The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-07-09
THE FOURTH IN TOWN.

The night before and the day of
the Glorious Fourth in Montpelier
were rather quiet than otherwise--as
quiet is considered on or about the
Fourth. Traditionally it was to be ex-
pected pandeinonium would reign
the night before, but anticipation
was greater than realization this year,
as there was no general outburst of
boisterous hilarity, although there
were several struggling bands which,
filled with exuberant patriotism and
armed with horns, guns and cannon
crackers, performed the Office of
sleep killers until an early hour in the
moring. The day was unusually quiet
because of the general exodus of resi-
dents to other places where were cele
brations of more or less pomp and GER
emory Good order was the rule, no
inclination appearing in any quarter
to cause disturbance.
The railroads did large business
in transporting the crowds Five
carloads of people from Barre and
about 200 people from this city went
to Burlington to attend the cele-
bration there, while the incoming
trains were loaded with people from
adjoining towns on their way to take
in the festivities at the Granite City
trotting park in Barre The electrics
ran double headers all day which
were always loaded.
The weather was perfect and the
people appeared to appreciate getting
out of the gloom of the wet and gray
days of some weeks past
The most serious accident to be
chronicled at the close of the festivi-
ties Of July 4th occurred at Montpelier
Junction a little after midnight, just
as the train from the north was leav-
ing the Junction for this city
Edward Ekerston of Mortified, en-
ployed as stonecutter at that place,
attempted to board the south bound
train fer his home after the train had
gathered considerable Roadway and
forgetting or not knowing that the
vestibule doors were closed he grasp
ed the rail, it is supposed, and swung
onto the step only to be dashed away
from the car and thrown beneath the
wheels, which passed over his right
leg, crushing his ankle and foot to a
brought to this city where an ambu-
lance conveyed him to the Heaton
Hospital. The surgeons were obliged
to amputate the fractured limb be-
tween the ankle and knee. This morn
ing was reported as having stood the
operation we'll and was resting as
comfortably as could be expected.
Peter Bianchi, nineteen years Of
age, residing at River street,
about ten clock Friday even
ing while celebrating with dynamite
crackers, was holding one in his right
hand which exploded before he had
time to throw it from him after light
ing and the entire inside of his hand
was torn to shreds. He was taken to
the Heaton Hospital where it was
found necessary to amputate the hand
at the wrist The young man was
employed as a carver at Barclay
Bros. Barre, and lacked bnt six
months Of completing his apprentice
ship.
Barre chronicles two accidents as
the result of over-zealousness in the
matter of celebrating. The more
serious OF the two was that happening
to a SOL of John Hollenbach who mar
rowly escaped being blinded He plac-
ed a fire cracker in bottle and explod-
ed it while holding the bottle in his
hand. His eyes were filled with
powder and broken glass.
The nine-year- son of Chief of
Police Brown of Barre was quite bad
ly burned in the face Friday night
by the explosion of large cannon
cracker. The little fellow had lighted
the cracker and it did not explode.
He went to pick it up with the result
that it exploded in his hand
While there were no public fire
works i'll this city on the evening of
theFourth yet there We're several fine
exhibitions made by private parties
and during the evening the sky was
illumined by fire balloons and varia-
gated rockets making a very pretty
spectacle. One balloon lodged in the
top of a tree on lower State street re-
naming there until the fire operating
it was spent and furnished fine tar
get for a bombardmet of Roman can
dies III the hands of enthusiastic
youngsters.
Il i 4