Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-07-06
THE FIRST STEP.
Board Of Safety Would Stop the Firing
of Reviewers JuIy q.

-
The board of public safety at the
meeting held yesterday afternoon took
the first step to prevent the firing off OF
firearms on July Fourth. 1t is very
likely then that upon next Fourth OF
July the man behind the gun must
fake himself to the woods. The mat
ter was brought before the board by
Commissioner Beach, who said that
in view Of the serious accident to a
man on the public streets yesterday,
it was apparent that some measures
should be taken as soon as possible to
prevent such another accident oc-
curing. Commissioner Beach re-
ferred to the shooting of Thomas w.
Leland who was passing near Hold
sons cafe In the forenoon when he
was shot in the arm and the buliet
penetrated to the lung.
Commissioner DAILY endorsed Com
missioner Beach's motion and Mayor
Elton, who presided Mt the meeting,
remarked that he was informed by
reliable authority that the fatal acci-
deHts arising from the celebration of
the Fourth last year amounted to 400
and that 80 or 40 of them were the
result of revolver wounds In some
places the practice of firing off fire.
arms on the Fourth Of July has been
stopped by ordinance or legislation.
He was informed that the firearms
here than on any previous Fourth OF
July. The chance of settling old
scores with ball cartridges under the
Of t. ~
body, said the mayor, and he thought
it time that this growing practice
should be stopped.
Chief Egan spoke to the effect that
three policemen were in the irnmedi-
ate neighborhood of Mr. Leland when
he was shot and none of them could
say who fired the bullet, there was SO
much firing Of reyolvers. 1t might
have been that the shot came from a
distance. Not trace of the identity
of the man who fired it has been
found and there is very little chance
that there will be any further light
thrown on the unfortunate affair
The temptation to some people to fire
ball cartridges when they get a re-
volver in their hands for the first
time is very great, he said, though
they may have had no intention of us
ing that kind when buying the
weapon They get the ball and the
blank cartridges mixed and then the
danger comes. Chief Egan said that
almost every Italian in the city had
a revolver yesterday and was firing it..
He asked If 1T was reasonable to sup.
pose that these men put away their
weapons after the Fourth
Commissioner DAILY said that If he
had the deciding of the question he
would prohibit the firing off of all
kinds of explosives. A few jocose re-
marks were then fired at Commissions
er DAILY, the mayor remarking that he
did not think that way 30 years ago.
The matter was discussed to great
extent and finally Commissioners
Beach moved that the board of safe
ty recommend that the board of al
dermen enact such an ordinance as
will prevent the firing Of revolvers on
Fourth of July hereafter The mo,
ton vas carried
Chief Snagg reported that the ax-
penses of the fire department for the
past six months ending June 30.
amounted to $24,955.3S. The COM
mittee appointed to inquire into the
ludller OF connecting private fire
alarms with the city system was I'M
desirable. This matter came I'D at
the last meeting in the form Of a re-
Telegraph Co.
Officer Noonan was granted three
weeks leave of absence and Oflcer
James Halpin eight days. beginning
July IL.
The resignation of Fred @. XII
bourne, callman at the Burton street
engine house was accepted.
Chief Snagg reported that Fireman
James Hayes and Captain Thomas
Lynch of Engine company No 1 and
Captain Hull of Engine company No
We're injured while on duty. It was
voted that they be paid while they
We're off duty in consequence
A motion was passed empowering
the fire chief to make such changes
in the calls that the Chemical engine
company must respond to as he
thinks advisable.
The board discussed In an Informal
manner the question Of buying an
other chemical engine and also OF
having the f1remen do practice duty
on City hall, but no definite action
was taken.