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FIRST FLIGHT AT LOS ANGELES
We reached Los Angeles on December 6th.  Baldwin quickly made arrangements for a series of exhibitions at Chutes Park located at Washington and Main streets.  This park was next to a [[base ball]] grounds, from which we expected to do all our flying.  We assembled the outfit in an old barn at the rear of the park, which I was informed was all that was left of the first theatre erected in Los Angeles.  It was just large enough for our purpose.  We had to build a hydrogen gas generator with which we [[manufactrued]] our gas to inflate the airship.   

On Christmas December 25, 1904 I made the first power driven flight that was ever made in the State of Califonia.  I flew from the ball park, down over Los Angeles, turned around the Temple Building and then back to the ball park.  Just as I was about to make a landing the engine stopped.  I started to drift toward the east with the breeze and made a quick landing on a vacant lot at First and Clarence Streets about a mile and one half from the park.  Baldwin came over together with some boys who had helped us at the park, and we attempted to start the motor again.  Finally it started and I was able to fly back, but on getting close to the park the motor stopped the second time.  I then drifted with the wind and into Puente Hills where I made a landing. I deflated the ship then packed the outfit on a horse drawn vehicle and returned to the park. 

Before landing I had lowered the trail rope and a young man attempted to get hold of it to aid me in landing and was yanked off his feet.  However, he didn't give up.  When he again reached terra firma he ran for several miles through barbed wire fences, over hills and ditches until he finally caught up with