Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-05
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.
Few Accidents and Much Noise from Reyo'
vers Characterize the Holiday.

Inc few accidents that occurred tn,
Fourth, took place after breakfast IN,
oeeh eaten. OF half dozen physician.
seen by o'clock in the morning. mo-
one mad an accident to report. Thi.
was IN contrast to the anticipation o.
the physicians. Before they had close,
their offices for the night. Tuesday
each physician had packed an emery.
ency case. Lint. bandages. needles ant
silk and aseptic preparations replace,
the small bottles that usually fill tn,
physicians cases.
Tie extra precaution was not need
ed. however. y call at the hospita
showed that no patients had been ear.
ried there for treatment. up to that
hour. There was noise enough but il
did not seem 10 be Of the kind that
comes from injuries. The racket begar
before midnight of the Fourth and con
tinued until late in the morning. TIL,
rain that fell during the early part OF
the morning put a dampcr on the en-
thuSiasm of many who wished to re-
main out of doors all night.
There was noise enough through the
day, but it was caused wholly by the
snap crackers. Now and then there
was an explosion IF cannon crackers,
but the noise from that source was
nothing in comparison to what it had
been at ether times.
The lessons taught by the Wild
West show We're in evidence. The
charge at San Juan Hill when the
rapidfre guns We're used was brought
to the mind of the small boy, and many
Of them pay poll taxes. the idea that
that form Of a celebration would be a
good thing, and used double-action re-
volvers. Before night came they had
learned to use the rcvolvcrS with such
effect that a very good likeness Of the
gattling gun report could be produced.
1t is to this form Of firearm for
noise. that the physicians attribute the
freedom from accidents. The greater
part Of the accidents are usually caused
by the cannon crackers. As they Were
not used the accidents did not amount
to very much,
At the arsenal the Fourth was celc-
brated in the usual manner. At noon.
the regulatio military salute was
given. two cannon being used Out
side of that there was but very little
public observance. Many of the people
went To the Lake. Still more went
down river and another contingent left
town for other purposes.
Those who remained at home spent
the afternoon at the trotting park.
There they found Il good list of attraC-
lions. Occasionally in that crowd some
boy would b. seen with his finger
bound up but that was as serious Is
the greater part of the accidents.
\ more pleasant summer evening than
last could not be desired and many took
advantage Of il by walking out Of
doors during the earlier part OF the
evening. The noise of celebration did
not extend far into the night. At 10
O'Clock, there was the occasional boom
of the cannon cracker and now ana
then a Sky rocket Or Roman canal"
Whizzed into the air, but the noise was
not very great and the fireworks were
rather limited 1T that hour.
Water street was rather noisy. i'll the
earlier part Of the evening, ana before
it was dark the impatient boys Were
sending off Roman candles. People of
raded the streets and struck terror To
weak nerves Now and then Il sky
rocket would 60 III in some part 81
the city or a red light would glare.
Several Water street dealers in fire
works to show their appreciation of the
liberal trade and. no doubt with pa
triotic motives. gave generous displays
of Sky rockets Roman candies, req
lights and pinwhoels. and ais" set OF
some of their noisc-nroducing stock.
Their stock, by the way. had bech
pretty well cleaned out by night. IT
was almost impossible to buy the Or
dinary-sized firecrackers. early in the
evening.
The streets were almost deserted at
1890. the tired but happy boys ana
GIRLS. who had risen in the small hours
Of morning. having gone I" bed ana
the older persons having gone nome
Now and then the snap of iirecrackpr
mr. the bang Of blank cartridge WAS
heard. Tut all was comparatively quiet
ana another Fourth of July had gone
into the past.