The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-24
THIS INFANT HAD NERVE.
A 2-year-old That Floated in Cistern
end Helped Rescue Himself


From the Providence Journal
Little Charles Lee Burden, the 25-months-
old grandson Of Lee Burden, is being petted
and caressed by the citizens of Elmwood,
both as musical prodigy and more par
ticularly in recognition of his wonderful
presence of mind and courage in the pres
ence OF death by drowning which he recently
displayed under the most trying circum-
stances even to one Of maturer years
Charley was visiting Grandpa Burden,
on Greenwich street, few days ago. and,
clad in an ulster aud tight-fltting bonnet,
was playing in the yard, accompanied by
his grandmother. There is a clstern 10 the
yard, ten feet in Depth about eight feet in
circumference and containing seven feet of
water. 1t IS supplied with an iron cover
and Drec Autions had been taken to have it
securely fastened Charley decided to make
an investigation. His grandmother left him
Tor an instant, and the child, in some unex-
plsinable manner, either succeeded
in tiltlng the cover by partially rails
ing 1t, or else, as he stepped on the
edge 1t was raised sufficiently
TO make an opening through which the ad-
venturous infant was precipitated. 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 a circuit of the grounds,
out no trace of the boy was discernible,
Happily she thought OF the cistern, and,
seeing that the cover was bottom side up,
she removed it from the opening, and was
terrified to find Charley floating on the sur
face OF the water. He had probably fallen
into the cistern feet foremoSt, and his cloth
ing had buoyed him up, so that he was able
to float temporarily.
The frantic grandperent called to him
and he responded bravely. She besought
him to raise his head a little, and then called
cut to the gardener TO come to the rescue
Peter hastened to- the spot and ia his per-
plexity could not devise an immediate plan
of action. Mrs. Burden realized the dire
peril of the situation, and, seeing a small
pltchtork near by, she seized 1t, aud, with
refers assistance, made a desperate effort
to fasten 1t into the infants clothing. The
cistern was dark, aud it was with extreme
difficulty that the exact location of
the child could be discerned. All the
while the grandmother was urging
Charley to keep up courage and Ut
tering words allowing solicitude, and the
little fellow responded with lisping assur-
ances. Finally the handle of the pitchfork
was thrust beyond reaching distance, and
Charley was hidden to cling fast to it He
is a vigorous, well-developed boy, and he
quickly clasped his hand around the staff
aud chung to it with logged determination.
Slowly and steadily the weight was lifted
to the surface Of the cistern, and the wet
and dripping figure was cIasped in the arms
of his deliverers. Charley was cool and
self-possessed, and was quickly taken into
the house AMI supplied with an outfit of
dry clothing and hot drink was admin
istered so him. He lisped that he was pretty
wet, but that he was a smart boy, because
he swimmed In the water.