Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1882-08-01
New York HERALD of July 2S.
THE HOTTEST DAY.
One Hundred and Ninety-Four
Deaths From the Heat.
NINETY-NINE IN THE SHADE.

The hottest day of the year was yes
terday. The thermometer in several
sections of the city reached 90 degrees,
although Hudnuts report gives 81 as the
highest, and the Signal Service people,
who are SO fornlnateas to be away up in
the air on top of the Equitable Building,
put it degree lower. There can be no
question, however, that the terrible neat
was more severely felt yesterday than ev-
er before this season. The mercury may
not have recorded much greater tenn
perature, but the long continuance Of the
hot spell, acting upon exhausted and
weakened humanity, showed its dread
full power In u more appalling list Of
deaths than has ever been known except
in the time Of some great epidemic.
There were no less than 1874 deaths re-
ported yesterday at the Bureau of Vital
Statistics for the twenty-four hours end
ing with the close of the official day.
This number is believed to be unprece-
denied under similar circumstances, the
records of the Board of Health for ten
years past showing nothing to equal it,
or this great number, which only falls
short of 200 by six, it is sad to find that
fully one hundred were children under
five years, whose death, in the majority
of cases, was caused indirectly or direct
" by the excessive heat. During the
hot spell the mortality IN this city has
been steadily increasing, there having
been 1889 deaths during the past eight
days, making the alarming total of 81
az since the LIST of July.
"Prophct" Vennor was probably the
most generally abused man in New
York yesterday. In making his social
ell representations OF COLI and wet
summer the Canadian seer particularly
specified that the 26th and 9th Of July
would be the coolest days Of the season.
The cloud-reader's mistake was very
trifiing one. IL he had substituted shot
test" for coolest" he would probably
have hi II, inasmuch rs Wednesday was
within two degrees rs hot MS yesterday.
Perspiring crowds who thronged about
soda fountains, lemonade stands, bar
rooms and shady corners discussed this
matter yesterday, condemned theproph-
ct, sometimes with profanity, and took
another drink. IL might not have been
safe for him to have made his appearance
nc certain reCreshment resorts " hen The
mercury was ut its highest.
Broadway at noon time was like rag
ing furnace. There was no shade on
either side of the way except very mar
row strip close TO the building line.
Pedestrians carefully tried TO keep with
In this meagre limit, and sauntered list
lessly along in single file, carrying their
| has la, L.
this year gentlemen were seen between
Fulton and Wall streets carrying their
coats over their arms. This Is n sight
one seldom sees on Broadway. Your
New York business man Is rather parti-
cular about his appearance, and u must
be the hottest of the hot TO induce him
TO sacrifice dignity and decorum by
walking In public hatless and coatless
Between nine in the morning and half
past one the rise In the thermometer was
| II degrees, and after that hour the adj
vance was still more rapid. IL was posi-
lively dangerous 10 walk In the sun with
out an umbrella, and there were comps
ratively few who cared to attempt II.
NOT BREATH or AIR.
According TO the Signal Service OIL
GERS there was n westerly breeze blow
ing at the rate OF about three miles an
hour, but II was difilcultto realize II on
Broadway or any downtown thorough
fare. Not breath OF air seemed 10 be
stirring. Horses aud trucks dragged
along NJ n walk In the full glare Of the
pltlless sun, and every few minutes the
warning gong OF the ambulance was
heard on It's way 10 succor another vic
tim of the heat, and rs the vehicles
moved aside to give Il the right Of way u
was observable that even the hospital
etced did not gallop with his accustomed
vigor.
On the river fronts the heat during
the day was killing In tn intensity. AZ
several Of the piers work seemed TO he
almost suspended, while at others the
harly men accustomed TO 90 the rough
toll Of lo1ding aud unloading heavy
bales IT goods were exhausted aud weak
Working In the hold Of ship In such a
heat was impossible, and dozen steve
dorcs " ere among those stricken down
with sunstroke.