New-York tribune., 1906-07-03
A LIVELY FOURTH.
Tsoea5ty-fOe Per Cent More Fire
zuorHcs Sold This Year than Last.

Americas annual slaughter OF the innocents,
commonly known by the prettier phrase Of 'cele-
bratlng the Fourth has already begun. Agnes
Farrell. who lives in Brooklyn, is the first victim.
Last Saturday Agness mother gave her a package
OF hrecracxers. TO be kept for tomorrow, but
Agnes, who IS only four could not resist the
temptation to set on just ahead Of time. That
one set fire 70 her dress, and the child lies in a
hospital badly burned with her life IA the balance
Tribune reporter went over the casualty list
for July 1885, in the records kept at Police Head
quarters. Those between the ages Of two and
eighteen years set down as burned or shot num-
bered sixty-ve. The total number OF people, young
and old. who landed in hospitals here in New York
a result Of that days celebration was I'll OF
these, twelve fatally injured. -Four victims
did not go to the hospitals. because they were IN.
stantly killed.
Wen have a harvest Of similar figures this
Fourth" remarked officer at the Bureau OF
Records Those toy pistols are the worst" he
went Didn't know II was loaded is the
usual excuse. and then it goes off. and the child
is MANNED or blinded for life. They hadn't ought
20 be manufactured. those pistols"
1t seems likely that the list Of casualties will be
even longer this year, for fireworks manufacturers
say that the demand for Fourth of July goods is
at least 25 per greater than it was in 1906 One
manufacturer volunteered the cheering news. how
ever. that the dangerous toy pistol is going out
OF use.
Since the Bureau of Combustibles. last Noyen-
ber issued the ordinance forbidding their use" he
said. public sentiment is being worked up against
them. and don't think nearly as many will be sold
this year There is a strong demand for the fire.
eP eePFacheFs ana torpedoes children play with. but
But II was hrecracker that set fire to Agnes
Farrell, and that torpedoes are dangerous was
shown IN an accident last year in a New Jersey
Town. where q girl and her brother were made
olind by the explosion of a box of torpedoes that
slipped out of the girls hands,
Loose powder was responsible for good MANY
accidents last Fourth of July. According to figures
compiled oy man who took interest in the
matter, tWenty-tour people were burned by loose
powder, and thirty-eight more were burned nv
Lhe worst cases happened over in Williamsburg A
orunlSen man threw a lighted cigar into a ten.
pound can OF powder over which lot of bows were
hoVering When the smoke cleared there was one
covered.
It is only by scanning newspaper for July s
tnat really vivid idea Of what the Fourth means
the most common caption, Giant torpedoes pistols
TOY or otherwise: dynamite crackers, toy cannon
an play their part in the holocaust Of death and
accident. These are not all of the engines Gf de-
WoLst. ana as such their use Is forbidden by the
oFolnance above mentioned. It remains to be seen
now far the ordinance will be enforced.
In addition the other eScitenaenrs
sevepty-five alarms of fire were turned in NOT 9I,
people consider II necessary 10 celebrate with cow
Ger and fireworks. One New York mother-and
there are plenty like her-called her children TO-
get1er on July Of last year
- Which would you rather do she asked them
nave some areerackers TO send off on the hot CITY
sueett, ana p0rn your fingers, and perhaps hurt
yO1rselves bao!Y. or 80 on picnic TO the country
aTF ~ s nave 3 a! E tne ice cream you can eat?"
are going again this year '