The San Francisco call., 1896-11-23

mas received letter from one or the IN
mates of the aerial ship, who was an old
acquaintance. This letter, postmarked
Oakland, stated that the writer had
made one of the crew of an airship which
made most successful voyage last Tues
day night, and had arrived in the vicinity
of Oakland about II o'clock. He stated
that the ship had worked beautifully
with the exception that the motion was
very disagreeable.
He also stated that after making altera-
tions and receiving patent rights the
vessel would be placed on exhibition, and
that this would occur before the first of
the coming month. 1t is claimed that
the painters shopmates laughed the letter
TO scorn. and that he was so thoroughly
convinced that his friend was not mis-
leading him that he wagered $40 that
what his friend had written would come
to pass. This story was related by sew
eral, but is not authenticated, as they
would not betray the writer's name with
out his permission.
Colvin Brown, local representative of the
Chronicle, was an eye witness of the mys-
terious light this evening. He has been
skeptic of the most pronounced type
own eyes. Center of group of the corner
OF Seventh and K streets, he produced an
almanac to evdeavor to prove that the
planet Venus had left her orbit and was
coquetting with Sacramento. As his ex-
planat1on was not received with favor he
started off in search of Sergeant Barwick
of weather fame to endeavor to prove the
mysterious light to be a meteor on the
warpath.
OF all the onlookers this evening the
employees OF the streetcar system are the
most jubilant. They have been held up
to derision for over a week; their lives
made miserable by iocular inquiries as to
the nature of the stimulants they mostly
imbibe and various inquiries as to when
they intended 10 take a trip, ETC.
81 am heartily delighted that the entire
city has seen this mysterious light to-
night" said one OF the motormen. "Now
this eternal joshing will cease. Ny life
has been misery for the past week, but
low all can see for themselves that we
were not stretching the long bow. L is
particularly aggravating, when one
plainly sees phenomenal occurrence and
relates it, that he is treated as a gigantic
liar"
Assistant Superintendent Ross OF the
streetcar system is also jubilant "I was
simply positive" said be. ''that this light
was of an electrical nature. 1 have made
close study of this mysterious agent for
years. / saw this moving light for upward
of thirty minutes Tuesday night and was
positive that it was electrical. Also I
noticed its swaying and rising and falling
movement and was convinced in nv
own mind that it was attached to a vehicle
of some nature. At first 1 thought it
might be in balloon, but knowing that
machinery requisite to produce light of
that volume and intensity would weigh
upward of ton, / concluded that il might
possibly be that some one had solved the
problem of aerial navigation, and this be.
lief was strengthened by observing that
the light was moving south against the
wind. / am now almost convinced that
the great problem has been solved and
that within a short time the air will be
peopled with ships"
This seems to be the public belief in this
city tonight among all who have wit
messed the reappearance of this m yster-
ious light and never has there been wit
messed such an overwhelming and sudden
change In public opinion as its reappear
ance has caused. In the corridors of the
hotels groups of excited people clustered
discussing all the possibilities of this won
derful discovery. In the saloons healths
are being drunk to the successful discoy-
erer and on all sides universal belief has
taken the place of skepticism. Since the
reappearance of this mysterious light this
evening there has been a general search
made for copies of Wednesdays CALL.
which gave an exclusive account of the
first appearance of the aerial visitans and
copy cannot be purchased for love or
money. Those possessing them brought
them out to read to their friends but re-
fused to part with them.