Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-07-20
SKYWARp BY A TOY BALLOON.
A Child Suspended In Mid.Air ani
Rescupd nv N Rifle Shot.
Morehead: Letter in the Greesbolo Patriot

Morehead Letter in the Greesboio Patriot
AT the still hour...of midnight had tile
trump OF Gabriel summoned us all 10
final worldly reckoning, more excitement,
CONSERVATION and weeping could not have
come over the many good people who were
present and witnessed the most wonderful
and miraculous escape that ever happened
in this or any other country. Mrs Robert
Elliott, of Texas, has been here for the past
ten days or more, to restore the health Of
her child, Birdie, u bright and sweet little
cherub less than three years old, who in
much emaciated from spell Of Texas fe-
yer. This morning about 10 o'clock a
strolling Italian made his appearance in
front oi the hotel. with large cluster of
those red bl,dders like toy balloons. Ma.
jor Hawkins, Of Alabama, to amuse little.
Birdie, who lie ut that time had in his
arms, tied the cord around her waist and
then, M is often done to nni,se children,
gave her u loss of hive or six feet into the
air and held ont his hands Tor her return.
Great God she il gone" cried the Major,
as he saw her rapidly going mp, mp, up.
until she had passed The house tops. Float
ing in the clouds, with out tretcled hands,
the IillIe angel could be heard distinctly
calling: Mamma, mamma, niammu,"
until her voice became drowned by the
whistling Of the winds. All The men al
the hotel started ont IN boats, for The little
one WAS drifting to sea.
BY an act OF divine providence Mr..
Charles j. VOORHEES,, Of the Southern Ex-
press company, with n party Of gentlemen
were out taking a sail. Mr.. Voorhees, il
one OF the most expert rillemen in the
country, and as God had orda ined il he had
on board his Smith & Wesson rifle. He ut
once took in The situation, remarking,
six miles out AT sea and going at The rale
OF ten miles an hour, and now four hundred
yards high and every minute going high.
er. higher, higher. can cut those balloons,
and will do IL or die"
"Bang" went the riae--but no change
| in position. Again, again and again-the
| filth shot one balloon disappeared amidst
| the shouts OF the boalmen. At the eighth
shot il became evident that the balloons
could not longer carry the weight OF the
little floating angel, az she was gradually
descending, not IN straight line, but in
southeast direction, towards Harker's
Island-but whether dead or alive none
could tell Down, down, down she comes
-as gentle .,s II handled by human hands
and to fall IN cradle of sand. With
fear and trembling all ran up-Ben Piver
"Genilemen," says he, II will be dinged
if she ain't live and kicking" There
sat little Birdie playing with LOT oi
shells, and as she WAS picked up she
clung on to a handful, saying, "Dese sels
for mamma"
With The prize all returned TO the boats
There sat Mr.. Voorhees, with death
like pallor on his countenance. and when
told that he had saved the babe unhurt
his tender heart gave way and he wepl
like child. The little darling came oni
as bright AS u new pin. and seemed to
look on the whole matter az fun gotten
up for her amusement.
Thus ended day OF the most intense
excitement that the Oldest inhabitant al
this old North Carolina resort ever dream.
ed or thought Of, and may the writer
never again witness its like.