The New York herald., 1845-07-06
WASHINGTON, July 4, 1916.
10 O'Clock. PM.
Celebration, Accidents, &c.


Without any preconcerted general arrangement,
we have had remarkably happy day in and about
Washington, with sad and melancholy conclusion.
The Temperance people celebrated the day in the
Presidents grounds after the :most approved cold
water fashion; and between two and three O'Clock
Mr.. Buchanan might have been seen among them
rejuvinatng upon iced water and lemonade, verify
believing that
There is nothing good,
For old bachelors blood,
As glass of delicious water"
Several companies, societies, parties of our
citizens went off to the woods, while lots Of the
country folks came 10 see the fun in town. After
the laying of the corner stone OF Jackson Hall, we
repaired, with party of friends, to the Rock Creek
Episcopal Church, several miles north of the city, to
see how the Ladies Fair was progressing, in the
grove, adjoining that rural place Of worship In the
rear OF a modest temple, built In l76S, of imported
bricks, in the then colony of Maryland in the rear
of this church, and in the midst OF an outrageous
Forest the ladies had their tables with all the
fancy notions usual on such occasion, including hot
coffee and Souchong tea.
And there we found Judges Woodwork. member
elect to Congress from Duchesss county New York:
and Major Leggett, of the county who protests
that the Herald is the greatest paper in all creation
and Col. Medill, one of Cave Johnson's able assis-
tants and Captain Sylvester, Of the Patent Office
among the gentlemen present, participating in this
modest yet impressive observance Of the day
All sorts of crops in the neighborhood were fine,
showing that we only want few more of your Nor
then farmers to show us how to till the soil, by
showing the value of labor rightly appropriated and
Of time rightly economical.
In the evening the usual exhibition of fireworks
was announced TO take place in front of the Presi-
dents house, on the broad common between the
southern wall OF the Executive Gardens and the
Potomac River At least five thousand persons
congregated in the neighborhood to see the sight
The exhibition went on to universal satisfaction for
half an hour-wheels rockets and splultering ex-
plosions. BY the falling of the rack, however, to
which a cluster OF rockets attached OF five OF
SIX pounds each Just they were being fired, they
were dlverged from the perpendicular into almost
horizontal line towards the Presidents House. -
At some 800 yards distance, one of these rockets
in its course, struck man named Knowles, who
sitting on the wall of the Presidents gardens,
by the side of his wife, and instantly killed him.
The missile penetrated his side to his heart, and he
died almost Immediately IN the arms of his distress
sed and frantic wife. He was carried TO che White
House, but il was all over with him. Several other
persons were seriously, though not dangerously in
Iured On the announcement OF this accident the
exhibition dt once suspended, and the multi
iude dispersed to their homes.
A man 1--WE are credIbly informed) was also Kill
led in Georgetown to-day while passing before a
loaded cannon at the moment of its discharge; and
one or two other men were seriously injured from
the same cause.
In addition to this, there rumor in town late
this afternoon, that the steamer Osceola which went
down to Piney Point last night on pleasure excur-
sion, was burnt; but as there was no subsequent
confirmation OF the report we suppose ii an idle
hoax We shall have sufficiently long chapter of
accidents and caamities, attendant upon the Fourth
OF July, without resorting to fabrcations like this