The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-07-05
ONLY A CANDLE BURNED
BBOADWAR HAD NO FOURTH OF
 JULY FIRE YESTERDAY.

Police Would Not Allow the Usual Big Bon
 fire So tho Site Was Illuminated With
 TalIow Dip--Visit to the Mayor of No
 Avail-Residents Indignant.
 For the first time in thirty or forty years-the time varies according to the recollection of the oldest inhabitants of the Ninth and Tenth wards--the Fourth of July was yesterday ushered in with out bonfire at the junction of Broad way, Dixwell and Whalley avenues, and the residents of that section of the city are much provoked in consequence.
 For several weeks large quantities of old barrels, wood and other infiamma- ble material have been collected and placed in an adjoining yard for use on the night of July g. All, or nearly all, of the residents of the wards have as- sisted in the preparations and it was generally understood that the bonfire in that section of the city. The barrels and other material are still carefully concealed in the yard, as the watehful police, acting under instructions from Mayor Hendrick, refused to allow the fire to be kindled and threatened with arrest any one whom they might see carrying barrels or in any way attempt ing to start the blaze
 Until long after midnight it was hop ed that an opportunity might be afford ed to start the fire, but the police were too watchful and finally at o'clock the last of the crowd quietly wended their homeward ways A large crowd assem- bled at the place about ii o'clock and preparations were begun for the build ing of g. monster fire. Almost immedi- ately a detail of about dozen patrol- men from police headquarters and sta- tion were on the scene and warned all present to desist from further ef- forts in this direction or they would be arrested.
 This acted as a damper upon the crowd and 1t was finally decided to stop temporarily, the idea being that sooner
 
 the fire could be started in their ab- sence This plan failed to materialize, however, as the patrolmen remained at their posts throughout the entire night and no opportunity was given of kind ling the blaze.
 Finally 1t was decided to appeal to Mayor Hendrick and detachment of well known citizens was picked out and sent to the mayors residence for per mission to start the fire. For over half an hour they importuned him to grant their request, but he remained obdu- rate and they returned with their de- pressing message to the crowd which was anxiously waiting their coming at Broadway. When they conveyed their message there was considerable indig- nation at the action of the mayor ex- pressed in forcible if ineiegant man ner some of the crowd even going so far as to propose three misses for May or Hendrick.''
 For over two hours the, crowd waited but all In vain. Finally one of the crowd went to a neighboring house and secured tallow candle. This he plac- ed In the middle of the road on the site of where the lurid flames have for years leaped heavenward, and just as the clock in the city hall tolled the hour of midnight applied 8 match to the wick and started the candle burning with the remark. "Well, Independence day shall not come in unlighted. If we can't have bonfire we will have a candle" Ills remarks were greeted with cheers and the candle was kept burning until dawn began to break through the clouds.