The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-07-07
A PLIGHT IN TIE AIR.
Child Meets with an Extraordinary
Balloon Adventure.

Balloon Adventure.
MOREHEAD CITY, N. c., July IA
thrilling episode In this village yester-
day caused more excitement, eonsterna-
tlOn 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 q severe at
tack of Texas fever She became pet
and favOrite at the Alabama Hotel.
Yesterday morning strOlling Italian
made his appearance In front of the
hotel with large cluster OF those red
bladders like toy balloons. Mai, Haw-
kins. 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 Ia so often done to amuse
children, gave her 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 up, up, up, until she had passed.
the house tops. Floating in the clouds
with OutstTetched hands, the little girl
could be heard distinctly calling "Mam-
NAL mammal mammaP' until her voice
became drowned by the whistling of the
winds.
"All to your bOatsl" shouted old Cap
tain Dixon, "and never son of man
turn hack until that child Is brought to
its mammyP
81. /, l." responded six of as brave and
daring bOatmen as ever reefed sail,
and all with boats seawOrthy for any
waters.
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 we'll manned boats
amidst the shouts Of men and screams of
women and children. These boats were
joined by like number from Beaufort,
all of which kept as near under the lit
tie girl 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 rifle
men in the country, and, AZ PrOVidencn
had ordained 1t, he had on board his
Smith 81 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. lean cut those
balloons, and will do 1t or die. Steady
the boat, throw her leeward of the
squadron, Squire Wadep
Let us all jine In prayer before he
shoots" said Steve Turner, the cOlOred
minister and mail carrier.
"IdOn't put much confidence in ligiOn
when danger Is about" said Mr.. Dixon.
BY this time the boat had gotten In
position 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 rlae-but no change
in the position, Again, again and again
the fifth shot one balloon disappeared
amidst the shouts of the bOatmen. At
the eighth shot 1t became evident that
the weight of the little floating angel,
as she was gradually descending, not in
a 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 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 for the
babe, who had come down on sand
bank only 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 clung on
to a handful, saying, "Dese sells for
mamma"
With the prize all returned to the
boats. There sat Mr.. Voorhees, with q
death like paller 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 MOreheadp 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
handkerehiefs flying, amidst the cheers
and screams of several hundred people
The excitement Of landing surpassef
description. At the wharf after every
thing seemed safe, then little Birdie
came the nearest losing her life.' Col
WhitfOrd, a man of generous impulses
seized the little girl In his arms and al
lightning speed started for Its mother
who was then lying In an unconscious
state, under the skillful care of Drs
Haywood, Arendall and Kelly, OF Louis
lana. But before the kind hearted Colo
mel had gone far, amidst the dense
crowd and confusion, he ran off the
wharf into water eight feet deep. Sew
eral jumped 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 ballroom at 6p. IN. to return
thanks to Mr.. Voorhees, and the noble
bOatmen, and express coincidence anC
sympathy for Mrs. Elliott.
Never Give Up.