Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-04
A FLIGHT IN THE AIR.
The Extraordinary Adventure q .
Three. .year. Old Babe.
EXCITEMENT IN A SOUTHERN TOWN.
The Little One Tied to an Airy Toy by 4
North Caro'inian, Drifts Away to
the ouds-SaVed by Brave
Men,

PHILADELPHIA, July 3-A special to the
Press from Moorkead City, n. c., says: A
thrilling episode in this village yesterday
caused more excitement, CONSERVATION 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
. severe attack Of Texas fever. She became
pet and favorits at the Alabama Hotel.
Yesterday morning strollins Italian
made his appearance In front Of the hotel
with large cluster OF those red bladdsrs
like toy balloons. Major Hawkins 10 amuss
the child Birdie, who lie, at that time, hsd
In his arms
Tied the Cord Arsaad Her waist.
and then, as Is % often done to amuss
children, gave her a toss OF five or siX fees
in the air and held out his hands for her
return. Great God. she is gone," cried
the Major, IS he saw her rapidly going up.
ap up unit, she r had Ps,:sd P. the hSu;e Gus,
stretched hands. the little angel could he
heard distinctly calling "MammaH mamma!
mamma" until her voice became drowned
by the whistlng OF the winds.
"All TO your boats" shouted old Captain
Dixon, and never a son OF man turn back
until that child is brought 10 its mdmmyr'
IL, /, ]" responded six OF Is brave and
daring boatmen as ever unreefed sail, and
all with boats seaworthy for any waters,
A Yacht In Pursutt.
Minutes appeared as hou 70 and the babs
was flying Southeast like kite. and would
I've out over the great Atlantic ocean in lees
than no time. Away went twenty or
more well manned boats amidst the shouts
Of men and screams Of women and chill
cren. These boats were joined by . 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 .
party Of gentlemen, were out taking . sail.
Mr.. Voorhees, is one OF the most expert
rit!emen in the country, and, ~ Provi.
dence had ordained II, he had on board his
Smith & Weston rife. He at once took In
the situation, remsrking: six miles out
at sea and going at the rate OF
Tea Miles A. Hear,
and now four hundred yards high. and
every minute going higher, higher. higher.
can cut those balloons, and will do IL o.
die. Steady the boat, throw her leewArd Of
the squadron, Squire Wader'
let us all jine In. prayer before n
shoots" said Steve Turner, the cOlorsd
minister and mail carrier.
II don't put much confidence In 'ligiou
when danger Is about" Said Mr.. Dixon.
by this time the boat had gotten into
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 OIL 10 them.
selves
Firing II the Air.
the shouts Of the boat men. At the eighth
shot il became evident that the balloons
could not longer carry the weight OF the
little floating angel, as she was gradually
desce nding. not in q straight line but IN
Southeast direction. toward Uarker's Is
land-but, whether dead or alive none
could tell. Down, down, down she comes
rs gentle as II handled by human hands
and TO fail in a cradle OF sand.
To land, TO land. and all put 10 shore -
fast az the sails would propel the boats-
lIefore they reached land most OF them
jumped overheard and wadcd ashore. Then
began the race for the babe, and she bsd
come down on sand bank only few hun
dred yards distant. With fear and trem.
bling all ran up-Ben hvsr In front 'See'
tlemen," says he, shes alive ana kich'
ing" There sat little Birdie, playing with
a lot OF shells, and as she was picked up
sne CIunk 10 nAuaiui, ssyihs' NV s"s
fOr mamma.
with the Prise
all returned 10 the boats. There sat NJ.
Voorhees,, with death.like pallor Oh his
countenance, snd when told that be hsd
saved the babe unhurt. his tender heart
cave way and he wept like child. "All
aboard and back 10 Moorhead!' shouts Cap.
tain Dixon. The boats were rapidly gotten
under way, and each wanted TO be the hfst
10 convey the glad tidiDgs, but they oil ran
near together, with hats and handksrchslh
Tying, smidst the cheers and scrsims OF
several hundred people.
The excitement Of landing surpasses de-
/ .cription. Al the wharf, sftef everything
| nrarest Of losing her life. Colonel Whit.
| ford. o msn OF generous impulses, selEed
| the little angel in his afms and at light.
| ming speed started for IL mother. who wss
| then lying In m unconscious state, under
| the sklllful care Of Drs Haywood, rend
| all and Kelly, Of Louisisna- But before
| the
KInd.Heasted Cslsosl
| had gone far, amidst the dense crowd aud
con fusion, he ran oil the wharf into the
water over eight feet deep. Several Jumped
overheard and aided him In lAndinG bis
prize. The child wn none the Worss foe
the ducking.
BY s o clock Mrs. Elliott became cou.
scious. The guests OF the house assembled
| In the bail room at ) p. ~ 10 return thank
| to Mr.. VOORHEES, and the noble boatmsu.
and express coincidence and sympathy fos
Mrs Elliott. Major Hawkins came for
ward and made few remarks, but wss zoo
much excited 10 speak, but says be "hsd
that babe been lost my mind Was meds up
Il xonld have rested 10 night with her IN
the sea" Thus ended day Of the most
intense excitement that the Oldest IN.
bsbi,snt here ever dreamed or thought