Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1902 — Airship Invented by Illinoisan [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Airship Invented by Illinoisan

A model of a new dirigible air ship is on exhibition at Chicago. It represents the results of five years’ work on the part of William Reiferscheid of Streator, 111. The model shows a

contrlvance consisting of two major parts, a cigar-shaped balloon, to which is attached a frame, on which are six propellers. Four propellers are used for ascending and descending and

two for steering. The power is supplied by a gasoline engine. The owner of the machine flaims it will do many evolutions unknown to the flying machine of Santos-Dumont.

The Streator inventor declares his Eagle, for that is what he calls it, could be driven from Chicago to New York at a rate of 100 miles an hour, and that it could be sailed around a tower with its sides touching the structure at all times. He also contends that the Eagle could be turned around all day in the same spot in the air. It is planned to construct a machine at an expense of SIO,OOO on the following dimensions. The balloon will be 25x100 feet. The propellers or screws are to have ten-foot blades. The whole weight of the attachment to the balloon will be 1,500 pounds, while the balloon Will have a lifting power of 2,600 pounds. The Dumont airship had a single propellor .with two blades. “I think I have a practical machine,” said the inventor. *“I know that many people regard airship inventors as being insane, but air navigation soon will be practicable."