Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-19
THIS INFANT HAD NERVE.
4 Two-year-old That Floated In . Gle
tern and Helped Rescue Himself

a TWo-year-0ld That E10ated In . Gle
tern and Helped Rescue Himself
Little Charles Lee Burden, the twenty
five-months-oldg grandson Of Lee Burden,
is being petted and caressed by the citi-
zens of Elmwood, both as q musical
prodigy and moro particularly in recog-
milton Of his wonderful presence Of mind
and courage in the presence Of death by
drowning which he displayed under the
most trying circumstances even to one
Of maturer years.
Charley was visiting Grandpa Burden
in Greenwich street, and. clad in an ul-
ster and tight fitting bonnet, was playing
in the yard, accompanied by his grand
mother. There IL cistern in the yard,
10 feet in depth, about 8 feet in ctrcum-
ference and containing feet Of water.
1t is supplied with an iron cover, and
precautions had been taken to have it
securely fastened. Charley decided to
make an investigation.
His grandmother left him for an in
slant, and the child in some unexplain-
able manner either succeeded in fitting
the cover by partly raising it, or else as
he stepped on the edge it was raised
sufficiently to make an opening through
which the adventurous infant was pre-
cipitated. The grandmother returned
to the spot where she had left him, but
he had disappeared. She called out to
him, but no response was heard. She
made q circuit Of tho grounds. but no
trace of the boy was discernible. Hap
PLY she thought of the cistern, and see
ing that the cover was bottom side mp
she removed 1t from the opening and
was terrified to discover Charley float
ing on the surface Of the water. He
had probably fallen into the cistern feet
foremost and his clothing had buoyed
him up so that he was able to float tenn
porarily.
The frantic grandparent called to him,
and he responded bravely. She be-
sought him to raise his head little,
and then called out to the gardener to
come to the rescue. Peter fastened to
the spot, and in his perplexity could not
devise an immediate plan Of action.
Mrs. Burden realized the dire peril OF
the situation, and seeing q small pitch
fork near by she seized 1t, and with
Peters assistance made a desperate eff.
fort to fasten IL into the infants cloth.
ing. The cistern was dark, and it was
with extreme difficulty that tho exact
location of the child could be discerned.
All the while the grandmother was urg.
ing Charley to keep up courage and ut.
tering words Of loving solicitude, and
the little fellow responded with ispins
assurances. Finally the handle Of the
pitchfork was thrust within reaching
distance and Charley was hidden &c
cling fast to it. He is . vigorous, well
developed boy. and he quickly clasped
his hands around the staff and chung to
it with logged determination.
Slowly and steadily the weight VA
lifted to the surface Of the cistern, and
the wet and dripping figure was claspcd
In the arms of his deliverers. Charley
was cool and self possessed, and was
quickly taken into the house and sup
piled with an outfit of dry clothing, and
hot drink was administered TO him. He
lisped that he was pretty wet. but thai
he was q smart boy because he swimmed
in the water.-Providence Journal.