The Washington herald., 1909-07-06

It was the first time In the history Of
the District that the safe and sane Fourth
Of July celebration was tried. and il
worked to perfection.
The worst that happened was a lost
boy. There we're no fires. no accidents.
and few arrests. An Italian fred a shot
from a revolver out OF a window. and
was arrested. It Is believed his fnfraction
Of the rules of the day was due to the
fact that he couldn't read English.
And everybody is happy. Commissioner
Macfarland Is a bu5blng fountain Of JOY
over the success OF the 1909 celebration.
All the members Of the joint committee
are happy. So are the people. and the
boys, who are intact and the girls are
content
Three Deaths Last Year.
On July 4. 1905, there were three deaths.
and sixty persons were injured as a re-
suit Of the insane" celebration. An
other and happier story is told this year
At late hour last night. a roundup"
OF all the hospitals in the city showed
there had not been single patient en-
tered at any OF these institutions suf-
fering from injuries due 10 explosion OF
fireworks. There were no fatalities from
this cause reported to the police. or in
juries recorded, and the record Of the
morgue was clear.
Aside from number OF minor acci-
dents. in which boys and adults figured
with slight injuries. the hospitals had
little or nothing TO do yesterday
Commissioner West. under whose direc-
ton comes the Metropolitan police de-
partment, said:
7 am delighted al the result OF the
day I have been IN close touch with the
police department all day. and I am more
than pleased 20 know that the police
regulations prohibiting the sale and ex-
plosion OF fireworks have been observed
and rigidly enforced. and that there is not
a single fatality or injury reported as a
result of the celebration under the safe
and sane plan.
New Plan a Success.
There is no reason why this plan shall
not be adopted every year. and believe
Il will be. The record Of past years has
been deaths and injuries, loss OF fingers.
hands. and eyes. and permanent dishgure-
ments. Yesterdays celebration shows
conclusively II e sane to- have a safe
celebrat ton Of the day.
4 am for the safe and sane plan. and
I believe every mother and father in the
city are. too.
Enjoys Denatured Fourth.
washington ruminated yesterday. one
day late. on denatured Fourth OF July.
Noise OF a sort there was. to be sure.
There was the puslllanimous giggle OF the
wooden rattler. the abOrtive pop OF one
device or another for the creation or
police-regulated disturbance. And Wash
ington, in holiday get-up. was out BY the
thousands to take a well-ordered pleasure
IN what was going on: to be exuberant
with the soft pedal on. as IT were; to be
happy. but not bo.sterous. so TO speak
The hremen had only four alarms. and
they were insignificant fres-not started
by fireworks. Not a dollars loss by care
lessness IN the use OF fireworks was re-
ported
And with it all, as great as the change
was from the old order OF things. the
thousands who thronged the streets by
their evident enjoyment Of the form Of
the celebration showed their Endorsement
Of the charge Of this year There were
smiling faces on all sides.
Sets Good Example.
There were hundreds OF visitors IN the
city who we're heard to remark on the
change for the better. and to wish their
own cities had adopted the system
It is highly probable that with the
example set by Washington the adoption
OF the safe and sane" principle will be
marked next year by a notable Increase
Of municipalities lined I'D against the
old-time form of exuberanee.
The nearest thing TO a frecracker seen
on the streets was an imitation, with
harmless insides and string for a fuse
For the making Of noise, the wooden rat
tier and the tin horn were called into
service. The juvenile mind. easily led
from one thing 10 another, quickly for
got the lure Of the pungent powder smell
for the charm Of the downtown celebra-
tons. and with a ready abandon the
youngsters gave themselves over 10 chas-
ing the tissue paper parachutes and fig
ures as they came down out OF the air.
Falls from street Car.
Henry Gallehue. aged nineteen. OF Is
North Carolina avenue southeast. fell
from a street car late last night at Third
and B streets southeast. He suffered
conclusion Of the brain and other in
iuries. He was taken TO Casualty Hos
pital.
Chambers 4 De Walt. twenty-four
years old, a drummer. from Bristol.
Tenn, fell from a street car at PennsyI-
vanla avenue and Sixth street northwest
and was badly injured. He is at Casualty
Hospital.
AS an evidence that the police regula-
lions against the use Of fireworks had
been observed. Judge De Lacy. Of The
Juvenile Court, said late yesterday after
noon he had held a long session OF his
sourt. and that while he had many Of
tenders before him for ordinary infrac-
lions Of the law. there was not a single
boy or girl charged with violating the
fireworks regulations. He expressed his
pleasure that such a record had been
made.