The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-07-06
A oHILp,s rHRILLINa ADVENTURE.

MoREHEAD Cry, NNC>June 27-Mrs
r bert Elliott of Texas has tcen here for
the past ten days or more to restore tho
hoalth of her little child, Birdie, a bright
little cherub less than three years. old VINO
is much emaciated from a spoil of Texas
fever.
Little Birdie, by her general sprightliness
has endeared h, rs II to " ry gu st OF tie
house; she is pet aud favorite with
every one and no ono passes her without
kind word, which she readily recognizes.
This morning about 10 o'clock s,rollins
Italian made his appearance in front Of tho
hotel with q large cluster of red toy bal
Icons. Major Hawkins Of Alabama, 70
amuse little Birdie, tied the cord around
her waist, and then, us is so often dono
to amuse children, gave her toss Of five CT
six feet in tho 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. Floatingin in the clouds with outstrotch-
ed hands the little angel could DO heard
distinctly calling, "mamma mamma man,
mai" until her voice became drowned by
the whistling of the winds,
call to your boats !" shouted old Captain
Dixon, "aud never sou of n man turn back
until that child is brought to its man,my"
II, I, l, l, I, l." responded six of Us
brave aud daring boatmen as ever reefed
sail, aud al with boats seaworthy for any
waters.
Minutes appeared as hours aad the babo
was flying Southeast like kite and would
be out over the great Atlantic Ocean in less
than no time. ANaJ went twenty or moro
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 nea under tho
little angel in the cloud as possible. Mr..
Charles j. Voorhees, of tho Southern Ex-
press Company, with party of gentleman,
we're out taking sail Mr.. Voorhees, is
one of the most expert rihemcn in the coun.
try, and he had on board his Smith & Wesson
rifle. He at once took in the situation, re-
marking: "Six miles out at sea and going Mt
the rate of ten miles an hour, and now 400
yards high, aud every minute!going higher,
higher, higher: can cut those balloons,
and will do it or die. Steady the boat"
Bang! went the rifle, but 60 no effect
Again and again the report of the rifle rang
out. At the fifth shot one balloon disap-
pcared amidst the shouts Of the boatmen.-
At the eighth shot it became evident that
the balloons could not longer carry tho
weight Of the little one, as she was gradually
descending, not in a straight line, but in a
Southeast direction, towards Harkers' Island
but whether dead oralivc nenc could tell.
Down, down, down, she comes-ns gentle
as if handled by human hdnds-and to fall
in cradle of sand.
| All the boats now put to shore as fast
as the sails would propel them. Before
they reached land most of the men had
jumped overheard and waded ashore Then
began the race for the babe, as sho had come
down on the sand bank only a few hundred
yards distant. With fear and trembling all
ran up. There sat little Birdie, playing
with lot of shells, and as she was picked
up sho clung on to a handful, saying:
"Dcsc sells for mamma.
With the prize all returned to the boats.
There sat Mr.. Voorhees,, with death-likc
pallor on his countenancc, and when told
that he had saved the babe unhurt bis ten
der heart gave way and he wept like
child
The boats were rapidly gotten under way
and headed back for Morehead, and each
wanted to be first to convey the glad tidings,
but they all ran in near together, with hats
and handkerchicfs flying amidst tho cheers
and screams of several hundred rcople. The
excitement of landing surpasscs description.
At the wharf, after everything seemed safe
then little Birdie came the nearest of losing
her life. Colonel Whitford, man of gen
erous impulses and ono always studying to
make some one else happy, seized the little
girl in his arms and at lightning speed
started for its mother, who was then lying
in an unconscious state, and 1ndcr the
skilful care Of DIS. Haywood, Arrcndall
and Kelly Of Louisiana. But before tho
kin l. hearted Colonel had gone far. amidst