Evening star., 1937-07-05
RAIN THREATENING
Of
FIREWORKS SHOW
Spectacle Would Be Held
Tomorrow - Traffic
Takes | Life Here.
FlRECRACKERS, GUNS
CAUSE INJURIES TO IS
Alexandria Couple Killed Near
Altoona, Pa, in Collision
of Automobiles,

Rain today threatened postpone
ment until tomorrow night of the
Districts giant independence day
celebration, scheduled to begin at 7:l5
pm. at the Ellipse with a Marine
Band concert and to end with a spec
tacular 45-minute fireworks display.
The pageantry will go off on sched-
ule II the weather is dry, officials said,
but shower at the start of the cele-
bration or during it would bring about
the poStponement. Ticket buyers are
being given identification tags to en-
able them to return tomorrow if they
are disappointed tonight.
Dull skies led residents Of Mont
somery and Prince Georges Counties
to call of an all-day celebration which
was to have, included athletics. a pa
rade and fireworks display in Takoma
Park, Md.
One traffic death and Is minor
injuries from July Fourth carelessness
with firecrackers or guns was the toll
OF the first "a hours OF the two-dav
Independence day celebration in and
i'Noi '"'AAihstoll W AdSl veal s count
was IA traffic dead and SO flrecracker
injuries.
Dies in Hospital Here.
Joseph Henson, colored, 69 Po-
monkey, Nd, died in Providence Hos
pi'al this morning after being struck
by hlt-and-run driver last night
near Brants Corner, Nd Other hos
pitals treated II motorists and pedes-
trians who suffered bruises and frac-
lures in traf1ic mishaps.
Mrs. Thelma Fowler. Is. of Alexan-
dria. Va, and her husband, Arthur E.
Fowler 30, were killed near Altoona.
Pa, the Associated Press reported,
when their car was in collision with
an automobile driven by Walter H.
Measing, Nutley, N. J. Measing posted
$500 bond pending a coroner's in
quest
Police attributed the few injuries
on the Fourth to the fact f1recracker
owners have all day today to enjoy
the splutter and fuss of sizzling gun
powder. If rain does not interfere,
the most colorful pyrotechnic display
in Washington's history will light the
skies tonight at the Ellpse celebra-
ton, which begins at 7:15 O'Clock and
ends with a 45-minute Skyrocket pro-
gram.
The Weather Bureau had forecast
showers for today and it started rain
ing this morning.
Despite the unfavorable outlook,
the Independence Day Committee ex-
poets almost 100000 persons to pack
the greensward behind the White
House if the rain stops. Twelve
thousand chairs, obtainable for Is
cents apiece, have been provided, and
there is room for 10000 to stand.
Tickets are available at the Ellipse
and the Keystone Automobile Club.
Extra Cars to Be Run.
The Capital Transit Co. completed
arrangements for special service over
its lines approaching the Ellipse. Be-
ginning at pm. and lasting as long
as necessary after the fireworks dis
to care for the throng attending the
celebration.
Washington stores were closed all
day today to permit their employees
to enjoy and observe Independence
day, Edward D. Shaw secretary of
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association. reported. The thousands
Of Government employees and others
who took advantage Of the long holi-
day to leave town Friday and Sat-
urday were still gone. not expected to
return until late tonight or early to-
morrow
Among the persons injured by fire.
crackers are
Robert johnson, II, Of 741 Thir-
teenth street southeast. treated At
(See FOURTH, Page A-4)