Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-10-19
INVOLUNTARY ERoSAUTIcs.
ThriiIing Adventure or n BOy with
10 Mammoth hf;c.

Thrilling Adventure or n Boy VIII
"a Mammoth hi;e.
From the Chicago Timcs.l
A very singular occurrence took place
on Friday last, near Bridgeport, which
puts dangerous aspect on a boyisl
sport that has hitherto been considered
quite pastime. A lad named Willie
Goodman, aged ten years, residing on
Columbia street, like every other boy IN
the kite-nying period of his existence
became ambitious to make a monster
kite that should fly higher than any
other that ever was made. Accordingly
he made one with wings, such as may be
seen in any toy-shop window. 1t was
built after the style of a Japanese kite,
and was fully six feet in length. The
stout frame work was covered with paper
in very artistic manner and a strong
hempen cord was attached to the cross
beams.
All things prepared, two compan ons
boosted" the artificial bird to a proper
angle, and it flew into the air like a
thing of life. 1t arose moderately at
first, the wind taking it to the westward,
but having attained about two hundred
feet it came into an opposing current
which drove it to the south with great
velocity. The mammoth toy rose still
higher and higher, the little aronaut
letting out the string, which was nearly
Jerking him off his feet. AS his kite
went upward, the boy S spirits went with
it, and he continued paying out the line
until, at length. an end was reached;
but still the ravenous kite demanded
more. Being arrested in its flight, it
began to jerk and pull so savagely that
the lad was compelled to tie the cord
about his waist to prevent its slipping
from his hands.
The ambitious boy had reached the
hight of success in @ronautics, and he
gazed in rapture on the kite that looked
mere speck on the sky, fully a quarter
of mile away. For some moments it
described semi-circles in the air, occa-
sionally jerking so hard as TO nearly lift
the boy. Soon it made furious plunge,
and rose again so rapidly as to lift the
aerial navigator clear from the ground
Nor did he come down again immedi-
ately, but kept rising higher and higher,
at the same time drifting in- southerly
direction, until an altitude of seventy
five feet or more was reached. By cling
ing to the cord the lad was enabled to
maintain an upright position, but he was
unable to unite it, nor was such course
desirable, for while the cord was lead
ing him to apparent destruction, it was
the only immediate means of safety.
The scene was indescribably horrify-
ing to the few who witnessed it. Per-
haps five minutes elapsed in which the
little fellow was dangling between heaven
and earth, powerless to save himself and
beyond the reach Of assistance from
others. Those below set up cry Of an
guish, expecting every moment to see
him dashed to fragments before their
eyes. Finally, when the upper current
seemed to have spent its strength, the
kite began to descend Fortunately the
cord was strong and the boy was light
During both the ascent and descent, the
kite kept drifting, and as il came down
Willie was brought in proximity to the
roof of small two.story house. He
seized hold of the chimney, which hap
pened to be within his reach, and in a
moment was safely anchored
There was shout of joy from the
crowd below, some of their number
quickly produced ladder, and reached
the side of the little eronaut. The cord
that bound him was cut, and the kite,
deprived of its ballast, careened again
and again, until it finally reached the
ground fully mile away.
The boy uttered not word, but still
clung to the chimney, and could not be
persuaded that he was out of danger.
lie was forcibiy torn from the bricks, and
restored to his home The result cannot
be called happy one as yet, for the
little fellow is lying dangerously i'll of
brain fever, superinduced by fear,