The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-05
IN Their EYES.
Deadly Toy Cannons Claim Their
Victims.
Several Topeka People Blinded
by Explosions.
LIST OF THE INJURED.
Cannon Crackers Also Claim
Limited Number.
Taken as a Whole Accidents
We're Few.

The toy cannon that exploded prena-
turely cut a fairly good sized swath on
the glorious Fourth.
Four of the most serious of the local
accidents are directly chargeable to the
toy cannon In two OF the cases the
eyesight of the victims is endangered
and operations to remove the injured
optics may have to take place. while IN
the remaining two cases the injuries
while painful will not result seriously
A J. Walker. an employe in the Santa
Fe shops, II years old, and married, is
probably one of the most seriously In
jured. Walker was celebrating with
cannon and placing a little heavier
charge than usual in the cannon he
prepared to discharge it. Before he could
get away. an explosion took place pep
pering his face and eyes with powder.
His right eye was badly injured and his
left eye also received considerable OF the
powder. In addition his face was peck
marked all over and burnt BY the pow
der. His attending physician hopes that
he can save Walkers eyesight but is
not entirely confident.
Homer Reed, Is years old, viii remem-
Der the destructiveness of the toy can
non Reed has his shoulderblade dis
located, and his face, hands, chest and
eyes burnt by the explosion. He was
too venturesome and did not stay at
safe distance. The charge was too
heavy for the gun and it kicked back
ward. hitting Reed full in the shoulder,
dislocating it. The powder got into ms
eyes but not sufficiently to permanent
~ injure them. Reed lives at 1917 East
Sixth avenue.
The 14-year-old son of Charles Win
7 q string with
bandaged up eyes as the. result of too
great familiarity with a toy cannon
He win save his eyes but the injuries
are very painful.
Through carelessness of some wo-
men who were celebrating the Fourth
F. c. Freeman, who was working as
conductor on one of the Ninewood
cars yesterday afternoon, was burned
severely on the right foot and left
leg. Freeman was on the running
board of one OF the trailers when the
cars went along East Seventh street.
Near the fire station some women
we're shooting OFF firecrackers. one
of them threw a giant cracker ap-
parently at the passing cars It struck
Freeman's right foot just when It ex-
ploded and partially tore the shoe OF
the foot and burned the foot badly.
It also burned his right leg severely.
Freeman was attended by DR.. F. J.
Ernest and viii be laid up in his home
for several days.
A. Carlson. of Tecumseh. brought
his 7-year-old son to the city today to
have physicians pick out the powder
from his forehs ad and treat his eyes
Where powder from a cannon which
exploded had left it's marks. Young
Carlson will suffer no serious moons
venience as the result Of his expert
ence.
Max Miller a 19-vear-old boy. liv-
ing at AIS Linn street. was making
some Fourth of July racket by ex-
ploding powder in a can There was
q slip of the cog and the full charge
of powder was received by Miller on
his hands face and neck. The burns
were deep and numerous and Miller
suffered intensely. His eyesight was
not injured. though he received some
of the powder in his eyes.
Marion Sheldon. son of Rev. Chas.
NJ Sheldon. had the palm of his hand
badly burned by a giant firecra cker.
He picked the firecracker up thinking
it had gone out, when it exploded.
Haines. an 1s-year-o1d boy.
who lives at the corner Of Eleventh
and Buchanan streets. had thumb
badly lacerated by the explosion of
dynamite cane. The thumb may have
to be amputated.
George Hunter. Of 225 Jefferson
street held on to a cannon firecracker
too long When he got ready TO let
loose the firecracker exploded, tearing
the index finger on one of his hands
to the bone and severely burning the