Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-05
THE FOURTH HERE
Thousands of People Left inc City
 to Visit Friends or inc Shore.

iC ID c5tihdtcu tHuI Hcdiiy hoA tho population of Waterbury went out of town yesterday. It looked that way, for it Is doubtful if the public streets ever were so deserted on the Fourth of July. This Is simply a corroboration of the prophecies made on and off for years, that ey- erybody in Waterbury would go some place on holidays if the city had better railroad facilities. The been desired and so far as can be learned there was very little dis order in any quarter of the town. There were number of basket pie nics, lawn parties and family re- unions of one kind and another, and those who joined in the festivities appeared to have just as good time as If they were boat sailing at the shore or hunting in the mountains. Of course there was some reckless shooting and as consequence many don't feel quite as well to-day as they did before the Fourth was ush- cred in.
 Although there was not as much noise yesterday and last evening as is usually heard on the Fourth, 1t does not follow that the sale of fire works was not as large as previous years. On the contrary, all dealers who handle them had big sales, some reporting the largest in years. AL though the money spent on cannon crackers was undoubtedly less, the outlay in novelties was by far great CT. The sun of gun" torpedo. something new in the fireworks line, was easily the best seller on the | market for adults. This little toy | caused shortage of stock in the fun market and kept the Exchange ing for few hours. The young men of the town had not the patience to | wait until a. m. in the morning so they started the night before. They bought the torpedoes, which are about the size of half dollar, early in the evening, and before an hour had passed the center was sizzling with the wonder workers. The jokers would break off a piece and l it would send forth sparks in all di. rections. If person endeavored to extinguish it, he would only add fuel to the flames. For the more it was kicked the more it would buzz. | The cafes were a mark for the chaps with the mischief maker. At one time the Dresher & Kiels place was so full of these sparklers tha. everyone was ducking under the ta- bles. The proprietors with their wine clerks endeavored to find the persons who ignited the buzzers, bu. accused the wrong party. Drescher was funnier than one of Ringling's E elephants as he tried to "rauch init 'em."
 Edward Landers, the barber, was passing through Harrison alley when some one set off a torpedo at his feet. It had Eddie jumping forty different ways on the pavement. He was boiling. He proceeded to ex- plode on the person whom he thought was the perpetrator. The latter caused big laugh to go up from the crowd looking on when he shouted at the tonsorial artist, "Ij you don't go along those teeth oi yours are likely to fall out" Fire works! Although the crowd in the center kept increasing until mid night, very little trouble occurred there, and the officers on duty fo' the most part used good judgment "Jim" Madden wore hole in his shoes trying to keep the boys nov ing. When he stood on one corner the crackers were cracking on ths other. But Madden had the wisdom to realize that 1t was the night be- fore the Fourth. About Il o'elocl he was joined by Sergeant Pagan They were patient until young mar tried to start a bonfire in front o Bauby's with the remains of bal loon which failed to go up. TheI they routed the premature enthusi asts. It was almost 12:30 when th' center became quiet again.
 The 'sun of gun" torpedo caused any amount of worry yesterday Many a group while chatting woult be taken of their feet when th' sparkler got working around the: shoes. It certainly is quite a "ge up."
 Among the list of injured are thu following: Joseph Nell, 34 Vim street. eyes and face badly burne' from contact with a can of gun powder.
 Harry Hubbell of Colley street two wounds on the legs from prema ture cannon" explosion.
 William Murden. 35 Walnut ave nue, burned on the face while ex perimenting in the cellar with a ne' kind of torpedo.