New-York tribune., 1878-07-20
THE CITY A GREAT FURNACE.

DAY OF THE sEAsoN-THE HEAT WAVE Ex-
TENDING.
The vast population of New-YOrk to whom
the sea-shore Is unknown and country air vague
don aroused itself from undressing slumber yester
day morning. aud catered upon another day Of toll The
night had been the most uncomfortable yet experienced
the present The showers Of Thursday afternoon
partially cooled the heated pavements but the rapid
evaporation which followed filed the atmosphere with
vapOr, and the breeze which had prevailed 10 some
tent all day was followed by almost dead calm.
In large and airy homes there scarcely sufficient
motion in the air TO stir the curtains In the closely
packed tenement houses which line many miles OF
streets the atmosphere sitting with heat, and
foul with nCisOme vSpos Sleep in the hot interior bed
Impossible, and the population hronged out
Of doors Flat roofs carts and drays in the street. piles
OF lumber and of stone, became beds from which
men nwoke after few hours Of uneasy sumber with
aching bones and sened joints Children lay sleeping
curbstOnes, while mothers watched them from the
doorstep. rocking their infants in their Said
a woman who goes out washing by the day to
her employer yesterday; You little know, ma'am,
what real suffering from the heat is till you feel II in
tenement-house. Why last night took my child down
on the street sat with II all night fearing It would
die before morning II left It in the house." On the
steps Of the Harper Building, in Franklin-squAre.
than 100 persons attempted 70 find repose and all
through streets IN the southeastern part OF
the city many people were moving about all night
than any time during the day People crowded IN
the broader TO find airs and and at dsybreak
yesterday the doorsteps secondave above Flfthst
crowded with mothers and their Infant children
THE HOTTEST DAY YET
when the rose, it's rays shown through hazy at
mosphere, which gave lusiye promise Of relief The
temperature at 7:45 a. was degrees higher than at
the hour Thursday, and tho moisture in the air
made tho heat oppressive. Before tho haze
cleared away and the sun shone norcely upon
rfad hv ali aha nrrtalr
PEELED 10 expose themselves 10 its scorch
ing power. People went about their work with the
stless betOkeniBg want Of sleep In ONCE and
cOuntngroom men removed their heavier clothing and
famed themselves vigorously they recued in tho
easiest possible postures In retail stores there were
few customers, and the clerks stood by the windows
waiting for the breeze which failed to come. In A. T.
Stewards uptown store which is open four Sides not
breath Of air was felt the first time this year. and
the thermometer at registered 100 degrees.
The lettercarrierS permitted 10 omit their
midday trip THURSDAY, and thus obtained relief
which much needed though their active outdoor
life preserves them from special danger and u class
they are said 10 be In excellent health.
That the hot weather had a tendency yesterday 90
keep merchants and others indoors, was particularly
noticeable Wall Broad and other downtown streets
which are usually crowded during business hours II
was also noticeable that nearly every body on
the streets was provided with an umbrella aud
fam and the nghtes possible styles OF attire prevailed
In banks and banking and brokers' Offices there a
marked neglect OF the usual dignity, and president and
clerks worked throughout the day in shrsleeves the
wastcOat and in most instances collar and oravnt be
ing dispensed with. Bankers who 1ed from tho heated
term in the city Thursday and sought relief at Long
Branch and other seaside resorts, content yeser
day 70 remain the city, the heat at the seaside the
day previous having satisfied them that they gained
little relief by the change. One banker said that
Thursday at Long Branch the only breeze came from the
land aud that II was stihng-and that with the ther-
mometer at times at 08' there constant struggle
to catch every stray breeze Al midnight the
perature was $50 and sleep was almost impossible
Other bankers who reside at InwOod, Riverdale, Yonk
ers Fort Washington. Planned and other suburban
towns report unusually excessive heat
The visitors TO the Park to-day" said veteran off,
Ger attached to Central Park different from the
regular visitors Through the Summer hundreds
OF people here through tho day. seek sone shady
seat and undergo a few hours' light novel reading
Nurses and mothers with their children and stay
few hours and depart at or o'clock. To-day, how
over was an exception, all the people seemed 70
10 the Park at s. o. O'Clock In the morning. befose
the sun high 1t appeared as II they were unable
10 sleep the previous night, and at daylight and
Immediately came here to seek comfort They sought
he coolest and shadiest spots they could fud, and
hardly stirred from them the whole day. Nurses with
cbdreu appeared the RaInbe and shaded walks at
unusualy carly hour Many provided with lunch
and cooling drinks"
The heat continued 10 increase until unusually late
hour the maximum being reached at 4 D, m when the
tbermurnetcr 90 the United States Signal Station
marked 94o one degree higher than the highest tenn
neratirre Of Thursday. An hour later II had fallen
o0o degree; but at shutdown tho relief from
the heat was scarcely appreciabe. aud slight breeze
which had sprung up the afternoon faded away and
EewYork was left 10 sWelter through another night Of
torrd heat.
Nor were those who were able to seek the seashore
much more fortunate, except in the purer air they
breathed than those compelled to remain at home On
Thursday afternoon pleasant sea breeze was
blowing at Coaey Island, and on the New
Jersey coast, and hign waves we're rolling in
ON the sand; but when the showers cleared away
the waves had been beaten down, the wind had died
away or blew from inland, the sea presented surface
as smooth as a mirror and the heat was nt2ierable
said gentleman who passed Thursday night &C hanhat
tan Beach "There is one hotter place than New
York; 1t Is Coney IsaDd Visitors retnlnihR Lom Long
similar repOrts "When II u hot on thS seashore' sara
one "it Is very hot" Ut I
EXTENT or TIKI HEAT WAVE.
The heated wave which has rolled oyer TINS Guy Ior
the last O DAYS has not yet passed. and while u seems
nroba be that the perature to-day VIII Dc lew 1e
erees cooler than yesterday t6e cnalse wa pe psb
receded and followed the hot blast seem 20 have been
eveTeome perhaps by the heat Tho limits OF the hot
air current not now 90 disunetly 49, ss b
Greater than 1t any previous time ~ seetns 70 have
setled down over the whole countrr with tne e1cep-
finn of San Franclsco whore, Of No. ycsfr9ay
the Thermometer Indicated oA ana tnas vas S vnS a.
cr @ in temperatnre ls very small and e0nnned 70 iew
usees Even "A the Northwest where tho power oi tne