"The cannon exploded, tearing off Kaiser's leg." (Image by Joseph Furttenbach.)

A quartet of cautionary tales about July 4th, a wonderful and dangerous holiday, from the pages of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

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“The Cannon Exploded” (July 5, 1889): “La Grange, Tex.–The Fourth of July celebration at Round Top was marred by a terrible accident. J.G. Kaiser and two other men named Schiege and Gingel were firing off a cannon. It seems they loaded it with seven pounds of powder and filled it with wet clay and moss so as to make a loud report when fired. The cannon exploded, tearing off Kaiser’s leg and seriously wounding Schiege and Gingel. Kaiser is not expected to live.”

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“Died of Lockjaw” (July 12, 1900): “The Fourth of July celebration claimed another victim yesterday, when Frederick Detlefsen of 6 Sullivan Street died of lockjaw, at his home. He was the son of Charles Detlefsen, a well known builder, of the Twelfth Ward. The boy was not quite 16 years old, but was powerfully built. On the evening of the Fourth he received a wound in his left forefinger from the premature explosion of a blank pistol cartridge.  A local physician dressed the injury and nothing further was thought of the matter until Tuesday morning, when the boy complained of a soreness in his throat. That became worse rapidly and when a physician was summoned, he at once diagnosed the case as tetanus. The wound in the finger was opened and disclosed two greased wads embedded in the flesh. Spasms soon developed and and despite frequent injections of morphine, the boy suffered the most intense agonies. Death terminated his sufferings at noon yesterday.”

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“Inspected a Giant Cracker” (June 30, 1902): “The Fourth of July celebration was inaugurated in Greenpoint last evening by a small number of boys, who set off fireworks during every intermission of the rain. Naturally both pyrotechnics and boys became damp. James Connolly, 10 years old, of 70 Sutton Street, finally found himself endeavoring to light a giant firecracker which refused to explode. At last he put his eye at one end of the cracker, with the result which might be expected. It went off then. Young Connolly will probably lose the sight of his left eye, while his features will be disfigured for life with powder marks. He is recuperating in the care of Dr. Detsch at the Eastern District Hospital and receiving all the care and attention due the first hero of the fire cracker season.”

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"The body of little Conrad was found behind the counter burned to a crisp."

“Baby Con’s Fatal Fun” (July 2, 1893): “A shocking accident, the exact cause of which will probably never be known, occurred at 4:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon in the store kept by Frank Winkenbach, at 899 Liberty Avenue, in the Twenty-sixth Ward. Mr. Winkenbach keeps a small candy shop, but in anticipation of a busy Fourth of July had stocked his place with fireworks. Yesterday afternoon about the time indicated Mr. Winkenbach had occasion to visit the rooms above the store and he left his 4 year old boy Conrad downstairs. He had no idea that the child would have access to any matches. Suddenly the father was startled by the noise of a loud explosion and hastening downstairs, he found the store on fire. The entire stock of fireworks were exploding. Firecrackers were sputtering and Roman candles and pinwheels were wasting their substance all around. He did not see the child as he looked into the store, but, fearful that he was there, he attempted to reach the place where he was supposed to be. It was impossible to do so.

The neighbors sent out a fire alarm and soon the engines were on the ground. It seemed as if the entire front of the store was in flames. The firemen were rapidly at work and soon the fire was extinguished. The body of little Conrad was found behind the counter burned to a crisp. His clothing had been entirely consumed, and all that remained was the charred corpse with the little shoes still adhering to the child’s feet. The body was taken to the living rooms of the family and Coroner Creamer was notified to hold an inquest. The flames had consumed the front of the shop and it was boarded up last night. A crowd of curious neighbors hung around. A rosette of white crepe and streamers on the door told of the tragedy.

From the fact that there was a loud explosion at the outset it is believed that the child had dropped a lighted match among some gunpowder which formed part of the stock. The front windows were blown out by the shock and the store was utterly wrecked. It was impossible when the fire broke out to rescue the child, but Mr. Winkenbach had hoped that Conrad had escaped. It was only when his disfigured body was found that the father abandoned the idea that the boy had managed to reach the street.”