The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-28
POLICE TO PLEAD
FOR. sane Fourth
Chief Werner Warns Parents
About Proper Observance Of
July Holiday.
TOY CAP PISTOL UNDER BAN
Citizens Urged to Cooperate ii,
General Effort to Prevent NC
cident and Protect Life.

With the advent Of the glorious
Fourth close at hand comes the dread
Of fatalities resulting from the care
less handling OF firecrackers and smgll
firearms. As rule, the Fourth OF
July is observed III Richmond With
becoming mildness, but still 1t gem
orally has its train of accidents which
might, with due precaution. be avoid
ed The Police Department will is
sue instructions about the use of fire.
crackers and firearms. No cracker
larger than No. 8 will be permitted,
and no firearh,. even the toy cap pistol,
Will he allowed on the streets. and
dealers found selling either will be
punished according to law.
Cry for n Sane Fourth.
The cry is for n sane Fourth. SO
many accidents generally result from
{ a too eXultant spirit in the celebration
of Independence Day that precautions
airy measures have been taken against
1t in every city In the United States
Statistics compiled on the Fourth OF
July deaths and casualties reach an
alarming number--the more alarming
when it is considered that they are so
4 unnecessary and so easily avoidable.
In New York last year there We're
seven deaths from lockjaw, which due
precaution would have prevented. The
Health Department in that city has
already issued warnings as 10 the
careful observance OF the day, and has
called lon every citizen to cooperate
in the work of preventing unnecessary
loss of life. Casualties of such IL ma
tnre in Richmond have fortunately
been very rare; yet they are as liable
10 happen here as anywhere else.
Major Werner Is specially anxious
that the law on the subject shall be
properly observed and that parents
shall see to 1t that their children 10
not handle any explosives of a dan
gerous character. He stated that the
great day usually gives the department
but little trouble. and that its observ-
ance by the people is usually Of a
character that is not too demonstrativc
and too dangerous.
Yet every Fourth has Its quota. Of
accidents, and some child goes through
life afterwards minus finger. pos
sibly an eye or a limb. or, perhaps.
dies as the result OF its own and It's
parents carelessncss. The day may
be spent with all the joys known to
childhood or exnlherant old age, and
yet without peril to life and limb.
There are firecrackers in plenty of
small power. which may bring delight
TO those fond Of noise and t,1mult, and
NiiiSiI5 y " lLdS iiol be CldSScO GS Eud1l-
gerous.
Firearms. OF the most insignificant
nature. are totally tabooed. More
deaths have resulted from the use
of toy cap pistols than from any.
cause known to Fourth of July per-
formers. Against the use Of these,
Major Werner issues a special warn
ing: On the last Fourth there were
innumerable minor accidents though,
fortunately, few We're of serious nd
ture. This time they may be of more
serious consequences.
And so it is for sane Fourth that
health officers and Police Department
alike plead
But in case of Injury treatment is
necessary at once. The child injured
should be taken to a hospital, physI-
clan or dispensary for immediate
treatment, even though the wound
night be regarded at first as of an
unilnportant nature. Immediate treat
lnent is absolutely necessary, for te-
tanls may set In at any time, and
when IT has once gained Roadway all
the physicians and all the medicine
IN the world are alike useless, and
death results in. the most agpnizing
form. And Yet it is easily avoidable
IT needs only the proper amount Of
precaution to avert danger and life
and limb may be saved where they
are are otherM'Ne LOST through sheer care
lesSness,.' ;"