The San Francisco call., 1896-11-23
1T WAS SEEN SOARING NEAR SAN
JOSE AT MIDNIGHT.
The Calls Exclusive Account Of the Greatest
Invention Of .the Age Is Now Corrobo-
rated by Thousands

could not help noticing that there was
desire on his part to tell me more than l
knew, and 1 could also see that he re.
strained himself from doing SO. He called
on me second time, chatted about few
immaterial matters and departed, leaving
me in wonder as to when he would confide
anything further to me. Altogether. he
made about half dozen of these visits
and L concluded that he really did intend
to talk business every time he came. but
that his courage failed him as soon as he
got in the office
Finally he got up courage enough to
tell me he was not only an inventor but
that really had an invention. He
asked me If he could place confidence in
me. l replied, DO you mean as a friend
or as an attorney?' He said, AS both
told him that 1 could not recall any oc.
casion in which had violated friends
or ciients confidence and that thought
was fully capable of attending to anv
business he might wish me to tran sact for
him. He said that if his secret were made
public premafurely it would mean the
loss to him OF an immense fortune. He
further assured me that it was an inyen-
tion that anybody would willingly steal if
they had The opportunity. l talked to
him for little while and succeeded in
assuring him that if such were the case 1
as an attorney, would be Just as anxious
to protect his interests as he would be
him self.
II am telling you the details of my first
meeting with this inventor because thew
carry with them good idea OF the nature
of the man and also are evidence of his
sincerity and belief in the practicabilitv
OF his invention.
HE is a resident of Oroville and man
OF wealth, about AZ years of age, and fine
looking fellow. He does not talk for five
minutes without convincing his hearer
that he is a man of more than ordinary
intelligence. The first time he talked IN
me of his invention he got as far as the
word airship; then laughed, and laughed
heartily.
What kind of whisky have you been
drinking2" asked him.
This MADE him indignant. and had
laughed any longer he certainly would
have got very angry and l should have
most probably have lost client.
II have not been drinking. sir he
said, 'and when do it is not whisky
and again said, Have any mem bers of
your family ever been in the lunatic asy
lum?'
He did not appreciate this any more
than my other remark, and drawing him.
sell to his full height and stamping one
foot on the floor, he replied, No, sir. l
am man of business. I have come here
on business errand, and had 1 not met
you previously and been convinced that
lcouid trust you l think our acquaintance
would end right here. However. I can ex-
cuse your surprise, for everybody believes
that an inventor must naturally be crazy
until ne has proved that his invention is
practicable. Then, I suppose, people call
him genius. have got over the crazy
stage, out do not yet claim to be
genius; out certainly am PRACTICAL
He then proceeded to tell me of his in
vention. He has been working for sevstaI
years, and in order to avoid suspicion on
the part OF local people he has had ali the
machinery and material shipped from