The San Francisco call., 1896-11-25
YE EDITORS BID
VALLEJO GOOD-BY
All Enjoy a Visit to the
Mare Island Navy.
Yard.
That Airship Comes Up as a
Subject Requiring Much
Discussion.
The Scribes Loudly Praise the City
Wherein They Have Been
Entertained.

VALLEJO, CAL, Nov. 24-The men,
bers of the California Press Association
were up with the lark this morning and
ready for their trip to the navy-yard at
Mare Island. That is, they would have
been If Vallejo We're given to larks, but in
their absence Editor Barcar of the Vaca-
vile Reporter suggested that it was about
the time the airship was going to bed.
The airship was a prolific source of ar
gument among the knights of the shears
prior to the pleasure excursion, and the
opinions in its existence and attributes
were many and varied.
Willis of the Sacramento Record-Un ion
asserted in tones of the most positive con-
viction that he saw it Sunday night hover
ing over Sacramento and then going to the
southwark with a peculiar. wavy flight
He described it as bright light with an
opaque body dimiy discernible over it,
ana says it was about 1000 feet from the
earth.
]. A. Filcher, president of the State
Board of Trade and proprietor of the
Placer Herald, thought it a serious propo-
sition when the Chronicle had taken up
what it at first designated as "a CALL
fake" He thought that fact proof enough
that there was something sailing in tie
air, whether it was an aerial machine or
not.
J. E. Walden of the Napa Journal
thought it mighty fishy story, butdidn't
like to disbelieve. the many persons of
known veracity claiming to have optical
evidence OF It's existence. If it had APP
peared in any other paper than THE CALL
he should have paid no attention 10 it.
Brother PennycooS of the Vallejo Chron-
icle is still a confirmed skeptic, and re-
marked in jocular manner that there
must be a considerable quantity of bad
liquor imported into the State in the last
week or two.
w. Nj. Denio, Vallejo blacksmith pres
ent, said Ves Wilson, the Sheriff of Butte
County, while staying with him day or
two ago declared that he knew for certain
such machine was being built near Oro-
vile. Some Of the editors were so eager
ior news that they wanted 10 hunt the
Sheriff up and pump" him for more, but
he "had went"
+. w. Johnson, business manager of
the Marysville Appeal. said he saw the
airship very plainly over that city a few
days ago, but did not care to say anything
about II for fear of being laughed ct.
Then everybody laughed.
All the editors in the party, several of
them being accompanied by their wives,
crossed over to Mare Island in the ferry
boat Ellen at 10:30 O'Clock. Editor PEN
nycook and 81. ID. Richardson had been
appointed committee to take the party
around to the various places of interest,
and attended to their part of the pro-
gramme we'll.
When the island was reached Chaplain
McAilister was in waiting TO assist the
committee. He informed them that Ad-
mlrai Kirkland had just sent oroers to the
| captains of all the vessels to spare no
pains in showing and explaining all the
interesting points about the great war
vessels.
On the Monterey Chief Gunner Batson
and W. Molten. the paymaster's clerk,
took every body around and explained the
working of the machinery. This was re-
peated on the Monadnock. The Monterey
was in holiday attire, being gayly deco
rated with flowers and bunting, it being
the occasion of an informal reception to
the wife OF Captain Clark. The steel