Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-07-02

be expected from a considerable bat
tie. For though the number of dead
will be relatively small, the list of
wounded VIII 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 viii
receive injuries in the right hand from
toy pistols, from/whieh they will die
in lingering and painful manner from
iockjaw.
In the pair. Of the human hand
there i, a plexus, or network of nerves.
Whea toy pistol explodes. or shoots
backward. as II 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
is likely to follow.
The estimate OF 10000 wounded
does not include the slighthurt. who
will make a much longer list. But
taking the figures given, and leaving
out of consideration all destruction of
property by FIRE, IL would seem that
the nations bill for it's Fourth of July
celebration is pretty heavy one.
The property loss by fires due to
careless use of explosives, win amount
to at least 100000. Possibly it 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 conila-
grafton, and skyrockets. which excite
such enthusiasm when they so 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 1000 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, it 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 fireworks ex-
| hibition.
Some, probably a dozen, shops that
contain large stocks of fireworks will
| be destroyed by the accidental setting
| off OF the combustihles, 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 great deal
| of money.
II grown people are satisfied to risk
life and limb in playing with the high
| explosives contained in many finds 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 arc the ones that con
cain illuminate OF mercury Tan exceed
! sngly 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 ianocently about the streets or
the Fourth Of July with enough dyna-
mite in his jacket pocket to in1ure him
/ seriously, or possibly kill him, if a mis-
chance should set off his package Of
torpedoes ali at once.
Parents are not acquainted sufficient
IL with the danger that turks in some
kids Of torpedoes II they were at all
aware Of it accidents Of the kind
would be less frequent. and public
opinion would bring about the proper
enforcement Of the law which forbids
the sale Of these bombs for bombs
they are, though only small ones. OF