A series of reckless shootings and blasts causing injuries to several persons and property damage in the area of Tower City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, was reported in the West Schuylkill Herald, January 4, 1907:
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TOO MUCH SHOOTING.
The old year was ushered out to a much too hilarious manner at Tower City. After an all day’s heavy rain on Monday, the weather cleared toward evening. This and the fact of it being pay night brough out many people. Darkness had hardly settled before many heavy charges of dynamite were set off. Some of these charges were so heavy that the whole town shook as though an earthquake had taken place. A the William Valley Railroad Depot a window pane was broken as a result of a heavy shock. A number of windows were also broken by flying stones at the Fees Flour Mills. But the worst feature was the reckless handling of revolvers in the hands of boys and young men. Never before in the history of the town was this carried on to such an extent. Not only were blank cartridges exploded, but many contained bullets and so reckless was the shooting that it was not safe to be on the street. Two accidents happened as the result of this recklessness and both narrowly escaped being fatal.
William Walburn, aged about 18 years, was shot in the hand and leg by a bullet from a 32-calibre revolver in the hands of Edward Hummel, who is about the same age. The accident happened in front of Rissinger’s Hotel about 9 o’clock in the evening. Hummel, who had imbibed a little too freely, had two kinds of cartridges. He though he had placed only blank cartridges in his revolver. In this he was mistaken, however, one of the cartridges contained a bullet. He commenced firing recklessly and fired several shots when Walburn, who was standing by, gave a scream and said he was shot. Walburn at once ran to his home close by. Dr. E. F. Philips was hurriedly sent for and upon his arrival he found that the bullet had passed sideways thru the fleshy part of of Walburn’s hand and clean through his right leg near the him, narrowly escaping cutting a large artery. The bullet was afterwards found in Walburn’s stocking. Walburn has his hand in his pocket when the shooting took place. Hummel was taken to the borough lock-up where he was kept until about seven o’clock on Tuesday evening. In the meantime, Walburn’s mother went to ‘Squire Horn and swore out a warrant against Hummel on a charge of aggravated assault and battery. he was placed under bail pending the result of Walburn’s injuries.
Miss Vallie Hirelman, a young lady from Schuylkill Haven, who is visiting Miss Hazel Charlesworth, received a slight wound on the nose, near the eye, by being hit by a wad from a blank cartridge fired from a revolver in the hands of a reckless youth. The injury is not serious, but might have been had the was struck her in the eye.
Another case of reckless shooting took place at Jones’ Hotel, in the east end of town. While number of men were drinking at the bar one of the number pulled a 44-calibre revolver and fired through the floor. The bullet plowed its way through the floor striking a case of empty whiskey flasks in a room below, breaking exactly one dozen. A young man was standing near when the bullet struck. A number of minor accidents happened also as a result of reckless shooting.
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Article from Newspapers.com.
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