The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-17
TERRIFIC CYCLONE IN BOSTON.
Twenty Lives Lost on Land
and Sea.
HURRICANE IN THE MOHAWK VALLEY.
Houses Unroofed, Trees Thrown Down
and Fruit Trees Denuded
THE LlGHTNINGS FATAL STROKE.

THE LlGHTNING'S FATAL STROKE.
The fervid experience of Tuesday prepared New
York for another blast from the furnace into which
the clerk OF the weather has been piling the Goals
But anticipation fell short of the terrible reality
From dawn to sunset yesterday the metropolis was
in broil and the implacable sun reigned supreme.
Its fiery lances falling thick and fast on
hausted humanity. There shield available
against such heat The pavement, where
dropping trees averted the direct rays. glowed like
the foor of furnace; the walls Of each house re-
turned the heat tenfold The very breeze gave
relief There was universal scare. such as would
characterize plaguestrcken city. Hundreds caught
up the HERALD. after getting out OF bed looked at
the announcement. ''The weather will be warmer
to-day" told their wives and children to get ready
for trip to the country, ensconced themselves on
the shady side of an excursion boat, and expressed
compassion for those compelled to stay in the city
steady stream Of excursionists poured from each
pier the boats leaving for the seashore and extra
trains were called into requisition all the rail-
roads centreing around the city. There few
late rsers. 70 degrees in the shade at three O'Clock
In the morning converting every bed into sort
of Turkish bath. Six hours later the mercury
climbed up six degrees higher, and the matutinal
piled beyond measure. At noon the mercury passed
Into the nineties and business In many parts of the
city came to standstill. Then the figures in the
thermometrcal tube were watched eagerly. until at
half-pas three o'clock the startling an
nouncement, zone hundred and degrees in
the shade" Some people find fault with the vari-
Gus statements made by Thermometers in different
parts of the city. They argue deliberately against
accepting tho record of because 1t Is unded
by lofty buildings which retain the heat; against
another because is in adraught against third for
not having draught TO cool it, Perhaps there is
some reason in the ancients calling Mercury "the
father of les but yesterday it needed no ther-
mometer to convince the sufferers in the metropolis
that the boiling point had been crossed ana that
humanity now In stew.
cooLNEss AMONG THE NINErIEs.
The most exaspcrating object that ono can en-
counter under such solar fire is the friend with
immaculate collar. composed countenance and
jsunty gait who steps up to you and remarks in an
Indifferent tone:-"By the way. was just passing
the drug store at the corner and. If don't mistake.
I heard somebody say the thermometer was over
hundred. Strange, amt it?"
Another unpleasant person is the who pooh
poohs the record Of the weather. and undertakes to
tell some Of his experience in other cmes. when 100
ut any hour Of the day was considered mere baaa-
telle. Then there Is the nervous. exoitabe being.
who is always talking at high pressure and who,
unhappily. il impervous to sunstroke.
The crowd around the thermometer at some public
stand would be curiosity were 1t possible to an
alyze its characteristics As agenera rule however.
can only obtain dissoving view. There is the
knowing one. who undertakes to explain the mys-
teries OF high pressure. meteorological waves and
those gave an i%pronpsn lecture on A' the he
subject the HERALD Office yesterday after
noon. ''You see," said he to specialized old
gentleman whose linen buster was marked with
Precipitation in the buck as IL porous plaster had
bcen clapped over it. "this ere thing about the
weather is very curious. Now they've got ii down
fine, l tell you. When the sun comes up the
curry begins to rise. and it keeps rising all the time
until the begins fall, and then it goes down
with the You how simple the whole
thing is.
when the sun is entirely gone the thermometer still
seems to be as lively as ever?''
"Ohl that is plain enough" answered the meteor
ologst. 1.-THE gas il turned then in the city, and
that uniting with the hea Of the pavement produces
an area OF high pressure. combined with u low
CENTRE
There a hssty departure Of the bystanders
from the vicinity. 1t was singular to witness the
philosophical air with which the announcement was
received that the rubicon of 100 degrees had becn
crossed. With some there was positive feeling of
relief ''Ninety-nine was so exasperatng. you know
Old Prob should make 1t the even century" Tho
news spread rapidly and everybody seemed satisfied.
IT. Affected one gentleman near the Post Office very
haven't had one in ten minutes"
ON THE PIERS
Young America. undetcrred by municipal ordi-
nances, or, perhaps. aware that the blue coated
guardians OF public morals would not venture be-
yond the friendly awning on such day. stood in
from the Battery to Harlem. Hundreds of heads
bobbed up and down in the cooling waters of tho
poured upon them When the shades
OF evening fell tho turbid waters
lavatory exercises were suspended, and whole fam
lilies took possession of the river bank. Talk of the
Long Branch Coney Island pier? Neither can ever
claim. che interest with which some dingy dock in
the Eleventh ward IL regarded. There in the
evening sits the mother with her babies the tottcr-
lug grandmother. the creeping child. the bronzed
workingnan and his wan featured wife. Here
sits a sad eyed woman, looking with love
and hopeessncss on the little form her lap, the
fixed and CLASSY expression of whose Dyes denotes
the presence of the dark angel. Poor motheri she
has taken the dying infant out on that crowded
dock to win II possible one breath OF cool air for
fits parched throat ard lips This dock IL the Long
Branch, the shore Of the denizens OF the tene-
mcnt houses when the shades OF night hang over
the river.
But the saddcst scenes of the torrid period to
be witnessed In the overcrowded buildings, where
less Of health comfort. At night the poor crea-
lures fling themselves down in any place except tho
furnace which is called a room. From the reeking
cellar to the stcaning roof men. women aud chill
drcn lay yesterday gasping for breath. There was
little hope OF relief in the foul atmosphere that
cngs around these pest houses little TO expect but
lingering misery from the cxhalations that rise ON
all sides from iilthy streets and choked sewers.
SUFFERING HORSES
Owing to the measures taken by the street railroad
companies in anticipation of roasting day. the suf
fering of the horses was sloviaedb to some extent
poor animals staggered beneath the fierce rays of tho
sun. their heaving TANKS and painting nostrils owl
dcncing their distress The broadway stage horses
suffered more than their equine brethren of the
cars. but their drivers were inclined to take things
lcisurely IL they could not take them cooliy.
One refreshing piece of news given to the
public and received with due thankiuness. A
cold wave is ut hand. Down under tho porticos OF
Broad street might DO heard a faint chorus of per-
spring brokors.--
There's cold wave coming. boys
a cold wave coming;
n
Walt little longer.
In the evening came most welcome and refresh
ing change storm its way east Just
touched tue metropolis with its skirts aud sent down
adelugc of rain which the stoaming pavement drank
mp with gratitude. The sky was Int with incessant