Evening journal., 1904-07-05

DAY CELEBRATED
Although There Were Many
Fireworks Accidents Were
Few
KIRENOOD PARK WAS CROWDED
Nearly 10000 People Witnessed a Fine
Pyroteohnio Display Last Evening.
Parades, Flag Raising, Excursion
Parties and Pionies Marked the Day.


Independence Day. 1904, has passed
and gone with the usual noise. acci-
dents and fatalities. although the list
of injuries In this city this year was
comparatively small
From midnight Sunday night until
midnight last night there was almost a
constant hedlam caused by the explo-
sion of crackers, cannons, guns and al
most every conceivable kind of noise-
making device. Fortunately, to the re-
lief of thousands Of people, the ear
splitting, death-dealing dynamite
cracker was excluded from the list OF
fireworks and the list Of casualties was
held down.
In the morning there was a parade Of
the Polish Turner's Association which
added to the enjoyment OF the day. flag
raisings by st. Thomas r. c.. Church
and the Independence Fire Company,
as well as a private one by the Will
mington Country club, two games OF
baseball, sports by the Polish Turner's,
many games of amateur baseball, pri-
vate displays OF fireworks and pub
lie display at Kirkwood Park by East
Side residents In the evening.
A General Holiday.
Work was practically suspended In
the city during the day and employees
allowed to enjoy themselves in any
manner they felt disposed to. Picnics.
river excursions and trolley parties TO
nearby woods were numerous and all
steamboats, and private conveyances
were taxed TO their utmost.
That no serious calamity happened
during the day speaks we'll for the
manner In which these pleasure par
ties were conducted. Thousands Of
amusement seekers thronged the parks
sat beneath the shade trees and listen
cd TO the strains Of music furnished
by musicians or wended their way In
and out of the various places OF at
traction furnished by the mana cement.
Pleasure reigned supreme. Trouble, for
the day, was forgotten.
Although &c Is impossible to ascer-
tain the exact number Of persons carr
r ried TO the various parks In the vicin-
r ity Of the city, Il Is estimated that the
figures reached well up into the thous-
ands.
{ Fine Pyroteehnio Display.
g From an parts OF the city thousands
Of people gathered ia and about Kirk
q wood Park TO witness the pyrotechnil
e display provided for the public through
( the generosity and efforts on the par
Of East Side residents. The park wal
T beautifully decorated with japanese
p lanterns. while from the houses O.
nearby residents many lanterns wer'
suspended giving great animation to thl
scene.
Discharged From Barge.
4 The first display Of fireworks tool
place at o'clock and nearly two hour
T were consumed before the last rocke
y was discharged. The pyrotchnics wer
d discharged from a scow In the mlddl
OF the Brandywine creek. which hai
s been loaned the committee by the Del
n aware Mining and Granite Company
l. The fireworks in themselves were move
and beautiful and several set piece
e won the we'll deserved applause of tn
r people assembled
The set pieces attracted the most at
s tentlon ana as their fiery shapes wer
d outlined against the sky bursts Of ap
e plause rant forth from thousands o
patriotic throats. Rockets darte
d hither and thither far up in the heav
n lens bombs exploded IN mid-air and fair
- looking bright spots fioated off in tn
a distance soon to fade from sight Take
r as a whole the display was one OF th
- best ever seen in the city and grea
.. credit Is due its promoters. The fire
{ works were discharged from the sco'
h by Elijah Higgins. George King. ELI
10 Reeder, Walter Buckalew and sever,
~ others, an residents of that section
and were purchased Of Bader Brother
The public spirited citizens OF tn
n northeastern section of the city ca
II thank Park Guard John Evans. VIII
was chairman, City Councilman Fred
erick Reilly, secretary. and Wiilai
J. Dunn, who was treasurer Of the CON
mittee, who sought the contribution
and who made the display the gres
30 success IL was.
re Polish Field Day Sports.
7r Wilmington's Polish residents oil
o. served the Fourth Of July by a field da
% at Union Park. There We're many ou
~ of-town athletes present and the o,
~ casion was the most pretentious ev,
~ given by that nationality IN this city.
"a The mass exercises of the visitin
lu Actives were held on a platform ,
1 about 70x70 feet and must be considers
OF good Following these a Riege of A,
ly tive Turner's of the Wilmington &C
moind marched up and began with 70
er exercises which were made exact an
n very loudly applauded. The WHINING
q ton boys area fine set Of athletes. The