National Republican., 1883-07-11
sKYwARp BY roy BALLOON.
\ Child Suspended I'm HIid-Air and Res
cucd by Rifle shot.
Iyrteugb,r,t Bo,.y.g

AT the still hour of midnight, had the trumr
Of Gabriel summoned us all to a final worldly
reckoning, more excitement, CONSERVATION.
and weeping could not have come over the
many good people who were present and wit
messed the most wonderful and miraculous
escape that ever happened in this or any
other country. Mrs. Robert Elliott, of Texas.
has been here for tho past ten DAYS or
more, to restore the health of her
child, Birdie, bright and sweet little
cherub, less than three years old, who
is much omaciatcd from a spoil of Texas
fever. This morn ing about 10 o'clock
strolling Italian made his appearance in
front of tho hotel, with large cluster of those
red bladders like toy balloons. Mai. Haw.
kins, of Alabama, TO amuse little Birdie, who
at that time ho had in his arms. tiod
the cord around her waist and then, as is of
ten done to amuse children, gave her toss of
five or six feet into the air and held out his
hands for her return, Great God she is
gone" Grid the major, as he saw her RAPIDLY
going up, up, until she had passed tho house
tops. Fioatingin the clouds, with outstrechcd
hands, tho little angel could he heard dis
tinctly calling: Mamma, mamma mamma
until her voice became drowned by the whist
ling of the winds. All tho men at the hotel
started out in boats, for the little one was
drifting TO sea.
By an act of Divine Providence, Mr.. Charles
j. Voorhees,, of tho Southern EXPRESS com.
pany with party of gentlemen was out
taking sail Mr.. Voorhees, is one of the
most expert rifemen in the country, and. as
God had ordained it, he had on board his
smith " Wesson rifle. He at once took in the
situation, remarking, six miles out at sea
and going ut the rate of ten miles an hour,
and now 400 yards high and every minute GO
ing higher, higher, higher. / can cut those
balloons, and will do it or die"
"BangW went the rhe-but no change in
in position. Again. again, and again-the
NTH shot one balloon disappeared amid the
shouts of the boatmen, At the eighth shot it
became evident that the balloons could not
longer carry tho weight of the little floating
angel, as she was gradually descending, not
in straight line but in southeast direc-
tion, toward Harker's island, 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 n cradle ofsand.
With fear and trembling, all ran up-Ben
Piver in front Gentlemen" SAYS he, II
will be dinged If she amt live and kicking"
There sat little Birdio playing with a lot of
shells, and as she was picked up she cluug on
to a handful, saying, "Dese sells formamma."
With the prize all returned to the boats.
There sat Mr. Voorhees,, with deathlike
palor on his countenance, and when told
that he had saved the babe unhurt his tender
heart gave way, and no cried like n child.
The little darling came out as bright as a new
pin, and seemed to look upon the whole mat
ter as fun gotten up for her amusement.
Thus ended day of the most intense ex-
element that the oldest inhabitant at this old |
North Carolina resort ever dreamed or thought
Of, and may the writer never again witness its
like.