Evening star., 1939-07-05
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The motor car killed 10 times as
many persons as did fireworks as
America observed the 163d ami
versary of the declaration of it's in
dependence with four day celebra-
lion marred by more than 600 violent
deaths.
A survey today listed only 4 lives
lost by exploding fireworks to 277
sudden deaths in automobile acci-
dents throughout the 48 States.
There was one traffic death here
and Washington man was killed in
a motor cycle accident near Hagers-
town.
Little Delaware was the only
State to report no fatal accidents
over the Fourth of July week end.
Three were killed last year. The
State, with population of 242 900,
also had few injured in traffic and
fireworks mishaps.
The total toll was at least 612,
compared with SIT reported for the
three-day celebration last year.
Thronging of beaches by merry
making millions accounted for the
second highest number of fatalities
-1S3 droWnings Trains killed %
persons. There were 36 fatal shoot
ings, 8 plane deaths and 79 dead in
miscellaneous accidents.
Two fireworks deaths were caused
by the premature explosion of home
made bombs or firecrackers. Hildred
Sowders, IA, of Marlin. Tex. died
after piece of tin, blown from a
can placed over firecracker,
severed his juglar vein.
Safety Student Killed.
Ironically, Edward Fisher. 21. of
Chicago, who was studying to be a
safety engineer, was killed when his
auto skidded off a road in Michigan.
His father. Dr. H. E. Fisher, is sec
retary of the National Safety Coun-
Gil.
In the largest group tragedy six
West Virginians, including three
children, were killed when their light
sedan and bus colided near
Washington, Pa.
At Carman, Okla, a 28-year- old
pilot and two high school students
were killed when their plane dived
from 1000 feet after a wing COW
ering ripped loose. Three persons
died when a motor car tumbled 100
feet into a canyon near Alamo
gordo, N Mex.
Lightning took several lives. It
killed two bathers-man and wife
at Bay City. Mich, but spared
their baby, who was in the fathers
arms
Although the total of the four
fireworks deaths was one more than
the number a year ago, communities
which banned explosives in safe
and-sane" observance reported fewer
injuries In st. Louis, for example,
SO were treated, compared to an
average of 453 for the last decade.
915 Hurt in New York.
Police in New York City said 9l5
were injured there, against 846 last
year and 1,18O in 1887.
Texas led the death list with Al,
followed by California with 80, Ohio
with 81, New York with IS and
Michigan and Illinois with 81 each.
Ohio was first in auto fatalities, with
%.
Deaths from all causes by States:
Alabama, II; Arizona, 4; Arkansas,
10; California, 80; Colorado, g; Con-
necticut, 6; Florida, IA; Georgia, II;
Idaho, l; Illinois, 81; Indiana, %;
Iowa, g.; Kansas, 10: Kentucky, 20;
Louisiana, 7; Maine, II; Mary
land, 13; Massachusetts,, IL; Michi-
gan, 81; Minnesota. IA; Mississippi,
5; Missouri. 20; Montana, 10; Ne
braska, 10; Nevada, l; New Hamp-
shire, 2; New Jersey. IS; New Mex
ico, 5; New York, IS; North Carolina,
IL; North Dakota, 4: Ohio. 81: Okla
homa. II; Oregon, 8: Pennsylvania,
81; Rhode Island, Q; South Carolina.
10; South Dakota, 3: Tennessee, 9:
Texas Al; Utah, 2; Vermont, /; Vir-
ginia, IT; Washington, IL; West Vir-
ginia, 6; Wisconsin. IL; Wyoming, l.
Bleachers Fall, Hurt 50.
WAUKEGAN, ILL.,, July tP.-
More than SO persons suffered
bruises or other injuries when wood
en- bleachers collapsed at the climax
of an Independence Day pageant
and firework show.
Approximately 1000 spectators fell
to the ground in tangled mass
when the structure gave way last
night. Without warning when