New-York tribune., 1906-07-05
FOUkTH'S VICTIMS FEW.
ALL RESORTS CROWDED.
Sale of Firezoorks Record Breaking
Morning Hours Quiet.
FOURTH OF JULY STATISTICS.

Independence Day OF 1906 will be remembered.
so far as New York City is concerned. for the
small number OF fatalities and injuries and the
small amount of damage by fire as compared
with the Fourths of the preceding years Up
to a late hour there had been only one death
directly due to the celebration and the Fire De-
partment has had the easiest Independence Day
in years. Many theories might be adduced to
account for this satisfactory condition Of things.
but in all probability the order of the Bureau
of Combustibles forbdding the use of toy
pistols the extra vigilance of the police follow
ing Commissioner Bingham's order and. above
all, the public opinion which frowned on the
recklessness which caused the deaths of twelve
persons last year were largely accountable
The day broke inauspiciously All through
the early hours Of the morning rain fell inter-
mittently and the fireworks OF the storms filed
the air. AS a consequence those celebrants
whose enthusiasm would usually have caused
them TO rise with the lark and from then on
make sleep impossible for others, had that en-
thusiasm so damDened that almost a Sabbath
quiet regned until about s o'clock. Then the
showers slackened. the sun occasionally shone
brightly and the sharp crack of the firecracker
heard DER the land.
After noon had passed the day became all
that could be wished. The humidity that made
the morning uncomfortable disappeared and
cooling breeze sprang up that blew away all
care and trouble. Then the crowds that had
been afraid to leave their homes for fear Of
wettng put on their holiday inery and made
by thousands for shore and country. Every
conveyance, on water and land. to Coney Island
was taxed to it's utmost capacity. Luna Park.
Dreamland. Steeplechase Park, the new park at
Brighton Beach, all did a record breaking busi-
ness. The Municipal Ferry to Staten Island.
though running practically all day on fifteen
minute schedule, could scarcely accommodate
the enormous crowds that wished to go to Mid
land Beach, or to the park, Happyland, at
South Beach. The boats to Long Branch, AS
bury Park Rockaway and other seashore
sorts were packed. Seats on all trolley cars
at a premium. In fact, the rush was
sudden and concerted that transportation lines
were carried off their feet.
Yet, in spite of the great exodus, there were
enough persons left in the city to burn up a few
hundred thousand dollars worth Of fireworks
Manufacturers said that the sales this year ex-
ceeded by some % per cent those of last, and
last years sales had been the record ND to that
time. There was thing noticeable in the
burning up Of gunpowder, however, and that
was the comparatively small number Of large
pieces exploded. The small boy appeared TO be
satisfied with small fireworks. and more Of them
than on previous occasions, and the change was
much for the better so far as the tympanums of
non-celebrants were concerned
Few revolvers were seen, though the one death
Of the day, that OF Morris Shapiro, a seltzer
water manufacturer. Of No. 80 Sheriff street.
was caused by pistol bullet Those who did
brave the law and use their pistols in most cases
quickly regretted it. for the police promptly
arrested all those they saw carrying weapons.
The magistrates. however. differed greatly in
their treatment of those taken. In the West
chester police court, Magistrate Walsh dis
charged those arraigned before him with a warn
ing, except in two three cases. and then he
only inflicted a fine of 81. Magistrate Whitman,
in the Yorkville court looked upon the offence
more seriously. holding those accused for Special
Sessions, while in the West Side court Magis-
trate Ffnelte mulcted each too enthusiastic cele-
brant SO. In the Essex Market court Magis-
trate Wahle held Charles Denigo in $500 bail for
trial at Special Sessions for firing off a pistol
in front of Beth Israel Hospital. order having
been issued at Police Headquarters to arrest all
those shooting or exploding hrecrackers in front
of any hospital
There was only one celebration of any size,
that at Tammany Hall, where w. Bourke Cock
ran ex-Congressnan Sullivan and others deliv-
cred speeches to a large gathering of enthusiasts
In The Bronx, the Mckinley Square Association
raised the Stars and Stripes in Mckinley Square,
10th street and Boston Road, and in Brooklyn
the Knights Of Columbus had celebration in
Prospect Park. The DruidS, an outing society or
Vegetarians celebrated by VachuhB "Trip up
Long Island Sound.
FIREMEN ENTERTAINED AT DEEPDALE