The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-07-08
rnsnr,,al Mnnhinan

OF all pyrotechnical toys, 20 to speak, which
have yet been produced to amuse or torment
people with, the nitro-gly yoerine' torpedo is the
most dangerous, partly because of its treach-
erous character, but mainly because Of the ex-
cessive force it contains. 1t is made Of Plas-
: ter of Paris, contains perhaps one drop Of that
fearfully explosive compound, and when
thrown with the requisite force explodes with
fearful crash, and often inficts serious iniu-
ry. The old torpedo was comparatively
harmless, this new explosive is almost deadly
in its effects, and will be productive of nume-
rous accidents" As a promoter Of local
items, it might be regarded as just the thing
but we trust we regard the welfare of human
ity enough to oppose the introduction of such
stieles as are sure to become adjuncts Of hu-
man misery. The sale Of this internal ma
chine should be prohibited in our city. Its
manufacture should be prohibited, but as that
is beyond the reach Of our corporate euthori-
ties, they can do the next best thing and regu-
lea its sale. before any more serious cases, re-
suit than those to which we shall refer under
the head of
CHAPTER OF ACCIDENT.
On tie Fourth of July, an expressman in
this city, was standing with some persons who
were exploding the nitro-glyCerine torpedo,
and be king that he had one in his vest
pocket reached for it, when his thumb nail
scraped the missile and an explosion occurred.
Result-thumb nail nearly forced of, end of
thumb mutilated, fingers burned and vest
pocket irreparabie.
Same day, disciple of Esculapias had one
of them exploded Oh his hand, and had to do |
it up for repairs. 1t IS still in bandage, hav-
ing been severely burned.
A gentleman while passing the new Presby- |
terian Church, few dayp ago, trespased upon |
what had been play ground for some torpe-
doists little while before. One of the little |
mischief makers was left upon the ground, |
and the gentleman's foot fell fat upon it, and
he became an unwilling eronant, having been
raised fome fifteen inches in the air. He was
uninjured, but is morally opposed to "going
on high" without his knowledge or consent.
He got his 'foot in it, that time, however.
/
and often are Just as full of life and fun as
their smaller kinsmen. A group of such was
gathered together, few evenings since, and
some of them were trying the new explosives,
which report like cannon. One of the num-
Der was struck on the leg and the force of the
explosion nearly threw him "off his pins"
paralizing his limb for a moment OF course,
it would have been contrary to nature for him
to have remained in the best humor possible.
And he didn't
Another gentleman was struck upon the
shoulder, by one of those vile inventions, and
was rendered remarkably active for one of
his age" The explosion deafened him, and
be has not yet recovered his hearing fully.
The severest accident of the kind, however,
which we have yet yeard OF, occurred on Tues
lay last. A gentleman, whose name we did ]
iot learn, was passing the corner of Croghan
md Front streets, when torpedo was thrown,
md so precisely was it timed Though not SO
Intended that as the gentlemsn's hand swung
onward the torpedo struck him on the end of :
he thumb, tearing the nail of and mutilsting I
he flesh as if the thumb had been caught be- t
ween pair of cog-weels. The shock was so :
yreat and the pain so intense that the GENTLE ]
nan appeard to trembIe all over while having ]
he wound dressed. {
These are few Of the incidents which have :
ONE to our ears, resulting from the use of c
his new torpedo. In the hands of men they
re not safe, how much less SO they may prove c
n the hands of careless and reckless boys, is
earful to contemplate. One of them explod- s
ng upon persons face, would be likely to S
ear the eyes from their sockets or infict other b
injury. Exploded upon the head s
.bsolute deafness might result, if nothing b
worse. G
Prudence would dictate that the sale of them Q
hould be interdicted, yet prudence does not I
lways prevail, and perhaps not Until some /
evere accident accurs will the use of them 5
e rendered so obnoxious as to cause action to {
e taken by our municipal authorities "An {
unce of prevention is worth pound of cure"
ut the cure is usually preferred ut the risk d
death "a stitch in time saves nine," but ?
be nine are always requisite before the one is
mployed.