New Britain herald., 1924-07-05
FIREWORKS DAMAGE
 NERI BROS. STORE.
Ball From Roman Candle Lands
 in Midst Of Explosives
ENTIRE WINDOW BLOWN OUT
July Fourth Casualties - Escape in- juries In Crash - George skinner struck Bs Aulomohile-Church Nos tioes-Piain,i file Iriefs.

tices-riain,iil file Briefs.
 July Fourth, iasi, was ushered in with excitement enough t0 satisfy everyone in Piainville when yesterday supply of fireworks on a stand in front of the Neri llros. store in inc Neri block exploded, blowing out the entire window on tha east side and starting a fire which, but for the prompt arrival Of ihs members of Plainyille Hose Co No. 1 and the oy- cellent work accomplished by them. might have developed into a hnio- ennst with the Serl block and adjoin- ing buildings being destroyed. The two large plate glass windows in the store were smashed and two large mirrors. one in the back of the win dow and the other at the side were completely destroyed and the iire- works and cigars and other merchan- disc on the stand In front and on dis play in the window were total losses. Tho blaze started by the explosion de- stroyed the front of the store up 10 the first upper story and charred woodwork was the only thing present. ed 10 the public eye this morning, Mir. Neri could not give any estimate of the damage done but said that most of if was covered by insurance. The explosion was started when two youths celebrating in the early morning hours, began a battle with n nt n al took a position behind the traffic sta- ton in the center and the other stood in the vicinity Of the fireworks stand in front of the store. One of the balls from the road hit the window in the store and dropped into the stock of fireworks and immediately one of the greatest displays ever seen here was started. No barrage sent down to pave the way for the advancing American forces in the late world war was any noisier than the racket which followed the fall of the fiery ball. Cannon crackers banged away, rata tat-tat went the shells for the blank cartridges, while the pin wheels and other figures danced merry step over the stand and sidewalks. Sky rockets vhizzpd here and there and one of them went through the plate glass window of Collins lunch next door
 Onlookers were unable to get with in any distance of the bursting mass of fiery explosives although several in the large crowd made an attempt to overturn the stand.
 In few seconds, the entire front of the store was blazing and crack ling mass of flames. But, with the had been sent in for the PIainvile fire department and as all the members of the hose company were at head quarters awaiting any such emergency less than minute elapsed before the truck was at the scene. Lines of hose were attached to the hydrants in front of the building, but an order from Fire Chief E. F. Prior started the powerful chemical with which the new truck is equipped and in a short time, the fire was exiting guished.
 A survey of the place today shows that the damage is much more than one would think at first glance. The entire front of the building has been damaged 10 such an extent that 1t will have to be made over new, and the stock of fireworks and other goods which were in the window were blown to bits. The windows were all smashed and two valuable mirrors were destroyed. A window in Brn- baum's store two doors away was broken from the force of the ex- plosion.
 Louis James. an employe of John Pettinato, suffered badly burned neck when another Roman candle ball hit him under the chin during the battle which had such an unfortunate ending.
 Plainrile police are investigating into the affair.
 Days Casualties
 The usual line of July Fourth ac- ,idents was reported yesterday. Co., umbo Anatoli of Pennington avenue vas treated by Dr. l.. H. Frost for a badly lacerated hand caused when the shot himself with a blank and George Richards of 174 Whiting street had the thumb and ndex finger Of his left hand amputat- ,d at the Bristol hospital. A number ,f other minor accidents were also