Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-07-19
sKYWARD BY TOY BALLOONS.
A Child Suspended In Mid.Air, and
Rescued by n Rlne-Sh0t.

At the still hour of midnight, had the
trump of Gabriel summoned US all to
worldly reckoning, more excitement,
CONSERVATION and weeping could not
have come over the many good people
who were present and witnessed the
most wonderful and miraculous escape
that ever happened in this or any other
country. Mrs. Robert Elliott, of Texas,
has been here for the past ten days or
more, to restore the health of her child.
a bright and sweet little cherub less
than three years old, who is much ema-
ciated from..a spell of Texas fever. This
morning, about 10 o'clock, "A strolling
Italian made his appearance in front of
| the hotel with large cluster of those
| red bladder-like toy balloons. Major
Hawkins, of Alabama, to amuse little
Birdie. whom he at the time had in his
arms. tied tho cord that held the bal
looms, around her waist, and then, as is
80 often done. gave her toss of five or
six feet into the air, aud held up his
In gone" cried the Major, as he saw her
passed the house tops. Floating in the
clouds, with outstsetched hands, tue lit
tie angel could be heard distinctly call
1
till her voice was drowned by the whis
thing of the wind. All the men at the
hotel staVted out in boats, for the little
one was drifting to sea.
by an act of Divine Providence Mr..
CHARLES j. Voorhees,, of the Southern
Express Company, with party of gen
tlemen were out taking a sail. Mr.
: Voorhees, is one of the most expert rifle
men in the country, and, as God had or
! dained 1t, he had on board his Smith a
} Wesson rifle. He at once took in tbs
, situation, remarking, six miles out al
!, | yea and going at the rate of ten miles
/ an hour, and now four hundred yard,
/ high and every minute going higher
higher. higher. can cut those balloons
and will do it or die"
} Bang! went the rifle; bot no change il
!. position. Again. again and again-th,
/ fifth shot one balloon disappeared
, amidst the shouts Of the boatmen. A
) | the eighth shot II became evident tina
the balloons could not longer carry
. the weight of the little floating angel
IA she was gradually descending, no
in straight line, but in southeas
direction. towards Harker's Island; bu
: whether dead or alive none could tell
. Down, down, down shs comes, as gentl.
. as IL handled by human hands, aud 4
!. fall in cradle of sand. With fear ant
!, trembling all ran up, Ben Piver in front
. "Gentlemen," says he, "Fil be dinge'
: II she amt alive and kicking" Their
sat little Birdie playing with lot o
!. shells, and as she was picked up sh
! clung to handful, saying, "oese sell
for mamma"
: With the prize all returned to tn
J. boats. There sat Mr.. Voorhees, with
: death-like pallor on his countenancs
|" and when told that he had saved til
!; babe unhurt. HE tender heart gave wa
y and he wept like a child. The iittl
y darling came out "a bright as n new pi
= and seemed to look ON the whole matte
y a. fun gotten up for her amusement.
The excitement of landing surpasss
:, description. AT the wharf. after every
J. hing seemed safe, then little Bird
= came the nearest of losing her life. Co
. Whitford. a man of generous impulses
= seized the little angel in his arms, an
T. at lightning speed started for its mott
,. or, who Was then lying in an uncor
= scious state, under the skillful care q
y Drs. Hayward, Arendall and Kelly, {
u Louisiana. But before the kind hearte
y Colonel had gene far, amidst the dens
crowd and confusion. he ran of q
wharf into water over eight feet deer
70 Several jumped overheard and aide
' him in landing his prize. The child WI
4 none the worse for the ducking.
q By four o'clock Mrs. Elliott becan
|. conscious. The guests of the house Al
n senbicd in tho ball room at ) p. N. I
Il return thanks 10 Mr.. voorhees, and th
Z. noble boatman, and express condolens
J. and sympathy for Mrs. Elliott Mais
II Hawkins came forward and made fe
a remarks, bat was too much excited
I, speak, but, said he. Had that tabe bee
" lost my mind was made up--I voul
II have rested tonight with her in the sea
Al Thus ended day of she most intsnl
10 excitement that the oldest inhabitai
a ever dreamed or thought of.