San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-07-19
A NIGHT IN THE AIR.
A s.Yssr-Old.Chiid Meets with IN Extraordinary
Bsllsou Adventure.
Correspondence PHILADELPHIA Press.


terday caused more excitement con-
sternation and weeping among the
people than was ever known here
before. The 3-year-old daughter OF
Mrs. Robert Elliot was brought to the
seaside month ago to recover from
a severe attack of the Texas fever.
She became a pet and a favorite at
the Alabama Hotel. Yesterday morn
ing a strolling Italian made his ap'
pearance at the hotel with large
cluster of those red bladder like toy
balloons. Major Hawkins, of the Al
ALBANIA, to amuse the child, Birdie,
whom at the time, he had in his arms,
tied the cord around her waist, and
then, as is often done to amuse chill
dren, he 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 going rapidly up, up up, until
she had passed the house-tops. Float.
ing in the clouds with outstretched
hands, the little angel could be heard
distinctly calling Mamma! mamma!
mammal" until her voice became
drowned by the whistling of the
winds. -,
CAL to your boats" shouted old
CAPTAIN Dixon, "and never son of
a man turn back until that child is
brought home to it's nanny"
81, 1, l." responded six of as brave
and daring boatmen as ever reefed a
sail, and all with boats seaworthy
for any waters. ..,..
Minutes appeared as long 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 amid 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. MIR.
Charles J. Voorhees,, of the South
ern Express Company, with party
of gentlemen were out taking sail.
MIR. VOORHEES, is one of the most ex-
pert rifemen in the country, and, as
Providence had ordained it, he had
on board his Smith and Wesson rifle.
He at once took in the situation, re-
marking, "Six miles out at sea and
going at the rate of ten miles an hour,
and now 400 yards hig h, and every
minute going higher, higher, hig her,
I 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 COL
ored minister and mail carrier.
81 don't put much confidence in
'ligion when danger is about, said
Mr.. Dixon.
By this time the boat had gotten
in a position to give her the most pro-
jection from the stiff breeze then
blowing.
"Now's your time" shouted Piver,
don't you see them too of to them
selves!"
Bang! 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 shot it became evident
that TIE balloons could not longer
carry the weight of the little floating
angel, as she was gradually descend
ing, not in a straight line but in a
southeast direction toward Harker's
Island-but whether dead or alive
none could tell. Down, down, down,
she comes-as gentle as if handled
bv 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-
propel the boats. Before they
reached the land most of them
jumped overheard and waded ashore.
Then began the race for the babe;
she had come down on a sand bank
only a few hundred yards distant.
With fear and trembling they ran up
Dan Piver in front. Gentlemen"
said 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 handful, saying,
desc sells for mama.
With the prize all returned to the
boats. There sat Mr.. Voorhees, with