Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-01-18
GUY FAWKES' DAY.
Celebrating the Filth bay of Novcn
Der in England

When James 1 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
a 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 fifth of November, 1905, was fixed
upon for the date. Shortly prior TO
that date it occurred to some OF the
conspiratOrS that Ill destroying all the
nobility many, per force, OF the Cath
olic peers would perish. So, 10y way of
irving to avoid this, an anonymous let
ter was forwarded to one of the mobiles
warning him to absent himself from
the ceremony. Part of the text was as
follows: "They shall receive terrible
blow this parliament" These words
seem to have puzzled many TO whom
the epistle was shown, but they event.
ually led to the suggestion OF gun-pow-
der being used to blow up The houses,
and a thorough search of the vaults un-
derneath the parliament building was
ordered. This was done, and resulted
in finding thmty-sIX barrels of powder
covered with fagots of wood, SO as TO
hide them. They were i'll charge of a
! man named Guy or Guilds Fawkes, from
whose person were taken a watch,
tinder box and some touch wood, This
| Guy Fawkes, was a man of some 30
years of age, of COOL family and of a
bold and venture eSome spirit. lie had
/ been engaged to fire the train and then
make his escape TO France in a ship
provided for that purpose
| In consequence of the failure of this
conspiracy, the 9Th of November was
ordered to be kept as a day of thanks
giving 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which was not repealed for over two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-
tion is a mere tiZZle. \ few fireworks
in out of the way spots, bonfire where
one can be lighted without fear of in
terruption, lame attempt at burning
badly manufactured effigy of Guy
Fawkes, and by 8 p. M all is over.
Most of this, too, is tie work o: boys,
very few of the more sedate members
of society taking any part In 1t. Occa-
sionallv a paterfamillaS VIII let off a
few squibs and crackers for the amuse-
ment 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, situ-
ated in the county of Somerset, and in
the west country
= 1t has long been the custom there TO
keep November 3 in a way that Is now
almost unique. For several weeks
. prior to that date the inhabitants beg
their preparations. These consist in
manufacturing fireworks, organizing
, bands of participants. arranging cos
calaafrrSr rAlanaS To hai
ammunition and various other details.
The fireworks are principally squibs
-Squibs of all sizes, but all made thus:
} 4 round piece of wood, say part of a
broom handle about fifteen or eighteen
inches in length, is sawed in two, an
5 inch and half from one end A hole
/ is then bored in both pieces and an iron
, pin inserted in the layer so the smaller
can be replaced to appear as if the
whole had not been cut. but at the
same time allowing it to be removed al
. will. At this joint each end is pointed
> as if one sharpened a pencil and the
, stick is ready for use. Round this roll.
, er is wrapped layer of thickish paper
|. - copy books are often employed-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
Z formed. Several more sheets of paper
: having been treated in a 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 composition of halt
= gunpowder and steel filings, with q
IL ''bang'' of plain powder at the end
forms the material for loading, all OF
q which is rammed tightly and the enc
/ of the case is closed. The head is GOV
}. cred with touch paper and then all il
ready for action. 1t will be pretty evi
dent to most people that it would no
do to hold such firework as the one
have described in the hand and holdel
&c is therefore necessity. That is mad,
g of long stick with mallet shaped
!, head grooved the proper size and tn,
Ia squib it is to hold is tied on with string
q Having manufactured good suppl,
II of these weapons, the next thing to d.
.r is to find place where they can b.
"a stored on the evening of the eventfu
n day, and some small shop away from
is the scene of the festivities is usually Sc
If lected. Then comes the last of tn
ar preparations-namely, what band {,
"a join and what costume to wear. 1
to none be worn it is only necessary to Sc
lect the Oldest possible clothes in one
wardrobe. And now for glorious th
q BY the afternoon trains many stranger
arrive to see the sport, and soon after
J, O'Clock all traffic in the main Thorough
- fares Is suspended. Little by little9u
- =, to z: 30 O'Clock the number Of people Il
. the streets increases, and when at tia
time the bonfire Is lighted In the make