The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-11-30
...HART'S ROUTE
CONFIRMED.
Aerial Lights Seen Fitting
=. in San Fernando
Valley.
SIMILAR PHENOMENON
SEEN IN ALAMEDA.
Brief Review of the Remarkable
Developments of the Past
Week.
SAGE REFLECTIONS MADE BY
o MAYOR DAVE,
S es No Cause for Surprise in the
Calm That Aerial Navigation
: Is Possible.

: 1t is now about ten days since the flrst
report regarding the elusive and mysteri-
:-ous aerial lights came from Sacramento.
Since then developments in reference to
them have been rapid and sensational, but
mystery still surrounds the object and the
. human agency that are said to be respon-
,sible for ther appearance.
At this time the history of the myth,
phenomenon. airship or whatever it may
.. prove to be, will bear brief review.
Q This is given that the readers of THE CALL
may the more readily and intelIigently
grasp the present situation.
Incredulity, deep and general, greeted
the first report which credited the lights
TO an aerial voyager. Next it was an
nouneed that George d. Collins, an at
torneg of this City, was the legal repre-
) sentative OF the inventor and manipulator
of the wonder of the starlit sky. This
honor Mr.. Collins did not disavow, but
was unconQuerably obdurate when it came
10 aquestion of disclosing the name of his
client, the location where the marvel was
oput together, or the place where it found
exemption from the eyes of the curious.
The knowledge that this interesting in
formation was lodged in his legal custody
caused him to DE besieged by newspaper
reporters, spectators, investors, cranks
and horde of curiosity seekers. Under
the pressure thus put upon his time and
patience, he made numerous statements
relative to the matter that was absorbing
public attention and his connection there
with
Unfortunately these statements, as pub
lished in the various newspapers, did not
'fitStogether quite as accurately as scien-
titicaflXconstructed edifce should. Among
otherthipEs he allowed it to be inferred
that DR.. E. H. Benjamin had aided in
the construction of the invention.
Meanwhile reports continued to come
to hand daily of strange and luminous
visions. Men well and most favorabIy
known in scientific, official, professional,
business and educational circles claimed
to kave seen these nocturnal visitations of
moving lights at great attitudes None,
however, appear to have secured a clear
view OF the body to which it was sup
posed these aerial lights were attached,
though most observers of the phenom-
enon stood ready to assert that they were
guided in their course athwart the horizon
by human power. Sacramento, Oakland
and San Jose furnished the most frequent
and startling descriptions of the mystery.
Suddenly came the news that ex-Attor-
ney-General w. H. II. Hart had been sub
stituted for Mr.. Collins as the legal GUS
todian OF the secrets and destinies of the
reputed airship.
This was followed by the announcement,
on the authority of General Hart that the
. airship mystery was only incidental to a
full-fedged aud extraordinary fiibuster-
ing scheme for the capture or destruction
of Havana, the stronghold of the Spanish
authorities in Cuba, by the use of dyna-
mite. He further informed the startled
public that the aerial warship to be used
in this enterprise would be designed TO
carry half ton of dynamite, in addition
to its necessary appurtenances and crew.
He also, over his own signature, averred
that two airships were now in readiness
to sail the ethereal blue, and that another,
on modified and improved plans, was in
course OF construction. As soon as this
aforementioned craft was completed and
the crew made thoroughly acquainted
with its handling it was to take flight, he
said, to Havana, there to aidethe Cubans
in their struggle for independence.
For his advocacy Of the use of dynamite
General Hart was taken to task by the
Bulletin, which was tentatively abetted by
the Examiner. This attack elected a
spirited and martial-toned reioinder. The
fear in the public mind now is that the
scene of war may be transferred from the
carnage-stained fields OF Cuba 10 the un-
offending columns OF the local newspa-
pers.
Shortly after the name of DR.. E. H.
Benjamin appeared in connection with
the mystery of the air he disappeared
from his lodgings at 633 Ellis street, where
he had lived for two years, leaving moth
%ihg more than a carefully locked trunk
Nehlnd- Yesterday morning he called for
ms baggage and then .'flew the COOP" as
Tue cetectiyes phrase it, leaving no trace
&C 70 ms future movements, but on the con-
tfary taking precautions to cover his
tracks
saturday night reputable people of Ala
1Heua aver that they saw the floating