INDEPENDENCE DAY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 40, 2 November 1909, Page 1

INDEPENDENCE DAY.

* Independenoo Day was celebrated in America on Sunday and Monday, July 4 and 5, with the usual accompaniment of toy cannons, bombs, and fireworks, these adjuncts to the flag-flying and patriotic ovations being again responsible for a terrible roll of casualties. It was stated in New York on the following Tuesday that as far aa could bo gathered Bixty people had been killed during the celebration, and over 600 injured. Three deaths occurred in Ne«r York on Sunday ( and several on Monday, all the victims being children. A nephew of Mr Sherman, the Vice-Pre-sident, was badly injured, and at Chicago two boys were blinded by the premature explosion of a powder mine. One of the ino9t regretted deaths is that of Mr Arthur Langham, recently president of the Provident Insuranoe Society of New York, and the uncle of Baroness Speck von Stcrnburg, the widow of the late German Ambassador.

Mr Langham was one of a party at Louisville on indulging in the celebration oil the lawn of hiß house, and picked up a giant cracker, the fuse of which had apparently gone out. He was about to apply a nyitch to it, when it suddenly exploded, blowing off tjo fingers of the right hand and inj iring his head. Death ensued an hour after ttw accident.

Patriotic fervor was responsible for a rather unpleasant incident in corner.tion with the Britisti flag at Stamuri, Connecticut. Captain Merriman < r the British schooner King Josiah, -a .sod tl-'i Ked Ensign on the mainmast of ins vosssel, an act which aroused tho 're o e H crowd of young men, who made ;i «>mplaint'to the police. Chief of Police Brennan went dwn to the wharf und had a talk with Captain Merriman, who hauled down the flag, after protesting that this act was done in courtesy to the United States. One incident of the celebrations was an outspoken sermon by Dr Williams, the Bishop of Michigan, at St. Bartholomew's Church, New York. The Bishop said:

"We are inhumane. We care little for art, for sentiment, or for anything that cultivates humanity. Ouj universities teach trades, not the higher life. We turn "out graduates fitted to get rich, and when they get rich they don't know how to use, much less enjoy, their money. We are inhuman. We see railroads kill thousands every year, and sa.v nothing. In the protection or life and property we are far behind ihe nations of Europe. In the laws of protecting women and children, two nations cannot be put on the honor Toll. T1 ese nations are Russia and the Unit, ed States. The Yankee in Europe is often more shrewd than honest, and when we happen along behind him and hear of his tricks, we are apt to laugh r&ther than blusn- with shame as wa ought to do." _ The sermon created a great sensation.

A verdict was returned that doceased died from the effects of a gunshot wound inflicted by his daughter, Margaret Lundie, who was committed for trial at the first Criminal Court to be held.

Deceased was aged 50, and leaves a widow and eight children.