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BROKEN PROMISES AT CINCINNATI
Strobel made the contract at Cincinnatti [Cincinnati], with the agreement that I would personally make all flights, wherever this was insisted upon, I was elected to do the flying. My first engagement was at Coney Island Park in Cincinnatti [Cincinnati], a park owned and operated by the strees railway. Strobel promised the first flight would be made on Decoration Day and we would fly down over the city. The contract provided for transportation to and from the park, but this was not done, I had to hire a van to take us ten or twelve miles out to the park. Because of bad weather and the delay in getting to the grounds, I did not fly on Decoration Day, but was able to make a very good exhibition the day following. As we were making flights without a guarantee and being paid for each flight made, this seemed to be quite all right.
At the close of the the week, I called at the office to collect the amount due me and was informed by the manager that he did not owe me one cent as I had failed to comply with the terms of the agreement and he would thank me to get my outfit off the grounds. He was surrounded by is private police and they looked as if it would be their pleasure to tear me in bits. I told him I thought it poor sportsmanship to treat anyone in this manner, especially as the contract was clear and that I had flown well within the terms of the agreement. He told me he did not care a ---, that I had not made the first flight agree to by my partner and that ended the matter as far as he was concerned. He told me if I thought it advisable to bring suit, that I would be beaten as this park was owned by by politicians and they controlled the courts, so I could go ahead