HOLIDAY DEATH TOLL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5317, 24 August 1928, Page 4

HOLIDAY DEATH TOLL.

'THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.”

HAPPENINGS IN AMERICA.

The lives of 205 men, women, a,nd children were the American nation’s sacrifice to the celebration of its 152 nd birthday anniversary on the so-called “Glorwus Fourth” of July.

Fireworks claimed their share of victims, as they always have since the United States first began observing Independence Day with skyrocket, pin-wheel, and cannon, crajeker. There were eleven such deaths in the entire country, according, bo a tabulalatibn prepared.

Lakes and rivers, however, exacted the heaviest tribute of human life during the. holiday, 106 dro ( wning>’ being reported. Motor car. deaths ranked next in number with 54. Heat claimed 1 12 lives and lightning three while- four were killed in aeroplane crashes. In addition there were 15 deaths attributed to other causes directly connected with America’s o.bsqr.vance bf the Fourth.

Two densely populated areas—the middle Atlantic States and the midwest —had more than half the country’s total deaths for, the day. In the former there were 68 fatalities, which were five more than occurred ip the mid-west.

The. mountain States and the northwest had the best sectional records, with five deaths in each division..

Everywhere through the- mid-west the temperature was high, contributing both tos dea.thc by heat and by drowning .The mid'-west led the country in the number of drd.wniiigs with 38, although the middle Atlantic area had only two less.

Premature explosion, of a truckload of fireworks at Lamar. Missouri, injured 25 perse is as 5000 gathered in the public Square to witness the display. In' the larger citicls, th|e. hospital list of, persons, 'hurt during observance of the day ran into; hundreds. Chicago with ordinance prohibiting the sale of fireworks, echoed all day with firecracker explosions, and deports from police apd hospitals s|ta.ted that, the number, of injured was greater than in recent years.

At Camden, New Jersey, William Ingram, 40, was in a hospital with his teeth blown away, the victim of a Fourth of July prank. While he sat asleep o.n the porch of his home, presumably with his mquth agape, a practical joker thrust a large fireci’iaeker between his teteth, lighted the fuse and fled. The firecracker explojded. Ingram leaped to his feet and then dropped to the floor, writhing in agony. His shrieks brought the neighbours, and he- was taken to a hospital. Physicians injected 1500 units of anti-tetanus serum and pronounced his condition serious. All his teeth were go>ne, an|d he was unable .t'o ta.lk coherehtly. Police had no clue as to the identity >of tlie practical joker.