The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-06-29
The Annual FusiIade.


As that season Of aftllction, the Fourth
OF July, Is close at hand, It Is time to raise
the question whether something cannot
DO done TO lessen It's horrors AMI alleviate
the sudsrings Of tho public, Under a
villainouS practice that has grown up Of
concentrating the day with all the dia.
bolical uproar that can be produced by
gunpowder and illuminate, the cities OF
the country are for twenty.four hours
placed under bombardment-in n state Of
siege, practically-when lnvalids and sick
people endure untold torments; when well
people venture out, on foot or in vehicles,
at the risk Of mutilation and death, and
when their houses are continually exposed
to the peril OF fire; while the explosions
that rack the ear, whether within doors
or without, are especially taxing on the
nerves Of women and destructive Of the
comfort Of all. Now people have u right
to be secure against these annoyances
and dangers; and our city government
pretends TO protect them in that right. 1t
Is to obtain such protection that they are
taxed. 1t was to enforce that protection
that the City Council long ago enacted
that
ut shall be unlawful for any person
TO fire or discharge within such parts of
the city which ara or shall be- laid out in
lots, or within 500 feet OF said limits, any
cannon, gun, pistol. or fire arms, or any
crackers, squibs, rocket or fire works, eX-
cept 1t be in case Of necessity, or in the
discharge OF some police duty, or at a
military parade by order Of the officer in
command, or with the permission of the
Mayor of the City" Sec. 25-Chapter3 "a
City Ordinance
The penalty of every such offence is "a
fine Of not less than 81. nor more than
SEQ. andit the fine be not paid the offend
er may be sent to the Chain Gang till the
fine and costs are paid but for not longer
than 80 days. [Sec. 40 same ChapterI.
This is a very proper enactment, but it
has never been enforced, so far as we are
aware. We suppose the City Sergeant
and his deputies are not aware OF its OK.
btence; and we print it now for their
information. Those who think they can
not get through tho Fourth without from
twelve to twenty hours of dealening OK.
plosions can take their gunpowder and
pistols, and crackers, and go 10 some
retired spot outside Of the city limits and
tickle their hungry tympanums TO their
hearts delight; but there are many thou.
sand people in the city who will be obliged
tostaya at home on that day and night, who
do not crave any part in the lombard.
ment, who don't want TO have their ears
tortured by the detonations of small can.
non or pistols, torpedoes or Chinese
crackers, who don't want to be mutilated
by flying fragments, bullets, slugs or
wads, who don't want to have their
necks broken by runaway teams
who do want, in short, to be let
alone in the enjoyment of their cnalien.
able rights; and it is in their behalf that
we call upon the officers Of the city to do
their plain duty, to enforce the law, and
to protect the city, in person and proper
ty, against the annual bombardmcnt on
the coming Fourth. We do not want to
see any legitimate epjoyments of Young
America curtailed and we know "boys
will be boys" but. this kind of amuse-
mentis not legitimate, interfering Us it
does with the comfort Of thousands who
cannot escape the annoyance, and en-.
dsugering person and property.
Let the officers do their duty and en-.
force the law. They are preparing to
put down the practice in other cities. 1t
Is high time IT was done here.