The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-07-18
RED HOT WEATHER..


ST. LOUIS, July 16.-wheu the sun roae
this morning there was deep feeling oi
impending evil on the minds OF the peo'
pie in the city. The grave apprehension
caused by the mournful events Of the
past few days, the terrible ratio Of the
increase Of mortality from day 10 day
and the suffering that to greater or lees
extent existed In almost every family
were intensified by the prophecy Of Pro-
fsssor Tice. the meteorologisLthat to-day
would be the hottest day seen In ST. Louil
for hundred years.
II was also general supposition that
many who had heretofore escaped with
impunity would succumb at last, debili-
tated and exhausted by the previous hol
weather. Most people passed an almost
sleepless night, and turned their eyes frat
OF all on the sun.
Little hope was 10 be found In its forid
puffy face as 1t rose above the horizon
and when II assembled high, its rays seem.
ed to have lost none Of their directness
and intensity. Only one thing promised
relief. On the horizon and In different
parts Of the upper sky great floating
banks Of white could be seen shaded by
the smoke like gAuze that indicated rain.
1t was the first time for over week that
the sky had not been perfectly cloudless,
and the change seemed to indicate that
the hot spell was about coming 70 an end
at last, but the impression Of coming evil
was too strong to be easily eradicated.
1t was the feeling, perhaps, which did
most 10 fOrestall the anticipated evil.
Men became to-day abstemious und ten. +.
perate who have been addicted 10 excess.
es for years. Probably less liquor was
sold in 81. Louis to-day than 10 the same
space Of time for a long period.
The conviction also arose from the
large number Of Germans prostraied by
the sun that beer was hardly less danger.
Gus, and several physicians expressed
themselves TO the effect that 1t really was
more heating than whisky.
The favored drinks to-day, rs for sew
eral days past, were claret punches, san
garees. cream punches, lemonades, but.
termilk, sour wines and mineral and soda
waters, which were drank in enormous
quantities. In their diet, too, men be.
came equally sb,temious. Iced tomatoes,
iced tea, ETC., are becoming the favorites
in the. restaurants, hotels, eating.houses,
&c.
It was not an unusual thing 10 see men
coming along wearing perforated hats
with ice and cabbage leaves on their
heads, and carrying Ian In one hand
and a perforated umbrella in the other.
Boys sold palm.leaf fans on the streets
by the thousands. Pumps were surround.
ed by men and horses, the latter anx,
ious Tor draught from the hugh buckets;
the former stopping to bathe their heads
and re-wet their cabbage leaves, or to
bathe their wrists in the almost ice-cold
water.
In fact, every precaution was taken
that human ingenuity could devise. There
was the same hustle and life to be observ.
ed around the Dispensary again yester-
day. Crowds thronged the doors as usual
at an early hour. The hall leading from
Market street to the courtyard Of the
City Hall was partitioned ofias on the day
before with wire grating TO prevent the
enterance OF crowd. Two policemen
stood at the door to prevent the admia-
sion Of any but those who had the right
10 come in. The hallway IL admirably
adapted to the reception Of patients Of
this kind, draft blowing through 1t all
hours. Mr.. Priest, Vice President Of the
Police Board, stepped In TO see that the
regulations were perfect for preserving
order. YEg
Health Commissioner G Francis. superin-
tended all the operations Of the corps Of
physicians under his own vigilant eye.
Drs. Robinson and Lndking, the regular
Dispensary physicians, although they
have been working night and day contin.
ued to superintend the administering Of
the proper remedial agents, assisted by
Drs. Bepick and Holman aud several
other physiciana Seven ambulances
were In readiness TO carry patients from
any part Of the city TO the Dispensary.
Pillows and mat esses were provided in
abundance, a fresh supply being received
this morning. The. crowd was kept from
intrudipg on the inner court by rope
cord. Tubs Of Ice water stood In differ.
ent parts Of the hall with dippers to be
used in doucing the paiients; the most
powerful remedy known for reviving pa.
iients sunk into the stupor Of 8 sun.
stroke.
Patients had been arriving occasional.
ly, even In the ANAL hours OF night, and
and at z A. n. there were fifteen or twenty
under treatment. Az fast as they could
be revived they would be sent away to
the City Hospital or their residences, or
TO the Morgue II dead.
At s A. n. the thermometer stood SO
degrees in the western part Of the city.
On the river and in open spaces slight
breeze stirred, but along the high.walled
business slreets the air was intensely
close, and few people ventured out longer
than q few moments at time. The
greatest alarm prevailed, and every bust.
ness establishment was we'll supplied with
an abundance Of ice and restoratives, to
be uted in case OF emergency.
The mercury gradually rose until at
noon II reached 95', three degrees higher
than IL was yesterday at the same hour.
Reports Of men suddenly prostrated came
In hour after hour, and there was q gen.
etGl feeling that Professor Tice's forecast
was about 10 be verified, and that 81.
Louis was to have the hottest day Of the
century.
At ono time II was rumored that the
veteran James Shaw, q wealthy capitalist
and owner OF the famed shaW's Botanic
Gardens, had fallen dead, but this rumor
later In the day proved groundless.
Cornelius Mcbride, prominent law.
yer, was prostrated, and though revived
is 10 serious condition.
The frat prominent death made known
was thxt Of J. E. Voerster, formerly an
eminent officer In the Prusiau army, but
for long time wealthy and influential
citizen ofSt. Louis. He was found dead
In his bed this morning at eight o'clock.
Here and there throughout the city
the mos, thrilling and horrible scenes
we're witnessed by crowds Of excited citi.
zens. On Fifth and Locust streets q
strong man, walking along tue street,
suddenly staggered, reeled and fell to the
pavement in the most terrible conyul-
sious. A great crowd gathered around
the writhing victim. The police drove
the crowd back, and by main force placed
the rayiDg man into an open wagon and
drove rapidly to the Dispensary. Such
scenes as this were Of frequent occurrence