The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-06-27


- ties are concerned, could
be expected from considerable bat
tie For though the number of dead
will be relatively small, the list of
wounded will be very large. Probably
10000 or more will be seriously hurt
in one way or another by explosives.
OF these more than 100 will lose one
or both legs. Nearly 100 boys will
receive injuries in the right hand from
toy pistols, from which they will die
in a lingering and painful manner from
lockjaw.
In the palm of the human hand
there is a pleXus, or network of nerves.
When a toy pistol explodes, or shoots
backward, as it is always liable to do,
the wound inflicted Is usually in the
palm; there is laceration of the net
work of nerves aforesaid, and lockjaw
iF likely to follow.
The estimate of 10000 wounded
does not include the slight-hurt, who
will make a much longer list. But
taking the figures given, and leaving
out of consideration all destruction of
the nations bill for its Fourth of July
celebration is a pretty heavy one.
The property loss by fires due to
careless use of explosives, will amount
to at least 100000. Possibly 1t may
run up into the millions, but the es-
innate here given represents merely
an average Fourth of July. People
will throw firecrackers into places
where they are likely to start confa-
grafton, and skyrockets, which excite
such enthusiasm when they go up,
have deplorable way of coming down
upon roofs and making mischief.
Then, too, many Of the modern kind
of fireworks, such as the bombs, which
rise 1 900 feet in the air and explode,
liberating beautiful showers Of vari-
colored stars, contain considerable
quantities of high explosives, and are
proportionately dangerous. Only last
Fourth of July, 1t will be remembered,
many people were killed and wounded
by the accidental setting off of guam
tity of such bombs which had been
put in readiness for a fireworks ex-
hibition.
Some, probably a dozen, shops that
contain large stocks of fireworks will
be destroyed by the accidental setting
off of the combustibles, incidentally
endangering much property in their
neighborhood. Few finer and more
striking exhibitions in the fireworks
line are given on the glorious Fourth
than are furnished by such impromptu-
displays, but they cost a great deal
of money.
If grown people are satisfied to risk
life and limb in playing with the high
explosives contained in many kinds OF
fireworks, it is nobody's business but
theirs. Unfortunately, some Of the in
struments of celebration placed In the
hands of children are loaded with small
quantities of similar deadly materials
Naturally, the little ones like best the
torpedoes which make the loudest
noise, and those are the ones that con
tain illuminate of mercury Ian exceed
ingly dangerous substance) and some
times even dynamite.
Just why the police do not take the
necessary pains to suppress the sale OF
such torpedoes nobody can say. To of
fer them for sale is Against the law
but ordinarily the regulation is not en-
forced, and little Bobby or Johnny
walks innocently about the streets on
the Fourth of July with enough dyna
mite in his jacket pocket to injure him
seriously, or possibly kill him, if mis-
chance should set off his package o;
torpedoes all at once.
Parents are not acquainted sufficient
ly with the danger that turks in some
kinds of torpedoes. If they were at al
aware of it, accidents OF the kind
would be less frequent, and public
opinion would bring about the proper
enforcement Of the law which forbid'
the sale OF these bombs-for bombs
thew are. though only 6ruall onea. OF