New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-07-07
OLD TIME FOURTH
VOLCANO Of din
Terrific Racket Started Early
+ and Continued Late


night before the Fourth" and the
great holiday itself undoubtedly
aroused the approval OF the many
residents of New Britain who for
years have noted with satisfaction
that each succeeding year brings
safer and saner observance of.the
important anniversary, but II could
not have failed to bring memories of
the riotous celebrations of 1ndepend-
ence Day Is or 20 years ago.
Whether the present day manner of
remembering the anniversary is the
appropriate way or not, and without
taking up the question of the merits
or dement's of the leeway accorded
Young America in those days, the
New Britain men and women who
were the boys and girls of that
period certainly could not have even
dreamed that they would live to see
the day when pretty sparklers would
replace noisy bombs. and the
powder loaded canes would be un-
known to the youthful celebrators.
Fireworks On sale For Weeks
Fireworks and firearms We're on
sale in that period for several weeks
prior to July 4, and every youngster
was on the alert for any opportunity
to earn a few extra dimes that they
might stock up for the great day.
Naturally, they did not wait for the
day itself. but for week or ten
days in advance of the holiday the
bang of cannon crackers and the
sharp staccato Of the blank cart
ridge pistols resounded through the
streets and back yards of the city.
Revolvers and rifles, struggled out
of cellars and attics, were brought
into use, sometimes with unfortu-
nate results. Powder pellets were
banged on sidewalks with heavy
stones and their biting bits scattered
for yards on all sides, burning bare
legs and raising blsters to the ac-
compartment of the shrieks of the
injured. who, however would stand
out in great pain rather than admit
the premature celebration had
proved detrimental to their enjoy
ment.
Out All the Might Before
BldllS NtIt ltlIl lpl StoS
ing out" the night before the holi-
day. Gangs in all sections of the
city met day after day and night
after night to make all arrange
ments, some determining TO demand
the permission of their elders while
others We're equally resolved to run
no risk of failing to obtain their
parents approval and SO they would
simply disappear after the evening
meal and fall in with their chums as
soon as darkness came. Usually,
tents of crude wooden construction
or canvas were erected IN strategic
locations, the strategy consisting of
the selection of places which we're
most likely to be shielded from the
searching eyes of fathers and moth
ers. Into these shelters the gangs
crowded. whispering one to the
other ostensihly for the purpose OF
perfecting some detail of the nights
doings but actually because Of the
fear of being alone that comes to
youngsters when shadows fall.
Early in the morning-as soon
after the midnight hour as possible
the scurrying footsteps gave warning
of the advance of the clans, and
from then until every cartridge and
fire cracker had been exhausted the
racket went on, louder with every
passing hour and certainly without
the least falling off in enthusiasm Of
the boys behind the fireworks.
Powder burned deeply into fingers
and toes; eyelashes We're singed and
toughened skin was scared while
here and there, every year without
fail, serious injuries were done and
families We're saddene1 at sight of
the manned limbs that told the tale
OF the carelessness Of youth and the
toll it takes.
The metal cannons, loaded with
powder of high explosives properties
and packed with wads of cloth, pa
rer and other materials, were favor
lite implements of noise, but they
we're dangerous in the extreme and
claimed many victims in New Brit
ain. They are still used but not as
generally as in the early 190os.
Frequently the fuse with which the
powder was ignited burned slowly
end gave the appearance of having
failed TO function, only TO transmit
its spark and cause the explosion
Just as the owner or some other boy
was leaning over II or preparing to
pick ii UP. Sometimes the cannon
broke, and sharp pieces Of the metal
were whirled with the deadliness Of
the Sbrapnel of the World War