Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-05

A Three Year Old Child Meets with an
Extraordinary Balloon Adventure.

extraordinary Balloon Adventure.
-Rorehead city, N. c., Special, gsth nit.
A thrilling episode in this village YES
terday caused tmore excitement, cOnster-
nation and weeping among the people
than were ever known here before. The
three year old daughter of Mrs. Robert
Elliott was brought TO the seaside month
ago to recover from a severe attack of
Texas fever. She became a pet and a IA
voTite at the Alabama Hotel. Yesterday
morning a strOlling Italian made his an
peaTance in front of the hotel
with large cluster of those red bladders
like toy balloons. Major Hawkins. of
Alabama, to amuse the child Birdie, who
he, at that time, had in his arms, tied the
cord around her waist. and then. as is so
often done TO amuse children, gave her a
toss of i've or six feet in the air and held
out his hands for her return. sGreat
God. she IS gOne,' cried the Major, as he
saw her rapidly going up, up, up, until
she had passed the house tops. Floating
IN the clouds with outstretched hands. the
little angel could be heard distinctly call
ing Mamma! mammal mammals until
her voice became drowned by the whist
ling of the winds.
'sAll to your bOatsl' shouted old Can
tain Dixon, and never son of man
turn back until that child is brought to
its nlQmHagt'
4, l, l." responded six of as brave and
daring boatmen as ever reefed a sail. and
al with boats seawOrthy for any waters
Minutes appeared as hours. and the
babe was flying southeast like 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
screams of women and children.
These boats were Joined by a like
number from Beaufort, all Of which kept
as near under the little angel in the cloud
as possible. Mr.. Charles J. Voorhees,, of
the Southern Express Company, with a
party of gentlemen, We're out taking
sail. Mr.. voorhees, is one of the most
expert ritiemen in the country. and as
Providence had ordained it, he had on
board his Smith Il WessOn rifle. He at
once took in the situation, 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 higher, higher, higher. l can cut
those balloons, and will do it or die.
steady the boat. throw her leeWard of the
squadron, Squire Wade.''
let US all jine in prayer before he
shoots" said Steve Turner, the colored
minister and mail carrier.
Il don't put much confidence i'm 'ligiOn
when danger IS about said Mr.. Dixon.
sitiOn to give her the most protection
from the stiff breeze then blowing.
"NOw's your time," shouted Piver,
don't you see them two off to them
selves"'
Bang" went the rifle-but no change
IN position. Again, again and again
the fifth shot one balloon disappeared
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 floating angel. as she was
gradually descending, not i'm a straight
line but in southeast direction, toward
Har6er's 1sland-but whether dead or
alive none could tell. Down, down, down
she cOmes-aS gentle as if handled by
human hands-and to fall in a cradle of
sand.
To land, to land, and all put to shore as
fast as the sails would propel the boats.
Before they reached land most Of them
jumped overheard and waded ashore
Then began the race fer the babe and
she had come down on a sand bank only a
few hundred yards distant. With fear
and trembling all ran up-Ben Piver in
front. 'Gentlemen," says he, ''she's
alive and kicking" There sat little
Birdie, playing with lot of shells. and
as 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 a death-like
pallOr on his cOuntenance, 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 More
head" shouts Captain Dixon. The boats
were rapidly gotten under way, and each
wanted TO be the first to convey the glad
tidings, but they all ran near together,
with hats and handkerchiefs flying, amidst
the cheers and screams of several HIM
bred people.
The excitement of landing surpasses
description. At the wharf, after every
thing seemed safe, then little Birdie came
the nearest of losing her life. Colonel
W ittord, man of generous impulses,
seized the little angel in his arms and at
lightning speed started for its mother.
who was then lying in an unconscious
state, under the skillful care of Drs. HAY
wood, Arendall and Kelly, of Louisiana.
But before the kind-hearted Colonel had
gone far, amidst the dense crowd and
confusion. he ran off the wharf into the
water over eight feet deep. Several Jump
ed overheard and aided him in landing
his prize. The child was none the worse
for the ducking.
BY O'Clock Mrs. Elliott became con-
sciOus. The guests of the house assem-
bled in the ball room at p. m. to return
thanks to Mr.. Voorhees, and the noble
bOatmen, and express coincidence and
sympathy for Mrs. Elliott. Major Haw-
kins came forward and made few re-
marks, but was too much excited to
speak, but. says he, Had that babe been
lost my mind was made UNI would have
rested tonight with her in the sea- Thus
ended day of the most intense excite
ment that the oldest inhabitant here ever
dreamed or thought of.