Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-22
The Heat i'm New York.

| Wednesday night was a comfortable one to q
majority of the dweers of the Metropolis. A
fresh breeze found its way freely through the spa
cious houses of the we-to- do. and occasionally il
blew strong enough to force its way into the
cramped apartments of the poor who are packed
away in the cells of apartmen mt houses. While the
city slept the temperature changed. The Their
mometer took an early rise. The mercury fair
~ jumped in the bulb with the sunrise, and as the
sun rose the heat became terrific. Those persons
who kept their beds until or 8 o'clock, and then
| hreakfasted out of the reach of the suns rays
were unconscious Of the great change that had
taken place. They who came out OF those houses
as yet not penetrated by the willing, whitening
| sunlight were astonished to find that they were
suddenly breathing air as hot as if it were a blast
blown from the mouth Of y blazing pit. The pave.
| ments were like blocks of fire beneath. Over.
head, the sun was like sphere of molten brass.
pouring down relentless stream of consuming
rays. Locomotion was exhausting. Men and
women insinctively chung to the dwindling
shadows OF the buildings, and dragged themselves
listlessly along. Fifth avenue was almost desert
ed only an occasional omnibus appearing to
break the unusual silence. The bus horses toiled
YEARLY along, more spiritless than ever beneath
the rays of the sun, while the drivers mopped
their heads and necks of copious streams Of pers.
pration that poured down, binding their ewes
and saturating their scsnty clothing. Before 10
o'clock the west side of broadway was entirely
deserted. Shoppers were few and far between,
and the few who were compelled by necessity to
move about Rugged the sheltered side of the
street. The shops were intensely uncomf Portable
Clerks mOpped themselves with handkerchisfs
and seemed ready to collapse 10 their confined
quarters. The street car horses hung their heads
before the glory of the scorching sun, and driy-
ers worked the brakes with the perspiration
streaming down their bronzed faces. The cars
of the elevated railroads, usually cool and com.
Portable with the breeze caused by motion. were
filed with heat reflected from the sun baked
walls OF the buildings.
While the heat was intense in the morning, il
grew more oppressive toward noon. Business be-
came matter of serious Inconvenience, and was
seriously interrupted. Mercful men refused to
have their teams In the burning sun. Postmaster
James took a humane view of the situation, and
directed that the mail carriers should be permitted
to omit the noon deliveries between II and o'clk
As the rose directly above Broadway, its rays
became intolerably hot that it was perilous TO
expose ones self and umbrella became q neces
sary protection against sun stroke. When the
shadows on the west side became deep enough TO
protect pedestrians, the crowd took advantage of it.
and the east side OF the street was as completely
deserted as it usually is at midnight. The stream
Of people who coursed along Park Row, stopped q
moment TO catch breath of air aud examine the
thermometer at Iiudnuts. Finding that the mer
curry had climbed to 9O0 and was steadily rising
the throng, with one accord, darted into the side
streets or drited across toward ST. Pauls. to seek
shelter beneath the shadows OF the tall buildings
This distress was increased until $3.50 when the
heat became most intense, Hudnut's thermometer
marking 81, while other indicators less exposed
to itful breezes, touched 900 or $50, and in some
instances came nearer lO0". MANY foolish buI
desperate persons drenched themselves with soda
water and lemonade, and went their miserable
ways with the floods Of perspiration oozing from
every pore.
The sun was obscured early in the afternoon. and
the low-hanging, rain-laden masses OF cloud that
dfitted up from the southwest promised a shower,
that was looked forward to with unspeakable ioy
AT o'clock the shower burst IN a flood of heavy
rain drops, which were quickly converted into no,
steam almost as soon as they fell. Another show
er followed coming up this time from the south.
east Both showers were accompanied Dv vivid
lightning, and during the storm some fne trees in
Battery Park were injured and horse cut by a
lightning stroke. A change of temperature oc-
CURED, very slight, but still a grateful change, so
hat The thermometer out of doors only marked
%. From that hour until o'clock there was no
change Times.