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Frank M. Bryant
Early West Coast Exhibition Pilot - Instructor

Frank M. Bryant was born at Coatesville, Indiana September 6th, 1875.  In his youth his parents moved to Nelson, Nebraska where he attended school, but as an adventuresome youngster he became a tight wire walker for Ringling Brothers Circus in 1890 at age 15.

With the circus he became intrigued by the daily balloon ascensions and was soon a pal of the balloonist and parachute jumper.  One day in 1891 the balloonist was unable to go up so Bryant offered to take his place.  As a result he made the ascension and chute jump and did so well the balloonist hired him to continue for $60 a week and expenses.  A short time later Bryant purchased the equipment, took over the contract and was in business for himself.

Following this he traveled with the circus for four seasons and became a very accomplished ballonist [[balloonist]], played a safe game and never had an accident.  In this work he traveled all over the United States and learned to make and service his own equipment.

Following this Bryant became interested in the Alaska gold rush and went there, where he got a job on a river boat making trips into the interior.  In time he became the Engineer on the boat, and remained until 1902 when he returned to the United States with a small fortune.  He then started selling Missouri 

Transcription Notes:
[[stamped at the top of the page is the statement 'FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE']] [[image: the image from pages 1 & 2, slightly zoomed out, is inset on this page]]