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to be his pilot. Though sick, I did as he requested and during the afternoon we ascended from the 138th Street gas works yard. I was greatly pleased to receive a call from Tom Baldwin who assisted in the preparation, told stories and otherwise spread his pleasing personality. When we started the ascent he shouted his good wishes to us for a safe and pleasant trip

Just before leaving some reporters wanted to know where we would make a landing and without hesitation I told them we would have our dinner at Manhattan Beach Hotel. As the wind was blowing in the opposite direction they thought I was joking. After several hours in the air we did manage to make a landing in a Flatbush potato patch near the ocean. A crowd has been following the balloon and, in an effort to be of assistance to us, they trampled down all the potato vines which the doctor paid for with a new one hundred dollar bill.

We had our dinner at the Manhattan Beach Hotel. Tom Baldwin joined us with some enterprising reporters. We met Pawnee Bill, who was one of America's greatest showmen. He was interested in having me build a small model airship to be used in connection with his Wild West show. The dinner was a great success. 

The doctor persuaded me to remain in New York a few days longer and make two more ascensions with him. The second was almost entirely over New York City with the landing on the west shore of the Hudson River. I noticed a fine yacht coming down the river and at the time of landing a voice inquired if he could be of assistance. I asked him to stand by and take us across the river. After making the landing and shipping the balloon, we were invited aboard his yacht and given a ride up and down the river which we all keenly enjoyed. Mrs. Thomas was with us on this pleasant flight. I do not remember the gentleman's