Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-22
THEY SAW AN AlRSHiP p
Mysterious Object Watched by Many People
This Morning.
Turned Out to he IN Omcial Aero.
plane Kite That Was Flying
Over Fort Myer.

That mysterious airship once more. Re-
ports have had it that 1t was seen by per-
sons in Denver, headed eastward. Next IL
was heard from in Iowa. Then 1t was fly
ing merrily over western Pennsylvania;
headed for Lake Erie. There were a great
many people in Washington this morning
who were morally certain they had seen it
sailing over the Potomac and gradually
disappearing from view over the Virginia
hills back of Fort Myer.
1t seems that the mysterious object in
the heavens first attracted the attention
Of some rivermen in Cumberlands boat
house, at the foot of New Hamnshire
avenue. They in turn notified the man in
charge of the Analostan club house ad-
joining. and gazed wondsringly at the
aerial stranger. Glasses were brought into
requfsition, and with their aid the object
seemed to bear resemblance to q canvas
box. oblong in shape, some said a mile or
more In the air, and at that great distance
apparently a yard or more In dimensions.
The rumor spread in the neighborhood,
and the employees in Littlefield & Alvord' 5
yards. at the Crawford paving works and
In Heurich's brewery Were considerably ex-
cited over the discovery. The residents in
that vicinity stood in the streets or peered
out OF windows, gazing intently on the
mysterious ship.
Undoubtedly it was some floating object
tics, the top of a tower of some building
the base of which was obscurad i'm the
haze. 1t was seen to sway in the wind and
to rock from side to side, now turning Its
brcadside to the eyes of the intent cb-
servers, displaying It's expansive width
now shifting in position un.ll it seemed a
thin line. With strong glasses two dark
objects were to be fainty discerned within
the ship. and the more imaginative of those
watching Its flight made these out 10 be the
Iavigators of the mysterious craft.
The supposed ship was first sighted
shortly after o'clock this morning 1t
was then high in the heavens and appear
ed to be lowering over Fort Myer and the
Arlington reservation. 1t was seen by
hui dreds Of veraciors citizens, who will
make affidavit, If necessary, to the fact
1t remained in view until after ii o'clock
and then was lost in the haze in the hori-
zon. Several Of those who saw it are con-
tident that it was travelling southwark.
attached to the craft, and those who watch
ed II both with the unaided eye and with
the help of glasses were unable to see any
propeller or to determif e the motive power
that speeded the ship on its southerly
course
or course, the capital city of the nation
does not wish to be passed by without 4,
visit from the airShip when that vessel
shall have been constructed and successful
ly launched and navigated. No doubt those
who so quickly jumped to the conclusion
that the ship had this morning arrived will
be ckagrinad to learn that the supposed ves-
sci was none other than one of the weather
bureau kites which was sent up back of
Arlington for purposes of meteorological
experiment. So Washingtonians will have
to wait while yet for real, live airship.