davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
STRANDED NEAR FRESNO.
The Great Airship Caught In a Cur
rent and Sent Southwark.

The Great Airship Caught In a Cur
rent and Sent Southwark.
FRESNO. CAL, Dec. 4-The skepticism
of the people of this city regarding the
existence OF the airshlp has been removed
largely by strange statement of George
Jennings. one of the proprietors of the bar
in the Grand Central Hotel. He is thor
oughly reliable man and there is good
ground to give credence to his story. He
AYERS that he is practicing no deception.
Mr.. jennings asserts that there is no ques-
ton that an airshIp exists and that it has
been sailing through the skies as reported.
He talked with the inventor and the craft
is now somewhere in Fresno County, not
far from this city.
Mr.. Jennings was interviewed by
CALL correspondent this evening and
made the following statement: ''Yester-
day shortly before noon a man appeared
at my place of business and inquired for
me. The stranger was covered with dust
and travel-stained. 1 recognized him as
an old friend, whose name I cannot pos
slbly give at present. 1t is true the air.
ship is in Fresno County, just where do
not myself know. This man who was in
here is one of the inventors. He told me
that the trip to this county was involun-
tary upon the part of the men in the air
ship. In other words the machine came
itself and they couldn't stop il.
'His statement was that they were fly
ing, as usual, around Contra Costa County
hills and rose to a height of about 1000
feet. Suddenly the airship struck a cur
rent of air and refused to answer its steer
ing gear. 1t was borne rapidly southwark
against ali efforts to change It's course
until suddenly the current of air seemed
to lessen and the machine once more be-
came manageable. The men aboard at
once descended and few about looking
for hiding place, which they at length
found.
my friend told me that the airship was
made principally of aluminium, and that
the rising and falling was accomplished
by improved aeroplanes, while the mo-
tive power was electricity. He says the
machine is perfect, except for the fact that
at times it refuses to be steered in given
direction, and that it will not stand still
in the air. He has gone to San Francisco
and will return with some material and
men probably tonight. He said if the
news from Washington was satisfactory,
he would bring his airship over to Fresno
where every one could see 1t.
Il know the man WE'LL" concluded Mr..
Jennings. HE had no reason to tell me
such story if it was not true. He had no
business here, knows no one but myself
and left without asking any favors. More
over, he wanted the matter kept quiet"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
Favor THE DINGlEY BILL.
Recent Action of the California Wool
Association.

Recent Action of the California Wool
Association.
On November II, at meeting of the
California Wool Association, resolutions
were passed favoring the immediate pas
sage of the Dingley bill, and committee
was appointed to bring the resolutions be-
fore our delegation in Congress. On
Novembe "a, at the annual meeting, the
following officers were elected:
Charles II. Abbott, president; James E.
Bell, vice-president; Fred S. Moody, Sec
rotary; F. P. McLennan, treasurer.
The report of the committee was as fol.
lows:
To the Senator'S and Representatives of the State
Of Ca iforntd in Congress: At a meeting of the
on the 18th inst, resolutions were passed
favoring tie immediate adoption of the
emergency tariff. known ALTO as the Dingley
bill, now pending IN the Senate. Therefore
States has been langulshing and in para
lyzed condition for the past four years;
and whereas, in the election of Mr.. McKinley
the country at large Will anticipate the pass
age of protective tariff under his administra-
ton, large quantities of wool and wooden
goods will be Immediately imported into this
country, flooding all our markets and thus de-
laying the prosperity of the wool and wooden
industry. Therefore, be 1t resolved that our
Senators from this State be urged to see the
necessity for the immediate passage of the
emergency or Dingley bill as a temporary
measure for revenue necessary for the Govern
ment needs. and partially TO prevent the above
mentioned importations, and thus in mea S.
ure TO foster and protect the wool and wooden
industry of this country and prevent an in.
definite continuance of the hardshIps and
losses sustained by those engaged in this line
of business. /. r. HALL,
NJ. S. KOSHLAND,
A. C. SCHLEsINGER,
November "a, 1896. Committee.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05

ture about 80 feet long and 25 feet In
diameter. The structure was standing on
projections, and had under lit two propel-
lers, FIVE bladed, say Is feet across. There
was huge tail, which served as rudder,
of which the tIller-ropes had parted. Cor
don spliced them.
The structure was of metal. There were
a mum Der of windows and two doors. The
interior was divided into compartments
and the motive power, which the captaln
stated was impressed air, seemed to
operate machinery contained in a great
case and controlled by levers.
Gordon was invited to come along and
did so. He was given the rudder, operated
by wheel, and followed the courses given
him as shown by compass. They rose in
the air to a great height, probably 5000
feet, aad took northerly course and
travelled at enormous speed. In a few
hours they passed over Los Angeles,
easily known by its great number OF
lights, and then sped over Ventura, Santa
Barbara and other places, and about
clock this morning settled down in a
place in the mountains about eight miles
southeast of this city.
Here the manager of the airship an
nounced his intention of stopping awhile
and Gordon was sent for water, but after
going a short distance he turned and dis
covered the strange vessel disappearing.
The airship man, Gordon says, was OF
swarthv appearance and spoke Spanish to
the only companion he had, woman.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
POISONED HIS PRETTY WIFE.
j. Sidney Goodmansoa, Dentist, Il
Under Arrest and There is Strong
Proof AGAINST Him.

FENDER, NEBR., Dec. Al. Sidney
Goodmanson, dentist, is under arrest,
charged with poisoning his young aad
pretty wife. Mrs. Goodmanson died at
her husbands office last September under
suspicious circum stances, and the body
was sent to her former home at Tiskilwa,
ILL.,, for burial. A physicians certificate
was secured, which stated that heart dis
ease was the cause of death. A brother
and uncle of the dead woman were not
satisfied. and had the body exhumed and
sent to the Rush Medical College, Chicago,
for examination. The chemists report
to the Coroner's jury was that death re-
suited from strychnine poisoning. The
brother and uncle came ut once to Fender,
and Goodmanson's arrest followed last
night. Goodmanson came here from Chi
cago, where he is said to be well known.
Relatives of his wife strongly opposed the
marriage, as 1t was reported that Good
man on at the time was engaged to a Chi
caSo girl. Mrs. Goodmanson had $4,000
in her own right.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05

Two Thousand Children Made
Orphans, Five Hundred
Women Widows.
Hus bands, Fathers and Brothers Slain
Before the Eyes of the Help.
less Dependents.

CHICAGO, ILL, Dec. 4.-Rev. Judson
Smith, secretary of the American Board
of Foreign Missions, who has been in this
city lecturing at the Union Park Theologl-
cal Seminary, received to-day copy of
ca blegram which had been sent to his
office in Boston from an American resi-
dent in Constantinople. The message
conveys Intelligence of recent outrages
and massacres of Armenians by Turks in
the villages near Bitlis and in some places
remote from that city in which 1000 chill
dren were made orphans and 900 women
confronted with widowhood and starva-
ton.
The message, which is dated December
1, reads:
"Bitlis appeals on behalf of 1000 or
phans and 500 new widows, many OF them
from distant homes, where husbands.
fathers and brothers were killed before
their eyes amid dreadful atrocities. They
now wander in the streets of the city beg
ging for food and clothing. The mission
aries entreat every possible influence to be
used to get means to enable them to care
for the unfortunate ones. Urgency is ex-
IRENE. Will America sustain? p
DR.. Smith said to reporter for the
United Associated Presses just prior to his
departure tonight for Boston that he had
heard of other trouble i'll Armenia
through his Constantinople correspond
ents but had no definite information. DE
declined to make known the name OF the
sender of the foreign message because the
agents of Turkey here were always eager
TO send such information to Constantine
pie for use against the informant.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
Livernore Herald to-day, giving the
views of Editor Ellis:


The Herald may be little late In coming to
the front with an airship story, but never
theess it has one. and as for its authenticity
no man in Alameda County can doubt The
parties who witnessed this remarkable phe-
nomenon are none other than the Rev. john
Kirby OF Oakland presiding elder of the Oak
land district, and Rev. Hugh Copeland.
ElRev. Mr.. Kirby was in Livermore Wednesday
of this week and in the presence of Rev. Mr..
Alexander, pastor of the Methodist Church.
and Madison Beck of the firm of Beck & Co.,
made this statement:
"On the evening OF November % Rev. Hugh
Copeland and myself were riding in buggy
in the vicinity OF Knights Ferry in stanislaus
County We were just crossing bridge when
our attention was riveted to an object about q
quarter of mile ahead of US. 1t appeared at
first like huge ball of fire that rose from the
earth.
ave were travelling in southwesterly direc-
ton at the time and stopped our buggy to
gaze in wonderment upon this startling and
unexpected scene 1t sailed along above the
surface of the ground for probably 100 yards,
then gradually raised higher and higher. Had
it continued its course when we first saw it, 1t
would have passed almost directly above US,
but instead made half circle to the west and
north and was about the same distance when
1t reached a point opposite to US as it was
when We first noticed it. Before it passed US
we could plainly see two lights in front and at
right angles of the flying machine, and as it
was going by we saw light, that was not visi-
Bile before, attached to and at the rear OF the
object. We watched it for some time before
continuing our journey. 1t could not have
been meteor because it did not go to the
earth, but skinned along rapidly.
HAD l been alone 1 might have believed
that my eyes deceived me. but there was Mr..
Copeland, who witnessed the same scene, and
there is no possibility of our being mistaken.
had believed th at the successful navigation
of an airship was beyond the reach of mortal
skill but look at il in different light now.
do not claim, mind you, that what we saw
that night Was a genuine airship, but the
natural question that arises is, If it was not an
airship, what was it2 saw enough to convince
me that the papers have no grounds to picture
this phenomenon in the light of burlesque.
When we reached Stockton the following day
the papers were full OF descriptive accounts
of an airship in Yuba County that pictured
exactly what we had seen on November D."
OAKLAND, CAL. Dec. 3.-The Rev.
John Kirby, presiding elder of the Oak
land district for the past two years, and
pastor of the Park-street NJ. E. Church
of Alameda six years previous to
that, was interviewed at his home on
Park street, Alameda, tonight. He re-
peated and confirmed the story as told
above and added: After reading the ac-
counts of the airship in THE CALL
clipped them and forwarded them to Mr..
Copeland at Oakdale. To-day I received
a reply in which he says: If there is an
airship we shall share in the glory. People
in Oakdale saw it on the same night.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
DUNBAR is IN PRISON,
The Young Man Who Got Money
in the Name of the
Press Club.
He Was Traced From This City to
Fresno and Arrested in San
Jose Thursday.

Alexander R. Dunbar, the young man
whose special line of business seemed to
be a sustained effort at living by his wits
was rounded up yesterday in San Jose
and given cell in the City Prison here.
He is charged with obtaining money by
false pretenses.
Dunbar is the same individual who re-
Gently went about town representing him.
self to be canvasser for the Press Club
and received various sums OF money upon
the pretensions he made. The police are
of the opinion that he collected several
hundred dollars in this way. He carried
on the scheme with his friend Frank
Stone, W no pretended to be a mem Der OF
the Press Club and corroborated every
thing that Dunbar said.
The story told to bankers, merchants
and professional men was that the club
was in dire financial difficulties and
needed money to ave it from ruin. Dun.
bar claimed to be authorized by the board
of managers of the club to collect money
from generous citizens. He succeeded in
almost every instance. But the fact soon
became public through the newspapers
approached on this proposition. And then
he took his departure suddenly from San
Francisco. Stone also disappeared, and
has since managed to elude the police,
who want him in this connection.
The special case on which Dunbar is
now in prison is obtaining $25 from C. A.
Becker, president of the German Savings
Bank, on account of the Press Club. The
signature to the receipt is written ]. w.
Longmore. which is said to be a Lame as
sumed by Dunbar. The money was got
November 5. About the same time Dun
bar got So from Mr.. Alvord and SIS from
Mr.. Brown of the Bank of California on
representing that the money was for the
club.
Soon afterward Dunbar went to Fresno,
where it is said he forgot to pay several
small bills and tried to move his valise
from the Hughes Hotel with a long rope.
He then went to San Jose, whence Detec-
tive Ross Whitaker brought him to this
City.
Dunbar was sullen and would not dis
cuss his arrest. Meanwhile the police are
looking for more evidence against him.
Frank Stone, who was associated with
Dunbar, was taken in custody last night
by Private Detective II. Stilwell, who
turned him over to Police Detectives
Whitaker and Seymour. Stone was taken
to the City Prison and there detained
pending an investigation.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
CONFERENCE OF CHARITIES
The Rev. Jacob Eoorsanger and Dr..
WV. Bolton on AImsgiving With
out Investigation.


out Investigations.
The second meeting of the San Fran
cisco Conference of Charities took place
at the Occidental Hotel yesterday. quite
number of ladies and gentlemen interested
in charities being present.
The SUBJECT of discussion was "Alms-
giving Without Investigation. Addresses
were made by the Rev. Jacob Voorsanger
and the Rev. W. w. Bolton, and the
various persons in the audience participa-
ted in the discussion. TWAS argued quite
stFenuously on one side that it was wrong
to give to the undeserving, that 1t tended
to keep such persons in idleness and to
make them more and more unscrupulous
Such persons become parasites on the
community. With them getting living
without work was mere matter OF wit,
and of preying on those whose sympathles
could be aroused.
Equally strong were the arguments OF
the opposition. It was maintained that
as general thing it was best to give. for
no one could Immediately know what
gnawing hunger might not be the cause
of the request for aims. A few cents
would not make any difference TO the
giver, and mieht work great good, through
relief of suffering.
AT the conclusion of the discussion tea
and cakes were served, and alt hour
was spent in social conversation.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
THOSE DYED HORSES.
Mrs. Joan Hunter Acquits Captain
Thomson of Blame.

Mrs. Joan Hunter Acquits Captain.
Thoms on of Blame.
The publication in last Saturdays CALL
of the attempt to palm off pair of dyed
black horses on the millionaire widow OF
the late David Hunter caused quite sem
sation in the sporting community.
This attempted fraud was all the more
reprehensible because it was attempted
upon liberal and public-spirited lady
VINO, 1t was considered, would fall an
easy victim to the trickery of an I'M
scrupulous horse-sharp. But, fortunately,
Mrs. Hunter is shrewd woman and can
not be easily imposed upon.
As regards the participation of Captain
Thomson of the park police in the at
tempt to impose upon the lady Mrs.
Hunter wishes TO exonerate that gentle
man from any part in the attem pteu
fraud and says that Captain Thomson is
a personal friend of hers through years of
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
A Fake of showmen.

1t developed yesterday that the cigar
shaped galvanized iron tank, constructed
to resemble an airship, which was found
late Thursday night in gulch near the
Almshouse, is flake" creation. 1t was
carted TO the point where found IN order
to provide some cheap adv ertising for a
local place of amusement. Owing to the
darkness and lateness of the hour the inn
position escaped exposure, as there was
neither opportunity nor time for close
or full investigation.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
THE WOMAN IN 1T.

Strange and Circumstantial Story
of a Sailor Passenger.
SAN LUIS OBIsPO, CAL, Dec. A.
William Gordon reached this town this
morning. He states that ne is native OF
South Carolina and truthful person, a
graduate of Berkeley, but recently sailor
and just from New York.
His story is that yesterday evening,
about 8 o'clock, he was at Indio, and re-
sponded to the inquiries of a stranger who
was looking for some one able to splice a
rope. Gordon, being sailor, offered his
services, which we're accepted, and he fol-
lowed the man who claimed to have a hay
baling OUTFIT about mile from town to a
place where he found acigar-shaped struc-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
AFTER THE MEAT COMBINE.
The Federal Grand Jury of Illinois Ex.
poets to hdict -Four Big
Firms

CHICAGO, ILL, Dec. 4-The Federal
Grand Jury, which has been sitting here
for several weeks is making another at
tenn pit to obtain evidence of the existence
of beef trust among Armour, Swift. Nor
ris and the Hammond Packing Company.
The jury has asserted its ancient prerog.
alive of conducting an inquiry independ-
emit of the District Attorneys office. The
investigation has not the approval oil
General John C. Black, the District Attor-
ney, or Senator J. III. Shields of Dubuque,
who was chosen by the Government to
obtain evidence against the alleged beef
trust at the time Kenesaw lands of Chi
cago was commissioned to assist the Dis
trict Attorney in the prosecution of the
case. The attorneys are OF the opinion
that there is not sufficient available testl-
mony upon which to base an indictment,
but the jury has been led to believe from
statements made by one of the body, Rich
ard Collins, a wholesale meat-dealer here,
that a case can be made out against the
four firms mentioned.
The jury demanded yesterday that GER
tain witnesses be summoned, and the list
is said to have been made up partly by
Juror Collins and partly by the District
Attorneys Office. 1t includes confidential
packing-house men, railroad traffic ents
and local meat-dealers. who are said to
have been frozen out by he alleged trust.
At the outset the deputy marshals sent to
serve the subpenas met with the same
misfortune which befell them at the last
term OF the court. They found the en-
ployes of the packers and railroads absent
from the city and the owners OF only two
meat markets were found.
Juror Collins is said to possess inside
knowledge of the operations of the al
legged trust and to have impaired it to the
Jury. They have been told that the trust
members meet once week and fix the
price of meat. After the small dealers
have done buying each ust-buyer calls
Tor livestock of one class only, thus de-
stroying competition in the grades. Re-
bates are said to be given to those who
buy exclusively from the big packers, and
each packer had the same list. Meat
markets spring up alongside of those who
refuse to buy from the trust, according to
Collins statement, and the outsider is
soon driven from business by cut prices,
or he is forced off his route if he is meat
iObber
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05

mountaineering with her late husband;
that it was the captain who suggested to
her to send for veterinary surgeon to ex-
anime the dyed animals.
She also gives him credit for observing q
portion of the horses nose where the dye
had been applied after her suspicious had
been aroused to the shady look OF the
supposed thoroughbreds.
Captain Thompson, when given an OPP
portunity to explain from whom the
dyed animals came, declined to talk, and
characterized the whole story as false from
beginning to end.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
OVER SELMA.
Reputable Citizens View Strange
Aerial Traveller.

Reputable Citizens View a Strange
Aerial Traveller.
SELMA, CAL, Dec. 4.-The airship, or
some other aerial traveller OF like appear
ance, passed over Selma last night be-
tween and 10 o'clock. 1t was seen by
many reputable citizens. n. w. Stewart,
grain merchant, went to the door of his
residence about $50 o'clock and saw a
light approaching from the west. 1t had
The appearance of a locomotive headlight,
and was apparently about $50 feet above
the earth.
Mr.. Stewart called TO his family, and all
saw the wonderful light pass over the
town and disappear in an easterly direc-
ton. 1t was travelling at about the speed
OF a passeng er-train-
G. S. Reichard, attorney at-law, and
MANY other persons also saw the remark
able light.
There is no question about an airship
having passed over this part of Fresno
County last night.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05

This week best Observation-Disclosures
Boys Suits, all wool, extra value, So IS.
All-Wool Cape Overcoats in the latest
plaids for boys ~ to 6. Worth 50 and 80.
Are selling rapidly at So So Don't delay,
House Goats, Gowns, Bath Robes. Trav-
cling Rugs, right in season. Low prices.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
ACCIDENTALLY SHOT HIMSELF.
John DevIin Fatally Wounded While
Cleaning a Revolver.

John Devlin, laundryman by occupa-
ton, died last evening at his home, 121
Fourteenth street, from the result of shot
through the body, accidentally received
while the deceased was cleaning a re-
voiver last Wednesday afternoon.
Shortly after the accident occurred a
physician, DIR. Galway, was called to at
tend to the injured man. He Immediately
reached the conclusion that the wound
was fatal.
A few hours prior to Devlin's death he
made an ante-mortem statement TO his
physician and a priest. stating that the
wound was due. solely to an accident.
The case was reported to the Coroner, but
an inquest was waived. The deceased
leaves a widow and Two children.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
1irss 1o.t on Steam Yes.els.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 4.-Super-
vising lnspector-General Dumont reports
that during last year 221 persons lost their
lives on steam vessels out of 600, 900 pas
sengers carried. This is decrease in loss
of life of 173 persons from the year before.