The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-08-27

Two Hundred and Twenty Deaths by Heat-A
Shade.
On Saturday, the 18th inst, in New York
City, thrtyive persons died from the effect of
the heat. On Sunday. in New York. one hun
dred persons fell victims Men and women
dropped in the streets and died before aid could
be rendered them. The total number of deaths
for SIX days, ending Sunday, from the heat,
reached the frightful number of two hundred
and twenty.
The New York Times says:
The effects of the present unusually hot wca-
ther are truly tragical and resemble more the
results OF an epidemic than the ordinary conse-
qucnces of an increased temperature. Since
Tuesday morning. no less than lSS deaths have
occurred, in this city alone, that have been
brought under the COrOners' notice. the whole
OF which were either from direct exposure to
the suns rays, or from Over-eXertOn in heat
ed atmosphere. To prove that exposure to the
sun is not necessary to produce fatal results.
we may mention that yesterday afternoon. a
printer in the composing room of the Herald
office, while picking up types at his frame, fell
suddenly dead from the effects of the heat
And among the list of dead there were several
instances, as appeared upon the inquests, where
the stroke" as people are fond of calling it,
was received either within doors or in the shade
1t is impossible 10 lie too cautious Curing
the continuance of such weather. Servants
should not be kept cooking over fires labor
ers should be allowed to strike work in the mid
die OF the day. In general, no class of citizens
can exert themselves without strict regard to
moderation at such crisis Temperance. too.
should be rigidly maintained the large ma
jOrity of those who have fallen victims within
the past few days being persons of Incorporate
habits.
The frightful list of cases is compiled from
the official returns of the three CorOncr's who
are engaged in holding inqucsts. As will read
lily be believed. their time yesterday was fully
occupied. From an early hour of the morning
to late hour last night, they never ceased
holding inqucsts. and yet, so urgent were the
demands upon them. many cases had to be post
pOned till this morning. Often the relatives of
the deceased would bcseige the Coroners. with
imploring appeals, that the inquest might be
holden. SO that the bodies might be taken away
for burial. These appeals, for positive lack of
time, could not be needed and the bodies were
removed to the Dead House.
In Brooklyn On Friday and Saturday there
were Twcnty-onc deaths caused by heat. On
Saturday eight or ten horses died in the street.
The Tribune of Saturday says:
The heat for the past six days has been most
awful. In our publication office : place with
ten or twelve windows and doors, constantly
open to the cast. south and west, the Mercury
has ranged from \. VI. to 4 =. NJ. from 30 to
I02 degrees, and nearly averaging 90 for the
remainder of the day and night; in our COM
posing-room, with fifteen open windows in the
fifth story, and free circulation of air (when
there was any from all points, the mark has
been from about 80 to 9S day and night.
From various accounts received, we should
Judge that at least hundred horses have been
killed in the meantime in this City alone. All
sorts of business in the travelling line has been
retarded: railroad trains delayed, omnibusscs
reduced to half speed, and pedestrianism
brought almost to stand-stll.
Another such week would outrival in mortal
ity the height of the cholera in 1919.
The number of deaths last week is reported
at 5S5 : but the real number must have been at
least 700-thc heaviest mortality having Oc-
CURED too late to be included in Saturday re-
port.
EFFECTS OF TIE EHEAT.-Philadclphia Aug.
4.-There were five deaths in this city. yes
tcrday. from the effects of the heat. Among
the victims is General Bcnnct who was taken
sick while employed in the Assaycrs office. at
the Mint, an appointment which he received
only last Wednesday. Gen. Bennct served as
Captain in the Pennsylvania Volunteers du-
ring the Mexican war. and. after his return,
was elected General of the Second Brigade
He was employed in a room at the Mint, where
the thermometer stood at l60o.
The collections in this city, in aid of the New
Orleans sufferers, amounts to eleven thousand
dollars.