Apparition of the Air..........Arion

Here is another UFO report from 1896. Apparently the "mystery airship" as it was known then made so many appearances over San Francisco back then that it became a real sensation.

This is from the now-defunct newspaper, The San Francisco Call.

"THE APPARITION OF THE AIR!!"

Oaklanders Say Its Frame Was Like the Body of a Bird.

ATTORNEY COLLINS’ TALE SUPPORTED.

Another Lawyer Who Was Informed of the Alighting of the Flier.

MOVING LIGHTS ONCE MORE MYSTIFY THIS CITY.

Dr. Benjamin Disclaims the Invention — Mayor Sutro’s Testimony and That of Other Reputable Citizens Offered.

Testimony concerning the existence of an airship which is supposed to be navigating the air over the bay cities by night and hiding from observation in some secluded place before daybreak came in yesterday from many sources. Many persons saw mysterious lights moving overhead.

But the projectors of the phenomenon which has caused intense and general interest seem to revel in mystery. Among those who yesterday told of seeing the lights carried about by an aerial visitor were Mayor Sutro, Colonel Menton, the excursion agent of the Southern Pacific Company; Samuel Foltz, advertising manager of The Call; Professor C. H. Murphy of the Polytechnic High School, also many others. What they saw or heard from others who saw the moving light is told in the subjoined account.

They all tell practically the same story, which is that the light appeared quite high overhead and that it moved very fast. They did not all observe it to be moving in the same direction.

Dr. Benjamin, who has been supposed to have invented a flying machine or airship, which is supposed to be the cause of the phenomena observed overhead during the past few nights, was in the City yesterday, and last evening was interviewed by The Call.

Dr. Benjamin said that he did not know anything about the airship. At the same time he conceded that if he did know of such an invention of his own, he would consider it wise not to give any information concerning it until he had secured his patents. Dr. Benjamin said that Mr. Collins is his attorney, and admitted that he visited Mr. Collins yesterday afternoon.

This, in connection with the fact that Mr. Collins admitted that he is attorney for a man who claims to have invented an airship, must be taken for what it is worth.

Concerning this mystery it should be clearly understood that The Call does not aver that an airship has been invented, nor does it deny that such is the fact. There is no intention on the part of The Call to deceive its readers. The statements which have been made by reputable citizens are given, and these will undoubtedly be carefully considered and the consensus of public opinion will place the true value upon the different circumstances.

There are several theories to account for the mysterious moving light, which do not necessarily imply the existence of a flying machine or airship. There is no doubt that many people firmly believe in the airship.

There were many such who sat up late last night to watch for the appearance of such a vessel. Many stood on roofs and in other elevated places, in the rain, until late, hoping to get a glimpse of it.

At the hour of going to press the whole matter remained a mystery.

Henry W. Bradley of the law firm of Stanly, Hayes & Bradley made a very interesting statement which will be widely read.

The most circumstantial story yet told came from Oakland last night. Passengers on a streetcar claim to have been attracted by the light overhead and looking upward they saw distinctly the outlines of an airship, which resembled a huge bird in its outlines and which seemed to rise and fall in its course. Many residents of Oakland say that they, also, discerned the outlines of the vessel.

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There was another edition to the paper on the same day, with the following editorial, which also adds a bit more mystery:

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Has there been no solution to this mystery about the so-called airship?

That a bright light has been seen several times traveling through the air cannot be denied, for reputable Citizens have witnessed it. Surely it cannot be dismissed as a bird, for whoever heard of one so high in the air and traveling against the wind? It also seems improbable that a huge bird is flying around at night with a lantern tied to its tail!

It cannot be a meteor, for if it were it would have to fall to the ground either as a solid or in the form of ashes, and the light produced by its passage through the atmosphere would disappear.

I don't think I got the "jim-jams," but I saw a bright light going through the air early yesterday morning . Its course was toward the northeast.

The light as I compared it with the one seen at the State Capitol had the same appearance, but it was not quite so bright. It remained in sight for over twenty minutes. I don't call this an airship, but I would like to know, as many others would, the solution of this aerial mystery.

Isn't it interesting that people back then reported that it had wings, and looked "like a bird"? Rather like passenger jets today...! I'm reminded of that old Twilight Zone episode about the jet that goes back in time.

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