Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1883-07-12
FLIGHT IN THE AIR.
The Firs, Effort Of q Nelc MnnchaUseR
from TIE South.

nong the people than were ever known hcyc
before TIE s-year cd daughter of Mrs.
Robert Elliott was brought to 4 c seaside q
month ago to recover from severe attack OF
Texas fever. She became pet and favor
itc at the Alabama iIotel Yesterday morn
ing strolling Italian made his appearance
in front Of the hotel with n large cluster of
those red bladder-like toy balloons. Maj.
Hawkins, Of Alabama, TO amase the child
Birdie, who he q: that time had in his arms,
tied the cord around her waist, and then, as
is so often done TO amuse children, gave her
u toss Of five o, 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 up, up, up, unit she had pass
ed the house tops. Floating in the clouds
with outstretehed hands, the lit;le angel
could be heard distinctly calling, Mammal
mamma mamma until her voice became
drowned by the whistling OF the winds.
All to your boats" shouted old Ccpt.
Dixon. and never a son of man turn back
until that child is brought to its nanny
81, [, |, responded six Of as brave and
daring boatman as ever reefed Z sell ard all
with boats seaworthy FOR any waters.
Minutes appeared as hours and the babe
was flying southeast like kite and would
DO 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 bya like number
rom Beaufort, all of which kept as near
under the little angel in the clouds as pos
sibIo. Chas. j. Voorhees,, Of the Southern
Express Company, with party of gentle
men, were out taking asGil dr. VOORHEES,
ia enc cf the nest expert riaemen in the
country, and, as Providence had ordained il,
he had on board his Smith & Wesson rife.
Ho at once took in the situation, remarking
" Six miles out at sea and going at the
rate Of ten miles an hour, and nov four
hundred yards high and every minute
going higher, higher, higher. can cut
those balloons, and Will do il or die.
Steady the boat. throw her leewsrd of the
squadron Squire WadeW
LET us all jine in prayc- before he
shoots" said Steve Turner, the colored
minister and mail carrier.
Il don't put much confidence in ligion
when danger is about said Mr. Dixon.
BY this time the boat had gotten in posi-
ton to give her the most protection from the
stiff breeze then blowin7
"Now's your time" shouted Piyer, don't
you see them two Of TO themselves"
"Bangw went the rife, but no change in
position. Again, again and again-the fifth
shot one balloon disappeared amidst the
shouts of the boatmen. At The eighth sho.
it became evident that the balloons could
not longer carry the weight Of the little
floating angel, asshe Wa. gradually descend
ing, not in Q st-aiglt line Bat in south
cast direction, toward Harkcrs Island, but
whether dead or alive none could tell
Down, down, down she comes-as gentle as
if handled by human haris-and &c fell in
. cradle of sand.
To land to land, end all pu. 10 shore as
fast as the sails would propol the boats. Hc-
fore they reached land most Of them jumped
overheard and wadej ashore. Then began
the race FOX the bale, ard she had come
down on a sand bank only g few hundred
yards distant. With fear aud trembling all
ran up-Ben Piyerin front. " Gentlemen"
says he, "she's alive and licking" There
sat little Birdie playing with lot Of shells,
and as she was picked up she clung On TO
handful, saying, desc SCI, for mann'a."
With the prize all returned 70 the boats.
There sat Mr.. VOORHEES, with death-likc
pallor OF his countenance, and when told
that he hed saved the babe uahurt. hia ten
der heart gave way and he wept Ike a child.
"All aboard aud back 20 Norchcad I"
shouts Captain Dixon. The boats were
RAPIDLY gotten underway, crd cach wanted
to be the first TO convey the glad tidings, bat
they all ran near together with hats and
handkerchieG flying, amidst The cheers and
screams Of several hundred people.
The excitement Of landing surpasses de-
scripticn. ht The wharf, after everything
seemed safe. then little Birdie came nearest
Of Icing her life Colonel Whitford, Z man
Of generous impulses, seized the little angel
IN his arms and at lightning speed started
for its mothet, who was then lying IN an un-
conscious state, under the siillful care Of
Drs HAYWOOD, Arendall end Kelly, Of Lou
isiana. But befc,c the kind-hearted colonel
had gone far amidst the dense crowd and
confusion. he ran Off the wharf into water
over eight feet deep. Several jumped over
board and aided him in landing his prize.
The child was none the worse for the duck
ing.
BY o'clock Mrs. Elliot became conscious.
The guests Of the house assembled in the
ballroom at 5 p. N. 70 return thanks % sir.
Voorhees, and the noble boatmeu, and ez-
p:ess coincidence and sympathy for Mrs.
Elliot. Maio. Hawkins came forward and
made few remarks. but was too excited to
speak: but Gays he: He'd that babe been
lost my mind was made np-I would have
rested tonight with her in the sea"
THIS e-ded day of the most intense ex-
citement thst the oldes. inhabi.ant here
ever dreamed or thought OF. -. A