Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-07-20
THE HEATED TERM.

Death has been lately only too
familiar sound. Death to our gallant
braves in the treacherous Indian am
buscads in the fearful mid
night storm and Aood--death by the
suns fierce stroke which smiteth at
MONDAY. In this Centennial year
our casualties as we'll as our celebra-
tions are alike on II e grandest scale.
We would not speak with lovity on a
subject SO associated with disease and
death, but it would seem as if the
heated terms OF ordinary years would
not suffice for our Centennial sum-
mer. Nothing less than super-heat-
ed demonstration which runs the mer-
curry up to the raging attitudes above
the nineties is adequate distinction for
this grand epoch. And, verify, if we
may rely on the reports OF the news.
papers from all quarters there has not
been a heated term since the days OF
70 which could at all compare in
blazing force with our Centennial Ju-
ly.
The extreme heat as noticed in
New York and Philadelphia common.
csd about the Goth Of June, whom the
thermometer marked SO. From this
it slightly fell off until the 4th Of
July, when it rose again to SO. On
the 9Th it WAS 80 and on the 9th Of
July l0l degrees The average has
bsen about IS since that time. In
many places there have been severe
storms but without affecting in any
material degree the excessive heat
Although there was probably large
amount Of sickness but few deaths
from sun stroke or effects of the heat
were reported until near the 8th Of
July. In the six days following there
were ninety eight deaths reported to
the Coroner in Philadelphia, and a
enll lager number in New York =
Strong men while walking along the
streets were suddenly proutrated.-
Carpenters and other outdoor me-
chanics were compelled to cease work
unable to endure tie sickening effect
Of the heat. Horses attached to the
street railway cars fell dead on the
tracks. One company lost seventeen
horses in one day. In country dis
tricts the discomfort arising from ex-
cassive heat is also the theme Of gem
eral comment and although tho cases
Of fatal sua.stroke ale few there is
widespread sickness. The Conten-
NAL heated term will be long anu feel.
ingly remembered.
Big things are the order Of the day
this year, and it is no wonder that
people, as they mopped their dripping
faces with already saturated handker-
chiefs, were ready TO exclaim that Il
hotter season was never known. But
Mr.. Gradgrind, who speaks by the
record, is not ready to conceds that
distinction to even centennial year.
lie promptly produced copy Of a
letter from Benjamin Franklin, which
mentions that in 1850 the thermome-
Ter stood at 100 degrees in the shade
in Philadelphia. In addition to this
he was able to show record Of the
weather from January 1890 to the
same period in 1917, regularly kept
by Charles Pierce Of Philadelphia, a
reliable authority, which gives many
interesting facts. In July, 1898, the
mercury stood at 81 to SO degrees for
fifteen days, and at 90 to 96 for ten
days. In July, 1911, the temperature
was about 81. In July, 1922, the
mercury stood at 90 for eleven days,
and during four days at 81. In 1888
during July, the mercury continued
at 90 for eighteen days, and on two
days rose to 81. For the past twelve
years the mean temperature Of the
month Of July has been about 81 de-
grees. The month of July, 1861.
showed the erratic thermometer at the
other extreme, the average tempera.
ture being only 66 degrees. The
nights were frosty and ice was found
in various places. 1t seemed as if
the sun had lost its warm and cheer
ing Influence, and vegetables did not
come to perfection. Our Centennial
year, however, is remarkable both in
respect to heat and cold. The month
Of January closely resembled that Of
1915, as chronicled in the old records,
being very moderate in temperature.
There were ONLY seven different win