The San Francisco call., 1896-11-24

thing about the airship," said Henry w.
! Bradley of the law firm of Stanley. Hayes
& Bradley, of this City, yesterday, to a
representative of THE CALL.
"Do you know anything about it?''
Mr.. Bradley hesitated moment, then
said: The man you want to see is
George A. Collins, the attorney. All /
can say is that if Collins said what is
accredited TO him in published interview
this morning, Collins knows what he is
talking about, and will say, further, that
Collins would scarcely take part in a fake
than 10 gain by so doing. '3
Now, there is that first publication in
THE CALL about the aIrship. That IN
doubtedly was sent by telegraph from Sac
ramento after o'clock in the morning for
it states it was after midnight that the
object was seen over that city. Then there
is McGovern at the California Hotel, who
told me Saturday night that he saw it
between and 4 o'clock in the morning.
l know that it landed at O'Clock
"Where?''
''You have made me say more than
intended to" replied Mr.. Bradley, with a
look upon his countenance which seemed
to say that he wished he had remained
silent; then as faint smile Ii lighted up his
features: II cannot tell you where it
landed; that is, do not feel at liberty 10
state where. The man you want to see is
Collins.
"You must understand that 1 cannot
speak about this matter, but will say this
THE CALL has been consistent in this mat
ter. 1t is on the right track and it must
not back water; and then it got ahead of
all the other papers on a big piece of
news.
"Then there is A. L. Hart of Sacra-
mento, who stated that if certain parties
OF that city declared that they had seen
the object he believed what they said.''
Where is that wonderful and much
talked about airship now?" was asked.
THAT cannot tell you, but will say
this: 1 was to have inspected it to-day,
but for some reason the invitation I ex-
pected did not reach me; possibly be-
cause the premature announcement in
THE CALL has interfered with protected
plans, or it may be the weather.
II wish to place myself right in this
matter. While in conversation with a
gentleman three or four days before the
first publication of the airship story in
THE CALI. was told that such an inven-
tion was in existence and the difficulty of
navigating the sky would soon be over
come. The gentleman who gave me this
information did so in confidence, a con-
fidence that will not betray. As an at
torney / could not afford to do so and as a
man l would not.
"There Is another reason have for not
wishing to give expression to my knowI-
edge or views, which is this: Several of
the newspapers have published intervie VS.
with Mr.. Collins and other papers have
asserted that he denied the truth of the
statements attributed to him. Now. it
would not look well for me to make state
ments contradictory to his or have him
deny statements that made. Therefore.
will keep silent"
Mr. Bradley stated that he is in no way
connected with the airship scheme, either
as an attorney or as friend to the parties
most concerned.
do you believe that the existence of an
airship at the present time is possible :"
was asked.
Mr.. Bradley smiled and cautiously an
swered: "Was the airship not seen by hun
dreds of respectable citizens in Sacra-
mento. San Francisco, Oakland and other
placesP 1 would not presume to dispute
their statements"
'Then you believe that we have such an
invention that has proved a success?"