Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-09-13
Bob Fowler Narrowly ES-
CapeS Being Killed When Re-
fractory Biplane Crashes to
Earth Near Alta, California.
THE STEERING GEAR
REFUSED TO WORK
Despite Forty Foot Plunge,
Which Wrecked the Craft,
Aviator Escaped With Severe
Shaking Up,

Alta cal. sept. 12.-Aviator Bob"
Fowler enroute from San Francisco
to New York, met with the first mis-
hap of his pioneer cross-country
aerial voyage here at 10:SO O'Clock
this morning when, in trying TO make
A landing, necessitated by a refrac-
tory engine and steering gear, his ol-
plane collided with two trees, hurting
it to the ground and slightly injurlng
the dauntless birdman. Both planes
of the craft and its two propellers
were broken and Fowler VIII be de-
layed here for at least two uays be-
fore he can resume his eastward
journey.
Before leaving Auburn this morn
ing. Fowler had his first trouble with
his engine when a wire of the mag
neto circuit pulled out. The wire was
repaired, but it is believed that 1t
was this defect which caused the
later trouble.
Leaving Auburn at 9.37 o'clock
Fowler rose to a height OF about 400
feet and followed the route of the
Southern Pacific tracks through the
rolling approaches to the toothiil dis
trlct For almost forty miles he sail
led along without mishap, easily dis
tanclng the special train and automo-
biles which had started frnm Auburn
at the same time.
AS he came into view in this sec
tion, however, il was apparent that
something was wrong with his craft
About half mile from here his
course suddenly. deviated sharply. He
did not slaeken speed and his ma
chine dashed full into the two trees
There was not space enough be-
tween the trees to permit the biplane
to pass through unscatched.
At height of about forty feet from
the ground the right plane of the
machine struck the right hand tree
with splintering sound and the force
OF the blow sent the craft Careening
against the other tree. This second
blow crushed the left plane and with
both wings thus crumpled into a
useless mass the great bird OF human
creation lowered for the fraction of a
second and then turned turtle as II
started on its fall to earth.
In falling the tail piece was
doubled up beneath the craft by the
the ground with the tail piece and
lpropellers pointing downward thus
!splntering both propellers and the
lrudder. Fowler remained In his seat
until the machine struck the ground
when he was hurled against the mo
tor and through the debris of th'
rudder to the ground.
Spectators by the score, who had
Witnessed F'owler's fall from dis.
tance. rushed to his aid and his In.
juries were quickly given attention
His mechanlcians were soon on tn,
scene, having arrived on the specia
train which is following his course
Some of the broken pieces of the
aeroplane were replaced with substi
tutes carried on the train. but Others
| had to be sent to Reno for repairs.
In explaining his mishap. Fowlel
| ''Ih Nilhl uia SAtNi iiik h'hi i'uh ouh
denly become blocked when he was {
few miles from the scene Of the acct
dent and he was helpless to direct hi
course. At the same time his elevat
ing plane refused TO work and his ef
Iforts to control the biplane resulted II
the dIsoonnecting of the defective
magnetic wire which had givei
trouble earlier in the morning. Fowl
er was not only unable to direct hi
course from side to side, or up o
down. but powerless to shut down hi
Iengine. Had he been able to shut Of
the motor, he could easily have glid
ed down to an open field.
Fowler declared tonight that h
would continue his journey withi
three days.
Fowler's injuries consist only {
bruises and are not of a seriou
nature.