1911-10-13-sc-p5-reuben-bowers-experimenting

October 13, 1911 Spokane Daily Chronicle Page 5:

AVIATOR FALLS; STILL UNDAUNTED

Reuben Bowers Experimenting With Biplane on the Fields in East Spokane.

Three falls from heights of from 10 to 50 feet, and two machines smashed are incidents in the record of Reuben Bowers, who is now continuing his flight experiments east of Spokane.

For the last five years he has been almost constantly at work on various models of flying machines, and he now believes that he has the proper build.

“It was five weeks ago that I tested my luck the hardest,” said Bowers, “during a trial flight at Harrington, I came down 50 feet with the engine shut off, but the gliding angle was too short. The ground came up and hit me too soon, and all I had for six month's work was a pile of smashed kindling.

"This biplane I have now ts rebuilt from that, and I think the experience has taught me a good deal. I was up five or six times before the smash-up.

Monoplane Too Light.

"The first machine I had was a monoplane, and though it worked well, it was too light. It came near killing me several times, and I finally threw it up. Compared to running a monoplane, aviating with a biplane is child's play. You have to be on the job all the time with the monoplane. I think I have learned enough not to try that model again."

Bowers’ present machine is of work-manlike construction. A machinist by trade, he has developed several little methods of bracing and tying that seem most efficient. M. M. Mecklenburg of Harrington, and James Powers of Spokane are assisting him financially. One contract has already been made with the Colfax fair management for dally flights next week.