Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-05
WATERVILLE.
THE FOURTH
Was Very Quietly Passed by
Most Watervi|Iians.
The Small Boys Have Their Usual
Sport With the Fire Crackers.
Some Accidents Occu--Firemen Called Out
Some Malicious Mischief.

The Fourth was one Of the most quiet
| that the city has known for several
vars Everyone seemed to desire
holiday more than a celebration, 50 a
holiday il was. The majority Of the
stores were closed all day. The streets
were almost wholly deserted. one Of
| the policemen said that he could read
column after column in the papers on
the street without even having any
| one ask him what the news was. An
unusually large number went out To
the ponds or t. the country to spend
the day quietly away from the small
boy and his noise. and the remainder
who were able. went 20 Fairfield TO at
tend the celebration there.
The small my began his noise in
spite Of the rain. early in the evening
Tuesday. and kept il UP until near
daybreak. Wednesday morning. The
grand outburSt came at midnight
Company II fired about 1000 rounds cf
blanks. during til" night, and the
streets were Uttered with the remains
Of hundreds uf fire crackers. in tho
morning. The crowd was an orderly
one on the whole. There were several
threats Of rows. but they all We're set
tied quietly. ~ that the officers had
little to do aside from watching for
fires and keeping things moving.
The first accident Of the day occur
red Il little after / o'clock. y small
crowd had congregated on the corner
ii front Of Putnam's store and were
firing crackers Just after a report. a
man by the name Of Jcnncss. who lives
1T 1i9 Front street. Was seen to fail.
h. ,,i
simpson ana found to 10 badly hurt.
lie was at once taken to the office of
Dr. Bunker \ wound was found in
his left leg just above tho knee, which
had evidently been made by the wad
Of a blank cartridge fired from rifle
or revolver. The wound was dressed
and the injured man was taken to his
home.
Later in the day. Paul Aslein lost one
finger of the right hand by the care
less handling Of a cannon cracker.
The whole hand was badly bruised
and torn.
At 10 o'clock in the forenoon, an
alarm of fire was rung in from box IS.
The department responded promptly
ANA soon located the blaze in some tar
near the Riverview Wooden mill. The
smoke from the burning tar 50 sur
rounded the building that from a dis
lance ii looked as if the whole build
ing was on fire on the inside
The Electrics did a land office bust
ness all day. The cars were run every
l. minutes during most Of the day and
nearly every car was loaded. in the
forenoon, the sports at Island park in
Fairfield drew large crowds. 1t was
estimated that there were at least 1000
people on the park. In the afternoon.
the ball game and trot at the Driving
park drew a larger crowd than the
forenoon attractions. so that the ears
had about all they wanted to do TO
handle the crowds. !, was done
smoothly, however, and excellent SER
vice was given.
There are always some objectionable
features about a celebration. The boys
when they turn out. at midnight to
start things moving have no idea of
doing any damage, but there is usually
some done just the same 1t is not as
a rule the smaller boys who do the
mischief. but the larger ones who get
to drinking and do not care what they
do.
was valued at about $40. was torn
from the side of the house where it
was securely fastened and so battered
that it Will have to be rc-lettered
The large swinging sign of the City
Veterinarian hospital was also torn
down and ruined. DR. Stewart says
that he would not have cared if the
signs had been merely carried off, but
he does object to having them de-
stroyed. and offers a reward of So for
the detection of the guilty parties in
each instance.
The sign of the City dining hall was
also carried off and considerable dam
age done in various parts of the city
OF this nature. This is not celebrating
and the police are on the war path
and are bound to make someone un
derstand that such things will not be
allowed.
The evening was a little more lively
than the afternoon had been. but the
majority of the people who remained
In the city went to Fairfield to witness
the fireworks. the show and to attend
the dance. all Of which We're held on
the Island park. in the evening. There
were various private displays of fire.
works 1hDnt tho nj ~, !.