The New York herald., 1872-07-13
"HOT wEpNEsDAYn IN 1902.


Persons interested in meteorological phenomena
may be inclined to doubt whether the reported
temperature in England in 1902, and other years.
Is worthy of belief In Europe the mercury does
not rise from day to day until torrtd heat Is
reached, nor on any OF the occasions to be men,
toned did there occur any cases Of coup de solfe,
or sunstroke, though cattle died in great numbers
from the excessive warmth of the weather. The
cheated terms in England were confined to single
days, at long intervals and were always followed
by terrific thunder storms On Wednesday, July
13, 1902, just seventy years ago, the weather was
marked by so high temperature as to obtain for
1t the name Of "Hot Wednesday," At Middesex two
thermometers, the one made by Ramsden ana the
other by Carey, were observed at noon, and
found to record ninety degrees In the shade. At
the strand other marked 1O1 degrees later in the
day. At Gainsborough in Lincolnshire two other
thermometers, situated in north aspect, recorded
ninety-four degrees at one O'Clock In the afternoon.
Human efforts were paralyz ed under such q tenn
perature and many animals succumbed At ono
place a large quantity OF she ep were found dead,
having perished from the heat. There is no record
OF any person having died from its effects. After
day OF the most oppressive and excessive heat the
neghborhood of Bath was visited with a tremen-
dous storm OF thunder, lightning and hail. IL was
the severest ever remembered. The rolling distant
thunder and quick, successive flashes OF lightning
were the most fearful ever remembered. One man
was torn to pieces by the lightning.
"HoT TUESDAY IN 1890"
Then again there was the " Hot Tuesday" In the
month Of July, 1890, which was, however several
degrees below the temperature OF 1902. Men and
women tainted, and horses and other animals died
under the pressure OF o temperature unusual In
England. In the Strand, In an open window look
ing into ST. James park, a temperature Of ninety
four degrees was observed. In July, 1925 the ther-
mometer at the Royal Exchange was eghty-eight
degrees. At Paris, same day, 1t was eighty-seven
degrees; at Hull, III degrees, and at Brussels,
ninety seven degrees. On each OF these occasions
fearful thunder storms followed, causing great de-
structlon to property-the glass In windows shat
tered to pieces and trees blasted by the lightning.
THERMOMETERS.
We are not able to determine whether these re-
ports are entirely reliable or how far the ther-
mometers then In may have been correct re-
corders OF the heat Numerous precautions are
necessary to obtain accurate results from the In
strumcnts. good deal depends upon the heighth
and nature OF the ground where they are placed,
the direction I'm reference to the points OF the
pass the vicinity OF other objects, and whether the
place is covered uncovered. All these consdera-
tions effect the degree to which the mercury may
rise I'm the thermometer. At all events 10 Is evident
from the records quoted that England, 80 far
favorably situated in respect to climate has had Its
cheated TERMS" though Of brief duration. In one
case the thermometer rose to a higher point than
at any tune during the present month In New York.