The Dawson journal., 1883-07-19
SKYWAlsD BY TOY RAJ
LOOMS.
A Child Suspended in Mid-Air and
: Rescued by a Rife-Shot.
Morehead Letter in the Greensboro

Aorehead Letter in the Greensboro
Patriot.
At the still hour of mid-niobt
had the trump of Gabriel sum
meoned us to final worldly recon-
ing, more excitement, consterna-
ton and weeping could not have
come over the many good people
who were present and witnessed
the most wonderful and miracu-
lous 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, bright and sweet little
cherub less than three years old.
who is much emaciated from a
spell of Texas fever. This morn
ing about 10 O'Clock strolling
Italian made his appearance in
front of the hotel, with large
cluster of those red-bladders, like
toy ballons. Major Hawkins, Of
Alabama, to amuse little Birdie,
whom he at that time had in his
arms, tied the cord around her
waist, and then, as is often done to
amuse children, gave her a toss of
five or six feet into the air and
held ont his hands for her return.
"Great God, she is gone!" cried
the Major, as he saw her rapidly
going up, up, up, until she passed
the housetops. Floating upward
with outstretched hands, the little
angel could be heard distinctly
calling: Mamma, mamma" until
her voice became drowned by the
whistling of the winds. All the
men at the hotel started out in
boats, for the little one was drift
out to sea.
BY an act of Divine Providence
Mr. Charles 3. Voorhees,, of the
Southern Express Company, with
a party of gentlemen were out
taking a sail. Mr.. Voorhees, is one
of the most expert rifemen i'll the
country, and as God had ordained
it he had on board his Smith &
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, high
er. | can cut those balloons, and
will do it or die"
"BangP' went the rife-but no
change in position. Again, again,
and again the fifth shot one bal
loon disappeared amidst theshouts
of the boatmen. At the eight shot
it became evident that the balloons
could no longer carry the weight of
the little floating angel, as she was
gradually descending, not in a
straight line, but in southeast
direction, towards Harker's island
but whether dead or alive none
could tell. Down, down she comes
as gently as if handled by hu-
man hands-and to fall in era
die of sand. With fear and trem-
bling all ran up-Ben Priver in
front Gentlemen" say be, I'll
be dinged il she AMT live and
kicking" There sat little Birdie
playing with lot of shells, and as
she was picked up she chung on to
handful saying, "Deso sells 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 dnhurt his
tender heart gave way and he wept
like a child. The little darling
came out as bright as a new pin,
and seemed to look on the whole
matter as fun gotten up for her
amusement,
Thus ended day of the most
intense excitement that the Oldest
inhabitant at this old North Caro-
linaresort eyer dreamed or thought
of, and may the writer never again
witness its like.