Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-04
FOURTH ENDS IN
A RIVER PAGEANT
Illuminated Boat Parade and
Fireworks Display on the
Levee Tonight.
FINE PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC
Tri-City Club Graft Race for Prizes
This Afternoon and Militia
in Sham Battle.

III desire to call your attention to
the necessity of exercising the most
rigid care Fourth of July. Tine police reg
uIations as to the use of firearms and
fireworks will be enforced to the letter,
and there should be no serious acct
dents. Plans for making the Fourth
grand event have been completed, and
1t remains with the public to assist US
In the prevention of any accidents."-
Mayor G. w. McCaskrin.
Premature Explosion; Boy Hurt.
Fred Lorenz, aged 10 years, whose
home is at Twenty-seventh street and
Sixth avenue, received a charge of
powder in his face as the result of
the premature explosion of a home
made cannon with which he was cell
ebrating the Fourth or rather the
third Of July. The accident occur
red yesterday morning at o'clock.
The boy had short piece of railroad
rail which had a smooth bored hole
in it. This hole he filed with pow
der and fixed fuse in it. He then
lighted the fuse and the cannon ex-
ploded before the lad could get away
from it. A considerable quantity of
the powder lodged in his face and in
his right thumb, but only a few
grains reached his eyes and none of
them did any serious damage. Most
of the powder has been removed and
the lad will experience no serious eff
fects as the results Of his accident.
Day in Rock Island.
Rock Island will enjoy it's Fourth of
July pyrotechnical display at the river
tonight, the demonstration to be a COM
bined water pageant and fireworks dis
play. Numerous launches have been
entered in the parade, which will start
at $50. Cash prizes of $25, SIS and
so have been offered for the most at
tractively decorated craft participating
AT o'clock the fireworks will be set
off from barge anchored a short dis
lance out from shore between Seven
teenth and Eighteenth streets. A large
supply of pyrotechnics has been pur-
chased, the aim of the business mems
committee being to make it the most
notable public demonstration yet held
IN Rock Island.
Races and Sham Battle.
Beginning at 2:30 this afternoon
there were races on the river, craft rep
resenting the boating clubs of the three
cities taking part. The Ievee was lined
with interested spectators. Several
prizes were awarded. Between 4 and
5 o'clock there was a sham battle at
Long View park, Companies A, Rock
Island, and F. Moline, participating
against an imaginary enemy. 1t was
witnessed by several thousand people.
Hundreds of people from surround
ing points were attracted to the city
by the public celebration arranged by
the business men, for which thanks
are due the committee, Mayor G.. w
McCaskrin and Warren H. Reck, who
devoted the greater part Of two weeks
in soliciting funds with which TO bear
the expenses and planning the events
of the afternoon and the evening. The
committee shows it's enterprise also by
advertising the celebration in the rural
newspapers, large space being used in
a number of those publications.
Eagles Rnise Flag.
At sunrise. accompanied by a salute
of 81 guns, the Eagles raised a hand
some new flag on their home, Fourth
avenue and Twenty-frst street. Mem
bers of the lodge gathered at the home
at and the ceremony took place half
an hour afterward.
An all-day shoot was held by the
members of the Rock Island Gun club
at their range near the Watch Tower.
General Observance of Day.
A sane Fourth does not necessarily
mean denial of the firecracker privi-
lege of the small boy, and he was out
bright and early this morning to pull
Of ms sunrise celebration. In fact, he
got busy last night, and until well past
the midnight hour there were reports