A HEAVY TOLL

Evening Star, Issue 14225, 26 November 1909, Page 1

A HEAVY TOLL

i In the ‘ Forum ’Mr H. L. West gives a gratifying account of the success of the efforts made to suppress the rowdy, firework cracker and bonfire mode of celebrating the Fourth of July. The sale and explosion of fireworks on or before the Fourth of July is now forbidden in the District of Columbia and in many other cities, with excellent results. During the celebration of five national birthdays, from 1905 to 1907 inclusive, 1,155 persons were killed and 21,520 were injured. Of the injured, 88 suffered total and 589 partial blindness: 508 persons lost arms, legs, or hands, and 1,067 lost one or more fingers. The following list of casualties refers to July 4, 1909: New York.—Five killed, 197 injured, by fireworks, 82 injured by pistols, 25 injured by cannons, and 5 injured by torpedoes; also 116 fires started by explosives. Notwithstanding this list of victims, one of the most prominent New York papers remarked that New York had broken all records for a safe and sane Fourth of July. Philadelphia.—Five dead, 5 fatally injured, 8 seriously injured, and 420 painfully injured: 80 fires. St. Louis.—Four dead, 205 injured. ■ Wilkesbarre, Pa.—Four dead. Pittsburg.—One dead, 295 injured; fire losses, 50 ; 000dol. Memphis, Tenn.—A crippled newsboy burned to death. Wheeling, W. Va.—One dead, 50 injured. Buffalo.—Fifteen children injured; 40 fires. Boston.—One hundred and ten persons injured. Toledo.—Boy’s left hand necessarily amputated, and a fifteen-year-old boy blinded for life. > Kansas City.—One death from lockjaw. Elmira, NrY.—Two deaths from lockjaw. Woonsocket, R.l.—One dead, and a dozen persons injured.