The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-07-06
c-LtINa ADVENTURE.

v
health of her little child, Birdi, old, who
little chcrub less than three years, '~~
is much emaciatcd from spell of Texas
fever.
Little Birdie, by her general sprightlincss
has endeared h,rs II to " ry gu st Of tie
house; she is pet and favorite with
every one and no one passes her without
kind word, which she readily recognizes.
This morning about 10 o'clock strollinS
Italian made his appearance in front of tho
hotel with a large cluster Of red toy bal
Icons. Major Hawkins Of Alabama, 70
amuse little Birdie, tied the cord around
her waist, and then, as is so often dono
to amuse children, gave her toss of five or
six feet in the air, aud held out his hands
for her return. "Great God ! she is gone,"
cried the Major, as he saw her rapidly going
up, up, up, until she had passed the house
tops. Floatingin the clouds with outstretch-
ed hands the little angel could be heard
distinctly calling, "mamma mamma man.
ma" until her voice became drowned by
the whistling of the winds.
Gall to your boats" !" shouted old Captain
Dixon, "and never son of a man turn back
until that child is brought to its nanny"
81, I, 1, l, I, l." responded six of as
brave aud daring boatmen us ever reefed
sail, aud all with boats seaworthy for any
waters.
Minutes appeared as hours aad the babo
was flying Southeast like kite and would
be out over the great Atlantic Ocean in less
than no time. ANaJ went twenty or moro
we'll manned boats amidst the shouts OF men
and screams of women and children. These
boats were joined by like number from
Beaufort, all of which kept as nea under the
little angel in the cloud as possible. Mr..
Charles j. Voorhees, of tho Southern Ex-
press Company, with party of gentleman,
were out taking sail. Mr.. Voorhees, is
one of the most expert rifemcn in the coun-
try, and he had on board his Smith & Wcsson
rifle He at once took in the situation, re-
marking: "Six miles out at sea and going at
the rate of ten miles an hour, and now 400
yards high, aud every minute:going higher,
higher, higher: can cut those balloons,
and will do it or die. Steady the boat"
Bang! went the rifle, but 60 no effect
Again and again the report of the rifle rang
out. At the fifth shot one balloon disap-
peared amidst the shouts of the boatmen-
At the eighth shot it became evident that
the balloons could not longer carry the
weight of the little one, as she was gradually
descending, not in straight line, but in
Southeast direction, towards Harkers' Island
but neither dead oralivc ncnc could tell.
Down, down, down, she comes-ns gentle
as if handled by human hdnds-and to fall
in cradle of sand.
All the boats now put to shore as fast
as the sails would propel them. Before
they reached land most of the men had
jumped overheard and waded ashore Then
began the race for the babe, as sho had come
down on the sand bank only few hundred
yards distant. With fear and trembling all
ran up. There sat lhtle Birdie, playing
with lot of shells, and as she was picked
up sho clung on to handful, saying:
"Dese sells for mamma.
With the prize all returned to the boats.
There sat Mr.. Voorhees,, with death.likc
pallor on his countenauce, and when told
that he had saved the babe uuhurt his ten
der heart gave way and he wept like
child.
The boats were rapidly gotten under way
and headed back for Morehead, and each
wanted to be first to convey the glad tidings,
but they all ran in near together, with hats
and haudkerchicfs flying amidst tho cheers
and screams of several hundred feople. The
excitement of landing surpassos description.
At the wharf, after everything seemed safe
then little Birdie came the nearest of losing
her life. Colonel Whitford, man of gen
erous impulses and one always studying to
make some one else happy, seized the little
girl in his arms and at lightning speed
started for its mother, who wos then lying
In an unconscious state, and under the
skillful care Of DIS. Haywood, Arrendall
and Kelly Of Louisiana. BGt before the
kind hearted Colonel h& gone far, amids.
the dense crowd and confusion, he ran off
the wharf into water aSer cigh. feet deep.
Saveral jumped oyeJ5oard and aided him in
landing his prize. The little girl camo out
as bright as new pin and seemed to look
upon the whole matter as fun gotten mn fur