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I moved my outfit to Indianapolis and set it up on a side street near the center of the city. We were to inflate with city gas. A pipe and valve were convenient for the inflation. I had many assistants. Too many in fact, as it turned out! The men furnished by the paper were not familiar with the work but were anxious to help. Most of the sand bags were improperly placed on one side. I was too busy to keep an eye on everything and didn't notice this particular item. Suddenly, there was a puff of wind and the balloon slipped out from under the netting, bounding up into the air where it was torn into ribbons.

This was a hard blow! At the opening of my anticipated good season, I had a profitable contract one minute and the loss of a brand new balloon in the next! I sat down on the curb and let the tears roll down my cheeks.

However, business must succeed so I called my brother in Toledo on the telephone and he brought me a new balloon. We inflated it on a vacant lot without the aid of willing but inexperienced workers. With this new outfit, I was able to complete the ascensions required by my contract. I completed the ascension all right but not the descension! As I was about to haul the balloon down, a sudden squall blew the balloon on to the top of a dead tree. As the tough boughs pierced the silk of the balloon, it was instantly deflated. I realized the performance was all over. The second balloon was so badly torn that I burned it on the spot. One day I had a profitable contract and two completely ruined balloons the next! Such were the fortunes of the early aeronaut!

Whenever possible I obtained weather reports from the U.S. Weather Bureau and in many cases was able to avoid some of these difficulties. But as time went on, I became my own forecaster.