The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-05
RICHMOND enjoy

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dependence Day have experienced
since my connection with the police
department There have been no
complaints, and 1t seems that the day
of dangerous explosives and conse-
quent tetanus and agonized death Is
giving way to safer and saner ex-
preston of patriotism
The whole police department was
on duty yesterday, and the detective
force when out on the street was In
constant communication with head
quarters. Roll call was at 4 o'clock.
when all the men connected with
headquarters found that a kind cor
poration had sent them enough ice
cream to satisfy the cravings of every
sweet tooth. Sergeant Kellam head
ed the list, II was declared, with eleven
bricks Of ice cream to his credit, while
Sergeant Bailey renigged at nine.
The same corporation remem bered
also the First and Second stations, and
practically the whole force RECALLED it
self with the delicacy and cooled their
parching tongues
Everybody Takes Holiday.
AS uncomfortably hot as it was yes
terday the city was lively enough. The
State capitol, the City hall, the courts
and business houses were closed tight
and everybody took holiday, except the
employees of the soda water jerkers
who, as usual on holidays, worked
overtime. to quench the thirst OF the
merrymakers. From early morning
until midnight the streets were alive
with people and the street cars could
hardly take care of the holiday crowds
If there was a feature of the local
celebration of the nations birthday
IT was the fact that not single acct
dent from the use Of fireworks was
reported to the police, demonstrating
the fact that 1t was safe and sane
fourth" though the younger genera
ton developed considerable noice with
pop crackers of smaller caliber,
There was no special observance Of
the holiday of any significance-no-
body mounted a barrel to read the
Declartion of Independence as they
were wont to do when the present gen.
Grafton wore short trousers--in family
picnics to the parks. fishing excur-
sions, moving pictures parties and even
by remaining quietly at home in an
effort to keep cool. the populace dis
played its patriotism individually as
best suited II.
The meccas of thousands of the
children who had nowhere TO go and
were not included in family picnic
parties were the city's Fairgrounds, es-
pecially the new model playground on
Chin borazo park. which was thronged
from morning until night. as were the
others, with happy little folks seeking
the outdoor recreation these GASES of
city desert afford them. Director
Taylor and his assistant instructors put
in busy day teaching the children to
play and apparently enjoyed the fun
as .rauch BE- the little folksr did. @S'4e
Three Small Fires.
Notwithstanding the fireworks. the
fire department had a comparatively
easy day yesterday. thern-heing only
three alarms OF fire turned in. Two
alarms came from Box Al. at Ninth
and Leigh streets, both being for a
fire at 800 and s02 North Ninth
street. near the corner Of Abigail.
The nrst alarm came In at $3.50
o'clock. The fire originated, 1t Is be-
lievcd, from oil on the stove. The
ond alarm came in at IL o'clock last
night, and the double house was
practically destroyed. This time the
Are was said TO he due to the explo-
sion OF a lamp, while Maggie Easiey,
colored, one of the occupants. was
ironing. As the water main at this
ro.rt Ands ard In dead" It was diff
ficult to get water on the building.
and II was doomed before the firemen
finally got their hose lines to work.
The property In owned by Cassie
r. Carter. colcred. She had small
amount OF insurance.
An alarm OF 6re was turned In
from ZIG East Broad street, where
a new building is in course OF con-
struction. The blaze was found In
a pile of trash in the basement. and
was distinguished before damage had
been done. -