAL, Dec. 2.-That
the problem of navigating the air has at
last been successfully solved there no
longer remains doubt.
At an early hour this morning, some
fifteen miles from this city, two Itafian
fishermen, Giuseppe Valinziano and Luigi
Valdivia. while engaged IN their vocation,
were completely terrorized by seeing an
object descending from the heavens.
which to their terror-stricken imagina-
tions seemed TO be falling directly upon
their boat. When the object had fallen
within some few hundred yards of the
water it foated easily and at a moderate
speed until it landed on the sandy beach.
The airsnip, for such it proved to: be.
seemed to be under the perfect control of
its occupants, three in number.
Immediately on landing they alighted
and picking up their ship, carried it back
from the beach and into the woods. AS
soon as the two fishermen had recovered
from their astonishment they drew in
their nets and attempted to make land
ing, and after several unsuccessful at
tempts to get through the surf, which was
very rough, landing was made.
During this time the persons who had
SO strangely appeared upon the scene
were watching the actions of the fisher
men, and upon the first signs of a success
full landing one of the party advanced to
meet them and warned them away from
the spot where the ship was concealed.
But Valinziano, who is man of consider
able intelligence, was not to be got rid of
so easily, and engaged the aeronaut in
conversation with the intention of learn
ing as much as possible concerning the
strange visitor. At first the man who had
met them at the waters edge refused to
answer any questions or allow the two
fishermen to proceed further toward the
spot where the ship was located. threaten
ing 10 use force if necessary to prevent
their doing So but finally seeing that
Valinziano and his companion were de-
termined not to leave without obtaining
at least a glimpse of the aerial traveller
milder counsels prevailed.
Telling them to remain where they were
until he could consult with his COM
panions The aeronaut left them and disap-
peared in the woods, remaining away
some fifteen minutes, and on his reap
pearance beckoned Valinziano and his
companion to advance.
Upon their arrival at the edge of the
woods they we're met by the entire party.
One who appeared to be the leader cour-
teously babe them GOOD morning" and
said: II suppose your curiosity has been
aroused by our rather unusual mode of
travelling. am not yet ready to make
my discovery known to the public, but
hope to be able to do so as soon as some
slight changes are made in its construc-
ton. Until such time / must refuse to
allow any one TO make close inspection.
You are welcome to get such view of the
ship as you can from distance, but any
attempt at closer inspection will meet
with forcible resistance"
The man who had done nearly all the
talking for the party was addressed by his
companions simply as captain" He
declined to give any information as to
where the ship was constructed or where
he intended going, saying it was simply
an experimen tai trip.
While this conversation was being car
Continued on Ninth Pues