From the Lawrence Daily World for July 5, 1910: “Last night closed the most quiet Fourth ever observed in Douglas county. It was sane to an extreme degree. In Lawrence where the big noise was scheduled to be held, two ball games and a display of pyrotechnics in the park, constituted the complete program. Immense throngs crowded the park cars until nearly midnight, and enjoyed themselves thoroughly — But Oh so sanely. The main street was quiet as the university campus during August…. The night operator on the linotype at the Journal office noticed the presence of smoke about 2 o’clock this morning and going outside the building found smoke belching forth from the basement windows in the rear of the building. The fire had started in the basement used by the bill poster back of the Journal press room and directly underneath the entrance to the opera house. The loss to the building will be a few hundred dollars and the Journal lost something in the way of press rollers and belts. Great credit is due to the fire department for its efficient work. Quite a number of people gathered at first, but the crowd soon dispersed…. One point of interest gained from last night’s fire is that Senator J. L. Brady wears a fancy blue nightshirt.”