Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-04-06
BABIES IN A BALLOON.
The Thrilling Adventure of Two He
linOas Children Many Years
Ago.

Mr.. William Harvey and his sister,
Miss Mary, living about six miles east
of Richview, ILL.,, tell very interesting
story of themselves which happened
II number of years ago.
They were quite small, the boy being
five and his sister seven years old.
During the year 1858, while the state
fair was being held at Central City, Ill,
an aeronaut of Chicago made an ascen-
sion in balloon at the state fair on
Saturday morning, and his balloon
came down about six miles east OF
Rchview, near the country residence
of William Harvey, Sr. The owner of
the balloon, feeling chilled, went into
the farmhouse to 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 tiedto the fence. AS they had never
seen balloon, they walked up to
take a lool, at It, Seeing it would go
up a few feet and 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. The
balloon went up and down awhile,
then all at once it gave lunge and
pulled itself loose from the fence. Up
and up it went with the little Harvey
children in the basket. The mother
was looking out of window and, see
ing the balloon going up, told the
aeronaut that his balloon had got away
from the fence, and theyal went out to
see it. The mother came, and as she
watched the balloon going up, she no.
ticed someone in the basket. Not once
did she think it was her two little chill
dren. nor could she believe it to be her
two children when her husband told
her the children were no where to be
found. A search was made all over the
farm for the missing ones, but without
result. The father at once drove to
Rome, 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 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 1t
was growing late and the balloon was
travelling fast. Soon it was impossible
to see it. 1t went south, passed through
Centralia, ILL.,, then turned west again,
and went over Mascousah, ILL.,, 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 Willie's head
and he went to sleep in Mary's lap.
About seven o'clock the next morning
the balloon came down in a large tree
on farm southeast of Mount Vernon,
III. 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
dren in a basket"
John got the children out Of the tree,
took them into the house, and after
they were 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 1858 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 1t.
st. Louis Globe-Democrat-