The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-04-17

under a big canvas across from the
state armory, to be exact-amid the
roar of forges and din of anvils,
from five to 10 workmen during the
past week have been toiling like so
many bees around a huge frame
work OF light steel. A sign outside
warns the curious to Keep Out"
and, even should you get inside
through the kind offices of friend
Who is acquainted, you would never
know what was going on, for the
toiiers are silent and questions get
but scant notice.
Even the man who is apparently
boss will say nothing. He is en-
crossed in various blue prints and
diagrams and, beyond sharp
order occasionally, contents himself
in wrinkling his forehead over the
plans and comparing the measure
ments as the work progresses.
The secret-for few people in
Spokane know about it's that a
giant air craft is being constructed
at a cost of $4,000, for a trial
flight to take place this week dur
ing the Merchants and Travellers
Exposition and Carnival No small
biplane to carry one man with
much difficulty and risk is being
built, but an airship to carry eight
persons in comfort and safety-as
the inventor hopes. II
w. r. CLARK, INVENTOR.
The machine is the invention of
w. r. Clark, a mechanic and ma
chinist who has lived in Spokane
ii years. That others have faith in
his invention, which is amply COW
cred by patents, is shown by the
fact that company with some
capital, the Western Motor Plane
company, has been organized.
Nothing but a model of the craft
has been built so far. An allustra-
ton of it accompanies this. Clark
and his friends claim that this lit
tie machine-it is about 10 feet
long-with three horsepower en-
I CINE in it, has made successful
short flights.
The Clark air craft will be SO
by CO feet in dimensions and will
carry 1000 feet of canvas 1t is
a heavier-than-air machine, but is
designed on an entirely different
principle from the Wright and
Curtis biplanes.
Instead of maintaining itself in
the air as machines which have
been successful in the past do, by
being driven with force against
the air, which pushes up under the
planes, thus supporting them on
the same principle-only reversed
of a. kite, the Clark craft aims
to rise into the air by the lifting
power of two propellers working
horizontally on the top of the ma,
chine, and by two air paddles, SO
to speak, one on each side of the
craft
The air paddles are like the
paddles of side wheel steamer in
principle, only the blades are cup
shaped and, revolving at a great
rate of speed, are intended to
enter the cage without a thought
of fear. You see there are always
two or three men standing near
who could fly to our rescue in a
moment if anything happened"
How do you account for your
influence or control over the ami
mals?"
The great secret is to assume al,
attitude of bravado and confidence
GOODNESS and Indifference, and
above everything else, never be off
guard. You will notice that we
rarely turn our back long on any
animal. Then, again, the magnet
| ism of steady gaze of the eyes in
| looking them straight in the face
probably has more influence than
anything else"
Have you ever been injured?"
only a few months ago | re-
ceived some bad injuries, from
which suffered for some time, and
the others have also been hurt sew
eral times by being attacked. but
we have always returned to- the
foe" b
II cannot explain what 1t is about
this life which appeals to one.
There is the innate love of mastery
over these wild monarchs of the
forest that | can feel but cannot eX-
plain-and possibly the love of ap-
plause has much to do with it.
There is an indescribable joy in
having compelled these ferocious
brutes to lie down, perfectly sub
missive, then bend over and touch
their quivering flank and feel the
heated breath" 4
But the danger"
"Oh, we never think of the dan
ger"
DO you never tire of the life?
One of your appearance and refine
ment seems so out OF place in a
cage of leopards.'
"Yes, sometimes ] become home
sick to see my parents, and !
weary of the drudgery and think |
will return TO the mountains OF
Switzerland, but in the enu | do
not seem able to tear myself away
from the dumb beasts, even though
they would not hesitate moment
| to devour me.
when training wild animals they
| are first put in cages with people
passing round all the time, so they