The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1883-08-02
Ghe 9fmotrat.
A Flight In The Air.


the people than was ever known be
fore. The three year old daughter
of Mrs. Robert Elliott was brought
70 the seaside a month ago to recoy
er from seyare attack OF Texas fe-
yer. She became a pet aud favorite
at the Alabama Hotel
Yesterday morning stroliing ltai
ian made his appearance In 'front.' oil
the hotel with large cluster of those
red. bladder.Iike toy balloons. Ma
jor Hawkins. OF Alabama, TO ainuse
the child Birdie, who he at the time
had In his arms, tied the cord around
her waist, and then, as Is done TO
amusc children, gave her a toss OF
five or six feet in the air, and held
out his hands for her return. "Great
God she Is gone" cried the Major,
as he saw her rapidly going ur, up.
until she had passed the housctops.
Floating in the clouds with out.
stretched hands, the little angel could
be heard distinctly calling, Mamms!
mammal mammal until her voice
bccamed drowned by the whistling OF
the winds.
"All to your boatsr shouted old
Captain Dixon, land never a son OF
man turn back until that child is
brought tn Its mammal.
81, /, l." responded six of as brave
and daring boatmen as ever reefed
sail, and all seaworthy for any wa
tiers.
Minutes appeared as hours and the
babe was flying southeast like a
kite, and would be out over the great
Atlantic Ocean in less than no time.
Away went twenty or more well
manned boats amidst the shouts OF
men and scrcams of women and
children. These boats were joined
by like number from Beaufort, all
of which kept as near under the lit
tie angel in the cloud as possible.
Mr. Charles j. Voorhees,, Of the
Southern Express Company, with a
party Of gentlemen, were out taking
sail. Mr.. Voorhees, is one OF the
most expert rifemen, in the country,
and, as Providence, had ordained it,
he had on board his Smith IL Wcsson
rifle. He at once took in the situa.
ton, remarking, six miles out at
sea and going at the rate OF ten miles
an hour, and now four hundred yards
high, and every minute going high
er. higher, higher. | can cut those
balloons, and will do it or die.
Steady the boat, throw her lecward
OF the squadron, Squire Wader'
Let us iine in PRAYER before he
Shoots" said Steve Turner, the col.
ored minister and mail carrier.
IL don't put much confidence in
'liglon when danger is about" SAID
Mr.. Dixon.
By this time the boat had got in
position to give her the most protec.
tion from the stiff breeze then blow
ing.
.Now's your time" shouted Piver,
"don't you see them two off to them
selyes"
Bang" went the ride, but no
change in position. Again, again
and again--the fifth shot one balloon
disappeared amidst the shouts oil the
boatmcn At the eighth shot it be-
came evident that the balloons could
no longer carry the weight OF the lit
tie floating angel. as she was grad
ually decending-not in straight
line, but in south east direction,
toward Harker's Island, but whether
dead or alive none could tell Down,
down, down she cones-as gentle as
If handled by human hands-and to
fall in cradle of sand.
To land, to land, and all put to
shore as fast as the sails would pro-
pei the boats. Before they reached
land most of them jumped overheard
and waded ashore. Then began tine
race tor the babe, and she had come
down on sand bank only few
hundred yards distant. With fear m d
trembling all ran up-Ben Pivers in
front. Gentlemen" says he. "she's
alive and Kicking" There sat little
Birdie, playing with lot of shells,
and AZ she was picked up she chung
on to a handful, saying, ''Dese sells for
mamma"
With the prize all returned to the
boats. There sat Mr.. Voorhees, with
death like pallor on his countenan.
&c, and when told that he had saved
the babe unhurt, his tender heart
gave way and he wept like child.
"All aboard and back to Moreheadr r.
shouts Captain Dixon. The boats
were rapidly got under way, and each
wanted to be the first to convey
the glad tidings, but they all ran
near together, with hats and hand.
kcrchiels flying, amids. the cheers
aud screams of several hundred PEG
PIE.
The excitement OF landing sur
passes descriptions At the wharf, af-
ter everything seemed safe, then lit
tie Birdie came the nearest of losing
her life. Colonel Whitford, man OF
Srnious impulses, seized The little
angel IN his arms and Mt lightning
'pevd started for its mother, who
was lying in an unconscious state
under the skillful care OF Drs. Hay
wood, Arendall and Kelly, of Loulsi-
ana. But before the kind hearted
COLONEL had gone far, amidst the