The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-03-24

]: ':; J j: 3 !: !: ! ! !; J;
ftM luAH lIiC VI
II published several
&E0A8R years ago of how
~ d little child was
~ carried skyward
$A by a lot of toy
az balloons to which
it had been attached in a playful
mood by party of pleasure seekers
at Morehead City, and Of the daring
rescue from a terrible fate by being
lost in the surging pillows Of the
mighty Atlantic, by the fortunate shot
Of an expert rifleman. The details of
the story are still fresh in the minds
of many of the readers of the GOLD
LEAF. By many credulous persons it
was believed to be true, and in some
localities prayers and thanksgiving to
the Great Ruler of the Universe were
offered for what was called His special
providence in saving the life of the
innocent babe by directing the bullet
that cut the strings and let the atom
OF humanity down as gently as snow
fake falling upon the bosom Of the
briny deep Hysterical women wept
as they read the article and simple
minded men shed tears copiously over
what appeared to be a wonderfl dis
play of Gods goodness and guidance,
and gigantic "fake" as the whole
thing was, it was believed by many
and found its way into print even into
the religious press.
The story has been revived and
comes to us in juvenile paper pub
lished in Atlanta, Ga. As the ac-
credited hero was no other than our
we'll known townsman Capt. Charles
7. Voorhees,, the efficient agent of the
Richmond & Danville Railroad, it
gives it a sort of local interest if not
habitation and a name, and we re-
produce it in these columns. By his
reputed craftsmanship Capt. VOORHEES,
gained considerable notoriety all over
the country and his portrait was print
ed in many of the illustrated journals
at the time. The article in the paper
before US is accompanied by an illus
tratlon showing the baby fastened to
the balloons drifting to the skies fax
out above the water, and with asailing
boat on the deck Of which the unerr;ng
marksman stands with his trusty rife
raised in the act of shooting the bullet
that rescued the child from its i'm.
pending fate and brought it safely
down to be returned to the outstretch'
ed arms of its anxious mother. But
to the article:
One bright day in the summer o.
1881, strolling Italian made hi:
appearance in front of the hotel al
Morehead City, watering place or
Eastern coast of North Carolina, with
large cluster of those bladder-like
toy balloons which are the delight o.
the children, and which he offered fol
sale.
Major Hawkins, of Alabama, wa:
standing in front of the hotel, holding
in his arms Birdie Elliott, a brigh
little girl between two and three year
old, whose mother had brought he
from Texas to the seaside in hope tina
the sea breezes might invigorate he
frail form, which was wasted ant
emaciated by an attack OF Texa
fever.
| To amuse the little invalid, ant
without thinking how light she was
Major Hawkins tied the cord whlcl
held the balloons around Birdie
waist, and, as is often done to children
gave her toss of five or six feet int
the air. and held his hands to Catcl
her as she returned.
"Great God! she is gone!" sal
the Major, as he saw her rapidly goin
up, up, past the house-tops, and int
the blue sky above. Floating upwar
towards the clouds, with outstretche
hands, the helpless child could be hear
distinctly calling, "Mamma! Mammal!
, until her voice was drowned in tt
, whistling of the winds, as she drlfte
out towards the sea.
"To the boats" shouted a con
: manding voice, g and don't man
you come back till you bring tn
: child to her MOTHER
S The men leaped into the boa'
4 bent to the oars, and pulled as T
t life.
D 1t was a time of awful suspen:
e The wind was waiting the child o
d to sea. How long the balloons won
r sustain her, or where she would descen
Il no mortal could tell and what GA
II man on the water could keep pa
:. with those balloons as they went SIX
= ward and seaward, SO far beyond t
d reach of human hands9
But though men seemed helpless
the emergency, the Lords arm IS n
T. shortened that He cannot save, no'
r His ear heavy that He cannot hear
b. PRAYER of an agonized mother, or
G. CRY of little child. In the wise ord
he ing of His gracious providence, pa
ps of gentlemen were at that mom'
is on the water taking a sail. Amo
them was Charles ]. VOORHEES,, one
the most expert rihemen in the regi
'or and he providentially had brou
nd with him his trusty "Smith
3 Wesson" rife. At glance he ce
lth pretended the situation, and remark
lP- =.