THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 2, 1996 TAG: 9608020475
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: SEATTLE LENGTH: 29 lines
A meeting between Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates and a group of stock analysts and reporters was moved from a conference hall to an aircraft carrier because of a bomb scare.
Just before Gates was to begin his speech Wednesday on the software company's business strategy for the Internet and other systems, officials evacuated the waterfront Bell Street Pier International Conference Center. A suspicious bag had been found on a rooftop observation deck.
Gates tried to give his speech through a bullhorn outside, but was drowned out by hundreds of people who had flocked to the complex to greet the Constellation, which had docked at the pier just a few hours earlier.
Soon, an invitation arrived from the Constellation's skipper, Capt. Rocky Deal, to move Gates and his 200 guests to the carrier's huge hangar deck, where chairs and a rostrum had been set up for the ship's arrival.
Gates went on with his presentation - speaking in front of a huge American flag, with an F/A-18 fighter to his right.
There was no bomb. The Seattle police bomb squad X-rayed the gym bag, then opened it remotely with a high-pressure water jet. Police spokeswoman Carmen Best said it contained soda cans and food. by CNB