"The Exploding
Popcorn"
-The Item- Sunday, December 9th, 1953
A ten-year -old Sumter boy had a
sore throat and mouth this morning as a result of an accident with fireworks yesterday
afternoon.
The youngster, Billy Lane, inadvertently mixed one of several
torpedoes he was carrying in his pocket with his popcorn, with painful results.
The torpedo exploded in the boy's mouth, scorching the roof of his mouth, his
tongue and throat badly. Until the explosion, the youngster was enjoying his popcorn and
the movie at the Sumter Theatre. Thomas Pringle, who carried the boy to the doctor,
reported the incident and said that the injuries were not serious enough for
hospitalization but young Lane was treated at the doctor's office.
The youngster is the son of Mrs. Melivin Johnson, 31 Baker St. She was
working at Shaw Air Force Base at the time of the accident and Mr. Pringle, next-door
neighbor, cared for the child.
The Police Department said this morning that sale of such fireworks in the city is
illegal, and that persons found selling these or other fireworks will be prosecuted.
The Department stated that the only fireworks which can legally be sold in
Sumter are the small "Chinese firecrackers" and added a warning to all
youngsters to use care even with these.