The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-05
POWDER FATALLY BURNS FIVE
vAy DROPS CIGAR INTO ROx OF
FyPLOSIVEI IN CROWD OF BOYS.
s.yen OF Them Arc Frightfuily Burned.
and Only Two Arc Expected TO Re.
co,er--Man Escapes Unhurt In the FIX.
c,tement-Detectives are Seeking Him.


seven boys were badly injured and Ave
n them will probably die as the result Of
an EXPLOSION OF powder at North Sixth
street and Wythe avenue. Villa msburg
last night
The residents OF the district are Germans
and Poles, and the boys Of the neighborhood
had been setting OF their fireworks at one
spot most OF the day. Many frecrackers
had failed to explode and the boys had ex-
tracted the powder and put 1t into box.
The box. about a foot square and six inches
deep at o o'clock last night contained
ssveral pounds Of powder
When the supply Of firecra ckers was e1-
baisted the boys decided to wind UP the
celebration by exploding the box. They
were cautious enough about it. They
carried the box to the middle Of the street
and then got the stub OF candle. One
boy put the candle on top OF the powder
end lighted 1t. Then the boys, about
thirty Of them, stood on, waiting for the
candle to burn down to the powder.
Before that happened, however, a gust
OF wind blew out the candle. The boys
waited u few moments to see that there
was no danger Of an explosion then gathered
around the box. While they were debating
who should have the honor Of lighting the
candle man staggered out Of a saloon at
the corner. He pushed his way into the
group OF boys and asked them what they
were doing. They paid no attention to the
intruder.
I'm fix 1t for you, he said tai king lighted
cigar from his mouth. Then he dropped
the cigar into the box and instantly there
was an explosion that shook the neighbour
hood. The boys we're scattered, about
dozen who we're close TO the box being
Knocked to the ground.
Seven Of them were unconscious, the
others being able to rise although burned.
The clothes of some had been set on fire.
The explosion caused much excitement
and In few minutes the crowd was 80
great that Capt Gallagher OF the Bedford
avenue station sent out the reserves.
Ambulances were called and Drs. Dorne,
Danger and Rarick responded from the
Williamsburg Hospital. and Dre. Cohen
and Dean from the Eastern District Hos
pital The clothes had been burned OF
some Of the boys and their bodies were
scorched and dshgured.
The ssveu boys most seriously hurt are
Joseph Walters, ls. Of eS North Sixth
street.
Walter Manser. 10. Of % North Sixth
street.
John Alwitz, 9. OF e5 North Sixth street
Andrew Kreyket, IS. OF 81 North Sixth
street.
John Rusanski. 10. OF 81 North Sixth
street.
Thaddsus Rusanski, I. Of 81 North Sixth
street.
William France. II. Of IS North Sixth
street.
The doctors decided that all the boys,
with the exception OF France and John
Rusaneki. would probably die.
Capt. Gallagh her instructed his detectives
to find the man responsible for the ex-
plosion None OF the children had paid
much attention to him. although he was
seen running down the street after the
explosion. He Is supposed to have been
q stranger In tho neig hborhood.
The Fourth OF July casualties were fewer
yesterday than in previous years, Judging
from the reports Of the accidents that
reached the police. As THE Sun told
yesterday. one person lost his life by
stray bullet soon after midnight. Eleven
others were hit by stray bullets. OF the
number injured in this way in Manhattan
and The Bronx, nine we're men. one a child
and ono a woman. None was seriously
hurt, but they all went to hospitals.
The police heard Of twelve persons who
needed hospital attention from powder
burns, but the number who sought drug
store aid was large.
John Teraine. 10 years old, OF Bri ghton,
Staten Island. had his tight arm blown
on at the elbow by the explosion OF toy
cannon,
Julius Metz. es years old, a grocer, OF
s's Second avenue, was riding in an open
Third avenue car last night when a giant
hrecracker was thrown under the seat at
i25th street. 1t set Are to Metz's trousers
and he jumped from the car against an
elevated railroad pillar, breaking his left
sg, Hewas taken to the Harl Hospital.
During the twenty-four hours there we're
siIty-one fires. The fremen In Manhattan
ware kept on the Jump all day. Most Of
the fires were trihing, the larger number
being awnings set ablaze by frecrackers.
There were q good many arrests for
carrying revolvers without licenses and
dischar ging revolvers in the streets. Thirty
i've men and boys we're arraigned on these
charges In Essex Market court. The West
Side court had nine such prisoners.
Six persons we're accidentally shot in
Brooklyn by ceebrstors yesterday. or
this number two women as they were walk
ing in the street stopped bullets. One boy
lost his right hand In playing with cannon.
and another boy was burned. The police
heard Of ten children who were suffering
nom powder burns. Altogether seventy
hve ambulance calls we're received at Brook
lyn police headquarters.
John Dezrana, an Italian. was sitting at
an open window on the third floor OF ISL
Twentieth street, Brooklyn, last night
when bullet hit him In the right temple.
He was removed to seney Hospital. and his
condition is critical.
Seven-year-old Martin Coe Of s78 Baltic
street Brooklyn, was shot In the back In
mont Of his own house last night by bullet
fred the police say, by Robert Jack, SO
years old. OF s7s Baltic street. The boy
was taken to the Brooklyn Hospital and Jack
was arrested.
John Lawlor, a laborer, IS years old, OF
Is West Seventy fifth street. was crossing
second avenue at Seventy fourth street
la NIGHT W ep M w ahOt In the a h6p,par