Source

THE AIRSHIP DESCRIBED BY FISHERMEN

Say That It Landed on the Beach Near Pacific Grove...

SEEN AT SHORT RANGE.

The Men Assert That They Conversed With the Three Aeronauts.

ABOUT SIXTY FEET IN LENGTH.

The "Call" Correspondents Will Visit the Place Today for Corroborative Evidence.

According to the testimony of two fishermen of Pacific Grove, Monterey County, an airship landed on the beach yesterday about fifteen miles north of that place, and they held a conversation with and dined with the aeronauts. The fishermen described the airship, which they say they viewed from a distance of fifty yards, and asserted that it is about sixty feet long and made of metal.

The Call correspondent, who interviewed the fishermen, states that they have the reputation of being truthful and responsible sailors of the sea. However, he will today visit the place where the airship is said to have landed. If the fishermen's story be true, the aeronauts will surely have left behind some evidence of their visit.

W. H. H. Hart, the attorney for the inventor, stated yesterday that he had not heard of his client recently, but he believes that he is still navigating the sky somewhere over the southern part of the State.

A letter received by The Call from five residents of Watertown gives the information that they saw an airship pass over their locality on the 29th ult., bound apparently to the north.

NEAR PACIFIC GROVE

Two Fishermen Say They Saw the Airship on the Ocean Beach.

PACIFIC GROVE, Cal., Dec. 2.— The problem of navigating the air has at last been successfully solved, there no longer remains a doubt.

At an early hour this morning, some fifteen miles from this city, two Italian fishermen, Giuseppe Valinziano and Luigi Valdivia, while engaged in their vocation, were completely terrorized by seeing an object descending from the heavens, which to their terror-stricken imaginations seemed to be falling directly upon their boat. When the object had fallen within some few hundred yards of the water, it floated easily and at a moderate speed until it landed on the sandy beach.

The airship, for such it proved to be, seemed to be under the perfect control of its occupants, three in number. Immediately on landing, they alighted and picking up their ship, carried it back from the beach and into the woods. As soon as the two fishermen had recovered from their astonishment, they drew in their nets and attempted to make a landing. After several unsuccessful attempts to get through the surf, which was very rough, a landing was made.

During this time, the persons who had so strangely appeared upon the scene were watching the actions of the fishermen, and upon the first signs of a successful landing, one of the party advanced to meet them and warned them away from the spot where the ship was concealed. But Valinziano, who is a man of considerable intelligence, was not to be got rid of so easily, and engaged the aeronaut in conversation with the intention of learning as much as possible concerning the strange visitor. At first, the man who had met them at the water's edge refused to answer any questions or allow the two fishermen to proceed further toward the spot where the ship was located, threatening to use force if necessary to prevent their doing so. But finally, seeing that Valinziano and his companion were determined not to leave without obtaining at least a glimpse of the aerial traveler, milder counsels prevailed.

Telling them to remain where they were until he could consult with his companions, the aeronaut left them and disappeared into the woods, remaining away some fifteen minutes. On his reappearance, he beckoned Valinziano and his companion to advance. Upon their arrival at the edge of the woods, they were met by the entire party. One who appeared to be the leader courteously bade them "Good morning" and said: "I suppose your curiosity has been aroused by our rather unusual mode of traveling. I am not yet ready to make my discovery known to the public, but hope to be able to do so as soon as some slight changes are made in its construction. Until such time, I must refuse to allow anyone to make a close inspection. You are welcome to get such a view of the ship as you can from a distance, but any attempt at closer inspection will meet with forcible resistance."

The man who had done nearly all the talking for the party was addressed by his companions simply as "captain." He declined to give any information as to where the ship was constructed or where he intended going, saying it was simply an experimental trip.

While this conversation was being carried on, his two companions were busily engaged in working about the ship, which the captain admitted was in need of repairs before they could continue on their journey.

The party of aeronauts were well supplied with provisions, and soon after landing began preparations for a meal and cordially invited the two fishermen to join them, which invitation was accepted. Shortly afterward, Valinziano and his companions began making preparations to return to this city but were urged by the captain to remain, that repairs would soon be made and they could see the airship launched. The captain was very urgent in his request for them to remain, and finally prevailed upon them to do so, but later in the afternoon, he informed them that it would be impossible to complete the repairs in time to make an ascension that night.

Valinziano now thinks the purpose of the aeronauts was to detain him until it would be impossible for him to reach the city in time to give publicity to his discovery before the airship had resumed its flight. One of the party, an elderly man and slightly deaf, who seemed to be the machinist of the ship's crew, was addressed by his companions as Stewart. Valinziano is able to give but a slight description of the ship, as he was not allowed to approach closer than fifty feet, but says it appeared to be easily sixty feet in length and cigar-shaped, with a steering apparatus—the latter being the part on which repairs were being made.

The ship was constructed of some light-colored material, and from the vague description of the machinery, most of which is concealed, the motive power is thought to be electricity.

Large wings, of which there are a great many, were closely folded against the side of the ship. The two fishermen got started on their homeward trip about 4 p.m., and, having contrary tides to contend with, did not reach this city until 10 p.m.

At first, his fellow fishermen were inclined to make light of his story and thought him a victim of hallucination, but Valinziano is anything but visionary and is well known as a most reliable and intelligent man, and there is no doubt but that he is stating facts.

The Call correspondent has arranged to leave here at daylight in the company of Valinziano as a guide and visit the spot where the aeronauts made their camp. While it is probable they have long since taken flight, they must have left some indications of their visit.

ANGELENOS CONVERTED.

They Give Interesting Testimony Regarding the Mystery of the Day.

LOS ANGELES, Cal., Dec. 1. - The evidence that an aerial navigator is abroad in this part of the State is accumulating from many quarters from scores of individuals of unquestioned veracity.

All manner of more or less sensational reports were current upon the streets here last evening. One was that the ship had collapsed and fallen upon the Nadeau Hotel. Another was that it had swept over the Wilson block, opposite the Nadeau, and had suddenly risen to a great height.

Colonel Chase of the Nadeau denied having corraled the visitor for private uses but had seen the lights overhead, along with half a dozen guests. Judge W. A. Ryan cot a peep at the visitor on his way from dinner, and as a result his incredulity regarding aerial machines has been entirely removed.

Managing Editor Creighton of the Herald and several members of his staff saw the interesting machine. Mr. Creighton does not undertake to say that what he saw was an airship and neither does he dispute that apparent fact.

Conductor Johnson of the university line saw strange lights overhead and called the attention of his passengers to them while his car was at Second street, on Spring. Necks were craned and a great crowd soon gathered about the car and enjoyed the sight for several minutes.

The editorial force of the Morning Times saw the lights and were greatly interested in the spectacle.

THEY SAW AN AIRSHIP.

Five Men Near Tulare Lake Witnessed Its Remarkable Flight.

According to the written statement of five men of Watertown, Fresno County, the airship passed over that part of the State in its flight to the northward. General Hart of this City, the attorney for the inventor, a week or so ago stated that the aeronaut proposed to take his airship into the higher and lighter atmosphere of the southern part of the State.

Since then, hundreds of people in Los Angeles and along the route have seen lights that convinced them that they had seen the illuminated evidence of a ship of the sky.

From the later accounts, the vessel must have started upon its return trip about the last day of November, as shown by the following letter sent from Watertown:

Watertown, Fresno County, Cal., Nov. 29, 1890.

Editor Morning Call, San Francisco, Cal.

Dear Sir: An airship of great magnitude passed over our town this evening at 8:45. The light first appeared about ten miles south of here in the vicinity of Tulare Lake and passed directly over the post office building, which is located near the southwest corner of section 11-19-19. M. D. M., and disappeared to the northward, in the direction of Mendota. The elevation at this point seemed to be about 400 feet, although at times it approached much nearer the earth. The light was intensely brilliant as it approached. After passing, the form of the ship and the propelling apparatus was plainly discernible against the clear sky. Human forms could be distinctly seen, but no intelligible utterance could be heard.

We would not hazard an opinion as to the rate of speed, but would say not less than fifteen miles an hour.

The undersigned are prepared to make oath to the above statement: Robert McQuarrie, Postmaster. C. B. Hurlbut, Secretary West Side Canal and Land Company. G. H. Brooman, artesian well-borer, Watertown, Fresno County. H. Jerome Spaulding, caterer. R. Preston Hurlbut, civil engineer.

Viewed by Daylight.

SACRAMENTO, Cal., Dec. 1. - Since the publication of the airship items from various portions of the State in The Call, it has leaked out that some of the most responsible people in this city saw a strange object in the clouds on the afternoon preceding the first public sight of the mysterious searchlight in this city. They claim that this object was at such an enormous height that they were unable to plainly distinguish its form, but also say that when it turned they caught the glint or shine as of a metallic object, and that frequently sheets of paper would slowly flutter earthward as though the occupants were casting them out for the purpose of ascertaining whether their vehicle was approaching or receding from the earth.