Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-19

Dangerous Toys-Beware of Them.
The announcement by telegraph of the
death of a number of boys in Baltimore,
Cincinnati, Chicago, and other cities from
locktaw, superinduced by wounds received
BIZ handling toy pistols, has created quite
sensation in Savannah, and excited the ap-
prehensions of parents. It Is known that
large number of these toy pistols were
sold in this city during the Christmas hoh-
days, but fortunately we have heard OF no
serious results from their use. 1t may be
that different cap has been invented and
Is furnished with those which were pro-
ductive of so much trouble In other cities.
Lest these dangerous weapons should be
sent here, we consider 1t proper to warn the
public against them.
The weapon-and a very deadly one it has
proved-Is not intended to shoot balls, but
to explode caps, with q deRfening noise.
The charge of illuminate was so great that 1t
often exploded and wounded the boy hand
ling it, principally in the hand. We learn
from the local press that children, in using
the weapons with that carelessness custom
ary to those of tender age, are not only en-
dangered by the explosion when properly
occurring, but actually have TO face the
strong probability that, owing to the faulty
construction of thu weapon, the cap or
more properly the blank cartridge. will be
discharged while being placed In the barrel.
The fact that frequently the shot wss fired
lust as the loading process had been finish
ed, and before the trigger was touched, led
TO an investigation by several gentlemen
whose children were using the weapons.
By experiments, 1t was found that after the
- 4 IL In NJ a r
rel pushed back, the shock OF the latter
motion will, three times out OF four, II hur-
rIedly done, cause the hammer to fall and
the cartridge to explode. As the loading
process requires the hand to be placed on
the barrel, whence 1t naturally slips over the
muzzle, the deplorable accidents can readily
be accounted for.
That any persons, 1or tne SAKE OF gam
should manufacture and sell, at this time,
such weapon, miscalled toy, is only COM
parable in monstrosity to the purchase of
them by parents for their little ones. Bit
terly may ali hands repent 1t, since no less
than eleven children have died OF lockiaw
10 Baltimore and many more are wounded
and in danger of death. Some of these
boys were most promising, and their fright
full deaths will int1ict wounds on the moth
er's heart that will be hard to heal.
"It is not improbable" says the Augusta
Chronicle, commenting as above, THAT these
toy pistols will become Questionable at
the North, and that an effort will be made
to unload the stock upon the South. This
may not be realized, but out of the abun-
dance of caution we admonish parents and
the authorities to be on the alert, and we
warn ell dealers In such implements to have
care how they receive such invoices. The
man who will sell one of the toys, with
these lights before him, is liable to serious
consequences, and the parent who permits
his child to have one need not be surprised
If another hillock shall be made in the Gem
etery which shall hide a beloved object
whose murder cannot be traced to anything
but criminal folly aud improvidence."