The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-22

In a few moments, in fact, in less time
than one can tell it, the queer thing was
almost hanging over the city. City Mar
shall Brown was in the western part of
the city making his rounds before going
home and says the ship or balloon passed
over him about 200 feet from the ground.
Mr.. Brown says he could see two men in
the ship and something resembling large
Newfoundland dog. Mr.. Brown says he
was close enough TO hear them talking,
but could not understand one word of their
language.
Mr.. Walter l.. Norwood, an undertaken
at Galveston, had professional call about
3 o'clock Saturday morning, and he says
he and his driver, Bob Tevis, saw the
airship. He said to Galveston News
reporter:
THE moon was shining brightly, and
we could see almost as plainly as in day
light. There was not cloud in the sky.
When we were out on the beach not far
from our destination l happened to look
up and saw the thing. 1t moved to the
eastward down the beach, following the
line of the beach as closely as one would
do in driving buggy. We stopped and
watched it. When down about the end
of the island it turned and followed the
bay front until about fremont street,
the gulf disappearing in the distance"
1t was pointed at both ends, according
to Mr.. Norwoods description, and the
headlight was directly in front. 1t looked
like great big bird, with wings tapping
regularly, and it Travelled swiftly.
Statesman's Mystery Man.
The mystery man of The Statesman
heard yesterday that Mr. X. H. Cousins
hn .rIt, xE tl,l
ship Friday night, and Mr.. Cousins
was seen about it,
mo; saw no ship" he said. II
stepped out into my yard and my atten-
ton was attracted by moving light,
which appeared to be some distance above
the earth, not far from the residence of
Mr.. j. w. Graham. at first thought it
was a meteor, but l soon discovered it
moved too slow for meteor. The light
was not very large. i think, possibly, |
could have covered it with my hand. |
watched it as it movedia and it passed over
and down in the direction of Shoal creek.
l saw no dark object nor anything that
resembled ship; saw nothing but the
light, and at the time thought nothing
about it."
.. The story, as reported, was that Mr..
Cousins had seen large shp-like shane.
To the Statesman's gang last night the
mystery man, to the utter CONSERVATION
of the boys, gave it as his unalterable
opinion that there was something in this
airship business.
Where there's so much smoke there
must be some fire. he said. $50 many
reports, from so many different points, can
not be fabrications People may saw
what they will. but there's something
in it,"
The gang was visibly moved.
1T is my opinion" continued the mys-
terry man, that the airship, so-caled, is
nothing more nor less than recon-
noitering aerial war car from warike
Mars, investigating the conditions of the
unlted States to see what reinforcements
well need when the country is invaded by
the allied armies of Europe, the Mars
soldiers having no confidence whatever i'm
the American jingOes as real fighters"
with these soldiers of Mars cavOrt-
ing around over our heads. do you think
there is any danger to us of the earth ?''
asked the gang in concert.
Il most emphatically do Last Thurs
day night one of their aerial boats ex-
ploded, and scraps of steel and pieces of
electric wire were found on school
house the roof of which wOrkmen were
repairing. They heard an explosion dur
ing the night, and just before it took
place the aerial vehicle was seen sailing
through the air. There is great danger
in venturing out these nights. What if
one of those fellows from Mars should
tumble out and fall on you?"
The city editor and telegraph man were
profoundly impressed, and last night they
slept under table in the editorial rooms.