The San Francisco call., 1896-11-25
EVOLUTIONS IN MIDAIR.
Peculiar Performance of the Aerial
Visitor Above Oakland,

Peculiar Performances of the Aerial
Visitor Above Oakland.
OAKLAND. CAL, Nov. 24.-Oakiand
was beside itself tonight with excitement.
For over two hours large light attached
to something was seen cruising over the
city toward San Francisco and back again.
About o'clock the report was started
that the airship was to be seen, and peo-
pie at once began to congregate in the
streets and gaze at the heavens.
The excitement commenced when the
6:30 train from San Francisco arrived at
Broadway. While crossing the bay the
passengers had observed the strange
thing in the sky, and the interest in
creased with the number of beholders.
They watched the movable light, which
alternated between remaining stationary
and taking flights in the sky.
OF course many were skeptical and de-
clared it was brilliant star or possibly
planet, but when they received visible
proof that it did not remain many minutes
in any one particular constellation they
Joined the majority and agreed that they
were looking at veritable airship.
Soon after the arrival of the train the
SlAdHR0 luluR was Sttu over
south of Sixth street, and as it passed
across Broadway the street was crowded.
One of the most noticeable features of it
was the frequency with which the light
was put out and made TO shine again.
This was afterward explained by one of
the spectators who watched it with a
powerful glass and stated that he could
see the machine performing evolutions
which caused the light TO shine in differ.
ent directions 1t did not appear to move
rapidly, but it was at great height above
the earth and was somewhat unsteady in
lis motion, which somewhat resembled
that of a ship in seaway
AS it passed over the city thousands of
people saw it and were anxious to add
their testimony that it was genuine air
vessel. Among them were Colonel Gar
rity. City Electrician Carleton, George
Hatton, managing editor of the Tribune;
Melvin Holmes, ex-deputy Superintend-
ent of Streets, and scores OF others.
The mystery of the skies was watched
every foot of its course by curious thou
sands.
The aerial rover appeared to cross the
bay and hover over San Francisco for a
time and then return. While passing
over the city the light disappeared tor a
time and when it was again visible the
machine was over East Oakland. AS soon
as it crossed Thirteenth avenue Deputy
Constable Robinson announced it's ap-
proach and as it went by fully 5000 people
turned out TO see it.
Il am willing to make an affidavit that
saw the airship," said Deputy Robinson
tonight. 'There was no fake about it
and we could plainly see that it had
motion like ship. 1t wheeled around
over Alameda and then seemed to cross
over San Leandro toward Piedmont" BY
the time it was headed for Piedmont the
excitement was intense. Proprietors and
clerks came to the shop doors; bartenders
LETT their beer pumps; ladies stopped
walking and directed their attention
heavenwafd; cable and electric cars
Stacked up so that passengers might peep
at the wondrous light.
At the Galindo Hotel the windows were
thrown open and guests appeared with all
manner OF spyglasses and looked at the
travelling light. Sometimes they declared
that there were several smaller lights
visible and that they could see dark
object, but it was too high in the air for
any of them to detect the nature of Its
wings or tail, if it had any.
AT Fourteenth and Broad wav a large
crowd gathered and grew excited as the
remarkable light cruised around and occa-
sionaiiy disappeared. The play of lights
caused many to think that the party who
was directing the thing of the night was
signaling to some one or the earth.
Everybody agreed that no tricks with
kites or balloons could account for what
they saw, for the light was so brilliant
and powerful that to produce it a dynamo
OF no mean capacity must be carried.
melvin Holiness ex-Deputy Superintend-
ent OF Streets and man we'll known in
Oakland, ieveled glass at it and declared
IL is an air traveller of some description
george Carleton. the City Electrician,
VINO Is better known than almost any man
IN this city, knows the name of the in
ventor. Carleton was taken into con-
hdence by a friend of the inventor. and
De vouches for the honesty Of his in
formant. Anybody who will doubt George
Carleton when he says thing is true does
not know the man. Carleton told his
story this morning, but he kept all names
10 himself
Il was pledged not to divulge them. and
10 saw my leg off first" he replied to all
questions touching identity. 81 heard the
story last night from friend of mine, who
Is also member of my lodge of Masons.
IL was he who talked with the man who
saw the machine, and / was told the name
OF the inventor by my friend. As under
stand 1T, the ship was made near OroviIe
The inventor made an ascension OF several