Wichita eagle., 1888-09-21
GUY FAWKES DAY.
CELEBRATING THE FIFTH OF NO
MEMBER IN ENGLAND.

English village-Noisy - IN American
Fourth OF july
When James I came to the throne the
Catholics hoped he would repeal many harsh
laws then pressing on them This he failed
to do, and in consequence secret plot was
formed to blow up the houses of parliament
on the day he went to open the session, and
so destroy the governing power of the nation
The 5th of November, 1905, was fixed upon
for the date. Shortly prior to that date it
occurred to some of the conspirators that in
destroying all the nobility many, per force,
of the Catholic peers would perish So, by
way of trying to avoid this, an anonymous
letter was forwarded to one Of the MOBILES
warning him to absent himself from the cere-
mony. Part of the text was as follows:
They shall receive terrible blowe this par
lament" These words seem TO have puzzled
many to whom the epistle was shown, but
they eventually led to the suggestion OF gun
powder being used to blow up the houses, and
q thorough search Of the vaults underneath
the parliament building was ordered. This
was done, and resulted in finding thirty six
barrels of powder covered over with fagots
OF wood, SO as TO hide them They were in
charge of a man named Guy or Guilds
Fawles, from whose person were taken
watch, a finder box and some touch wood
This Guy Fawkes was man OF some 80
years OF age, OF good family and Of bold
and venturesome spirit He had been engaged
to fire the train and then make his escape to
France in ship provided for that purpose.
In consequence of the failure of this con-
spiracy, the 5th Of November was ordered TO
be kept as day of thanksgiving forever by
an act of parliament, which was not repealed
for over two centuries. In many-indeed In
most-of the large English cities the celebra-
ton is a mere fizzle. A few fireworks in out
of the way spots, bonfire where one can be
lighted without fear of interruption, lame
attempt at burning a badly manufactured
effgy OF Guy Fawkes, and by p. II. all IS
over. Most of this, too, is the work Of boys,
very few of the more sedate members Of soci-
ETY. taking any part in 1t. Occasionally a
paterfaniiias will let Off a few squlbs and
crackers for the amusement of the small fry
of the family, but that is all. There are,
however, one or two smaller towns which are
true to the traditions of their ancestors.
Bridgewater is one OF these, an ancient city
of some 10000 inhabitants, situated in the
county of Somerset, and in the west country.
1t has long been the custom there to keep
November in a way that is now almost
unique. For several weeks prior to that
date the inhabitants begin their preparations.
These consist in manufacturing fireworks,
organizing bands of participants, arranging
costumes, selecting places to store their am
munition and various other details.
The fireworks are principally squibs-
squibs of all sizes, but all made thus: A
round piece OF wood, say part of a broom
handle about fifteen or eighteen inches in
length, is sawed in two, an inch and half
from one end. A hole is then bored in both
pieces and an iron pin inserted in the layer
SO that the smaller can be replaced to appear
US if the whole had not been cut, but at the
same time allowing it to be removed at will.
At this joint each end is pointed as if one
sharpened pencil and the stick is ready for
use Round this roller is wrapped layer Of
thickish paper-copy books are often en-
ployed-and gummed together. A piece of
string is then wound about the joint In the
wood and drawn tight, and by so doing the
paper is contracted and kind of neck
formed. Several more sheets of paper hav-
ing been treated In like manner and the
whole being thoroughly dry, the top of the
roller is removed, the larger end taken out
and there is the case complete. A compost
ton of half gunpowder and steel filings, with
q ''bang" of plain powder at the end, forms
the material for loading, all of which is
ramrned tightly and the end Of the case is
closed The head is covered with touch
paper and then all bis ready for action. 1t
will be pretty evident to most people that it
would not do to hold such a firework as the
one have described in the hand and holder
is therefore a necessity. That is made Of a
long stick with mallet shaped head grooved
the proper size and the Squib it is to hold is
tied on with string.
Having manufactured q good supply Of
these weapons, the next thing to do is to find
a place where they can be stored on the eve
ming of the evsntfui day, and some small
shop away from the stane of the festivities
is usually selected. Then comes the last Of
the preparations-namely, what band to join
and what costume to wear. If none be worn
it is only necessary to select the oldest posi-
BILE clothes in ones wardrobe. And now for
glorious 5th. By the afternoon trains many
strangers arrive to see the sport, and soon
otter 6 O'Clock all traffic in the main
thoroughfaree is suspended Little by little
up to 4 80 o'clock the number of people in the
streets increases, and when at that time the
bonfire is ig hsed in the market places there is
fairly large crowd of celebrants. Then the
fun begins and the windows Of the houses
overlooking the scene of the festivities are
thronged with spectators. First comes a
band Of men In costume-red devils-and
passing round the fire each person lights his
squib. Phiz-z-z goes number ons-a glorious
fountain of fire playing everywhere and any
-L1, = g 10 nfd TAa
others take it up ttil there are some eight or
ten squibs blazing and squirting away like 50
many small volcanoes.
Meanwhile another band arrives, and their
squibs being lighted, the members begin to
attack the first corners with them The as
sault is returned, and, fresh men having ar
rived on the scene, those who have used
their weapons retire to rsplenish, and so they
come and 60, till from the noise one would
think few batteries Of artillery were a.
work And work well they do, too, for the
next couple of hours, the noise increasing
rather than otherwise. Now more tar bas
rels are heaped On the Ere and the flames leap
upward with fresh fury. Then comes a
sound which rises above the din Of the con-
;inu1 explosions 1t Is the cheer OF those
who are bringing the Guy Fawkes 70 commit
him to the flames need hardly say that at
this distance Of time IT is not The eftigy Of the
real traitor which is burned The Guy
Fawkes of the year is generally some politi-
cal or local person who has made himself IN
popular at the time. The group comes bear
ing him on a chair placsd Oh platform sup
ported by several men, and as be hears the
scene Of his execution be is salused by cheers
and groans andivolleys from The squibA Ar
rived at the Are be is chsined once round,
and then, amid one great shout from the