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Our first ten weeks were a nightmare.  We had one accident after another, some nearly fatal.  With the loss of the potential profits from each contract and with a fixed expense averaging $750 each week per ship, I was kept busy convincing my banker, as well as friends, so that I could secure the necessary cash to continue the business. 

ACCIDENT AFTER ACCIDENT
By the time of my first appearance I had cancelled some of the contracts, transferred some to Captain Tom Baldwin who was glad to fill them for me,and had laid off three of the outfits thereby making me liable to be sued by both the fairs and the pilots and crews.  The first fair at which I exhibited was at Des Moines, Iowa.  In addition to the big airship I had a captive balloon and several small spherical balloons with which I expected to send up the venturesome at a profit.  On setting up the tent the management of the fair had their electrician install wires and electric lamps to light the tent at night as the fair was charging admission to the tent.  These wires were bare in spots and I objected but as the workman promised he would replace them the following day we all forgot about the matter.

This machine had not been tried out as I had been busy traveling from one outfit to another.  Therefore, the first flight was made on the second day of the fair much my personal disappointment.  Charles K. Hamilton arrived on the grounds about the time I was ready to take off and I invited him to make the trip with me.  We made a good flight just before dark which seemed to please everybody. 

The captive balloon had made [[strikethrough]]had[[/strikethrough]] many ascensions and [[?]].  Before leaving the grounds for the night I personally inspected all of the equipment adding ropes here and there where they might reinforce those