The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-06-08
BABIES III a BALLOON.
nu,e f,7a7slizz:ss A1lventure Of Two IL.
Iizscas CIssEdrea a3aaEay y essTE

Mr. William Harvey and his sister,
Miss Mary, living about six miles east
of Richview, H.. tell very interesting
story Of themselves which happened
number Of years ago.
They were quite small, the boy belng
five ard his sister seven years Ola.
During the year 1858, while the state
Iair was being held At Central city, ILL.,
an aeroEaut Of Chicago made al ascen-
sion in a balloon at the state fair on
Saturday morning. and his balloon
came down about six miles east OF
Richview, near the country residence
CT William Harvey. Sr. The owner OF
the balloon, feeling chilled, went into
the farmhouse 10 warm and tied his
balloon TO a rail fence near the barn
Little Willie and Mary were playing
near the barn. They noticed the bal
loon tietto the fence. As they had never
seen a balloon, they walked up to-
take a look at it. Seeing ii would go
up few feet ard back again, they
thought it would be fun to get in the
basket and ride Mary helped her little
brother in. and then she got in. he
balloon went UP and down awhile,
then al at once it gave lunge and
pulled itself loose from the fence. Up
and up i t went with the little Harvey
children in the basket. The mother
was looking ont Of q sTindo" and. see
ing the ballocn going up, told the
acronaut that lis balloon had got away
frorn the fence. ard theyal went cut to
see t. The Ie0t.s2r came, ard as she
watched the balloon going u:3, she no
ticed someone il the basket. Not once
did she think it was her two little chill
dren. nor could she believe ii to be her
two children when her husband TOLD!
her the children were no where to be
found. y search was made ali over the
farm for the missing ones, but without
result. The father at once drove to
Rome. 4 short distance from his farm.
and told the story- At once people fol-
lowed after the balloon. It went north
about five miles, then turned west. go
ing over Central City. Everyone at the
fair, thinking the aeronaut was making
his return, cheered and cheered as the
balloon went over. Soon a telegram
was received at Central City stating
that the balloon contained the two chill
dren OF Mr.. and Mrs. William Harvey,
and to keep {, lookout for it. But it
vas growing late and tie balloon was
travelling fast. Soon it was impossible
to see it. 1t went south, passed through
Eentralia, H., then turned west again,
and went over Mascoutah. H.. then
turned and went over East ST. Louis
The little boy began to get cold and
commenced to cry. Mary united her
apron and put it around Nillie's head
and he went to sleep in Mny's lap
About seven o'clock the next morning
the balloon. came down in a large tree
on a farm southeast of Mount Vernon,
Ill. The owners of the farm, seeing the
balloon in their tree, the lady OF the
house cried out to her husband:
ooh, John. God has sent US some chill
dTen IN a basket"
John got the children out Of the tree,
cook them into the house, and after
they we're warm, asked Mary who her
parents were. She told them, and the
farmer took them home.
Many Of the visitors to the state fair
in 1853 well remember the above story,
and may be pleased to know that the
little children who made this trip are
now living and delight in telling of it.
st. Louis GIobe-Denocrat