Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 155, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1915 — First Fire Cracker Accident in Rensselaer. [ARTICLE]

First Fire Cracker Accident in Rensselaer.

The first firecracker accident to occur in Rensselaer this year may cause Vera Bever, 7-year-old daughter of Clifford Beaver, to lose one and perhaps both eyes. The little girl was playing with some other little girls in front of McKay’s laundry Wednesday evening with firecrackers. A cone shaped cracker, which throws flame into the air, was lighted but faield to go off at first. The little girl went up to see what the matter was and while looking into the cone with both eyes wide open it exploded. She was badly burned in the eyes and about the ears and neck and her hair was singed. Dr. Hemphill was called and dressed the wounds which were very bad, the skin being all off. One of the girl's eyes is entirely shut and she cannot see out of the other. It may be that she will lose the sight of 'both eyes.