1853, June 21st, Fire Crackers Start a Fire, Chicago.

The forenoon fire consumed the barn of Mr. Penny, between Madison and Washington Streets, on the West Side; it being four or five blocks from the river, so the water was got in time to do any good, giving another illustration of the necessity of our new water works being finished as soon as possible. There was one horse burned belonging to a countryman. The fire was supposed to be occasioned by boys using firecrackers.

1853, June 21st, Fire Crackers.

For several weeks before the Fourth of July, Chicago communities are annoyed, more or less, by the firing in the public streets of squibs and crackers. The practice is becoming a serious nuisance and should be promptly corrected by our authorities. It is quite enough to have to endure hist source of disturbance of the quiet of the city during one day a year, and, as the festive spirit of our national anniversary gives to the evil the most unlimited license, the privilege should be confined strictly to that occasion. Besides the disagreeable din from which every citizen suffers, life and property are endangered by the liability of horses to become frightened by the explosion of torpedoes and crackers in our thoroughfares and the ease with which a serious conflagration may be caused by the fire that is carelessly thrown in every direction. It is to be hoped that this matter will receive the attention of Charles McNeill Gray, the Mayor of Chicago.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.