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then carried the machine back and placed it in the big hangar. Tom explained to the crowd that this precaution was taken to avoid the risk of losing the machine. On the previous day, the men who had helped us, had all they could do to hold the dirigible on the ground after I had dragged off the frame.
Again, on the following day, October 29, we made another flight which was successful in every way. The motor seemed to respond to our hopes and ambitions and chug-chuged with little vibrations. We had this good fortune to have found a man who seemed to know about engine maintenance. I was amused at Tom when this man started to make repairs. Tom guarded the motor much as one would a watch which had been handed down as a family heirloom. When the motor was taken apart he looked as though he were suffering from pain. But our mechanic was skillful and the motor performed perfectly to everyone's great relief.

HIGH TENSION WIRES
On the last flight I had bad luck, October 30. Passing over a high tension line as the airship approached the grounds for a landing, the trail rope came in contact with the wires. There was a flash and we passed beyond the wires. I noticed a tiny flame creeping up the rope toward the frame. Hoping that an increase of speed would extinguish it, I advanced the spark on the motor, but the temperamental motor only stopped.
We were almost over our grounds, but not near anyone who could reach the rope. By dragging the rope through the trees, the branches had extinguished the blaze. The ship rose steadily and drifted with the wind. I tried several times to make a landing but found a high tension wire directly in my path. Eventually,