Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-04-14
VISION OF VENUS.
Prof. Mansill's Explanation of
the Air Ship.
VHAr Is HOW NIsLBADma.

More People Claim to Have Seen ire
Aerial Navikator-Asso witness Destrue.
tion Of Paper BalIoon-A Chsnce To-
night.
Prof. Richard Mansill, Rock ISL
and's authority on planeiary science,
reached home this morning. and to
an ARGUS representative, who sought
his views on the air ship phenome-
non, stated that he had no views, in
that he had given the subject no
consideration. "Indeed." said the
professor, IL have not looked for
the strange object, and consequently
have not seen it. think the world
has been deluded by q vision of
Venus. People are dreaming.
Venus is the bright, particular star
in the western armament at this
time. 1t happens every two years
at this time of year that Venus be-
comes unusually brilliant. and while
people rot students Of planetary
science are not apt 10 be startled
with the beauty of the planet, the
more their attention is attracted to
it the more they become impressed
with the splendor Of the spectacle
which for years has toasted the eyes
of astronomers. On the 28th of the
month Venus will disappear and
shortly thereafter will become 3
morning star. Then, l take it, the
people will imagine they see an air
ship in the morning.
.Another star that is attracting
much attention now is Alpha, in the
southwestern heavens. This illumi-
mating body has adopted a peculiarly
and particularly red shade. and this.
too. may have contributed to the
excitement that is prevalent over
alleged scientific discoveries"
Saw the Ship Again.
Passengers on the ferry. Augusta,
coming from Davenport shortly after
8 O'Clock last night we're positive they
saw the air ship. There were 25 On
board and all gazed in wonder at q
strange light. this time in the east
ern heavens. The sky being COM
pletely overcast there was no oppor-
tunity to confuse the spectacle with
stars. and all were satisfied they saw
an illuminated moving object. Rob-
ert Solomon, of the Augusta crew,
had the boat whistle blow salute
to the passing ship to keep to the
right, but it disregarded the marine
laws and failed to acknowledge the
signal. Solomon afterward speak
ing Of it said 'the light appeared off
in the east up the river. 1t seemed
about the head of the rapids and
moved swiftly in southerly direc-
ton. Almost as we gazed it seemed
to cross over the upper part of the
Island OF Rock Island, and cut across
the lower part of Moline, and the
east end Of Rock Island and finally
disappeared in the southeast.
Shortly after we observed q light
rise suddenly in the southwest which
soon sent up sheet of blaze and
disappeared. That was plainly hot
air balloon started to deceive no
doubt, and eventually caught
fire, but feel confident that the first
was the air ship"
| As the prospects are not unfavor-
able to clear sky tonight, the pres
ent positions of the planets as we'll
as the opportunity to witness the un-
natural spectacle should be better
than was the case last night.
An enterprising young man sent up
hree hot air balloons on Twelfth
street last night, but only one as
cended far enough to be seen.
There are all sorts of funny stories
in town today about the air ship hav-
ing been in the outskirts of Rock Is.
land Monday, and having been near
Milan yesterday afternoon.