The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-16
AIRSHIP IS TO BE HERE.
Will Be In One of the Parades
Festival Week.
Will Extend Nearly Across Kan
sas Avenue and Have Wings.
Committee of Fifteen Appro PIRATES
$500 For Five Magnificent
Floats-Othor Designs to
Be Adopted Later.

The airship has been captured. The
person in search of something wonder
full may as well give up searching the
heavens at night for a glimpse of the
strange light that has startled the
whole United States.
This rather remarkable feat was ac-
complished by two Topeka men but the
person who tries to secure the details
of the capture will be disappointed for
both gentlemen and all who have been
let into the secret have been sworn TO
silence.
A Journal reporter caught a glimpse
of a model of the ship last night at the
meeting of the Committee of Fifteen
1t was not intended that he should see
it, but Journal reporters find out much.
The captOrs of the airship gave their
solemn promise to the Committee OF
Fifteen last night that the a1rshlp IN
all its splendOr of illumination should
appear on the streets in the big parade
of the Fall Festival. They did even
more than promise, they entered into a
written contract which means the for
fixture of a large sum of money II the
aerial monster does not appear on Sche-
duled time. The contract specifies that
after the parade the claim of the Com
mittee of Fifteen is to be released and
the ship will sail away to continue its
work of startling people at night.
The sight of the model secured by
Journal reporter enables the journal TO
give its readers an accurate description
in the big parade. Its body resembles
that of a garfiSh. 1t is at least 30 feet
in length and at the tail is propeller
which enables the operator TO move
the ship in any direction, even against
a heavy wind. It's body is made OF ma
terial resembling aluminium and 1t IS
painted with large scales to resemble
fish. In place of the eyes two search
lights shine which may be responsible
for the lights seen by people in the sky
Above the long body are two enormous
-Tr,rr -fY-rTfa r F
strong material which ableS the OPP
orator to rise as high as he pleases or
move as rapidly as suits MS pleasure
/ Thee wings are operated from the car
suspended from the body by steel
. bands. The motive power IS bel1eVed TO
be q powerful dynamo and 1t requires
very little attention after the machine
is started in motion. The WhOIe thlng
appears to be very light and still it is
strong enough to weather the heaviest
Kansas gale. The car will carry about
a dozen people.
The same firm contracted last night
to furnish four other floats. but their
details will not be made public. They
will be paid 81 500 for the floats on con-
equipment and appear twice If neces-
The subjects of the floats adopted
are as follows:
Midsummer's Night Dream.
Scene from Grey's Elegy.
Broken Scene from Faust.
Prof. Dyche's trip in search OF the
north pole.
Work on the hoats will be commenced
next week.
OF course there will be other floats
in the big parade, but those adopted by
the committee last night Will be the
principal ones, and nothing Will stand
in the way of any organization taking
a hand and turning out individual
floats to participate in the parade,
which will probably be held on Thurs
| day night of Festival week.
THE STATE REUNION.
If anyone believes that the Commit
tee of Fifteen is going to let the state
| reunion go by default he is very much
| mistaken. The old soldiers were well
! treated and entertained last fall in To
Del1a They were admitted every
| where free and it is not surprising that
! they want to come back
The Committee of Fifteen appreciates
/ the kindly feelings of the veterans and
promises them a bigger time next fall
/ han they had last year They will
| be invited to come and no stone viii
| be left unturned to secure the required