New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-12
UNDER THE BURNING SUN.
NEW-YoRKERS FIRST SCoRCHED AND THEN
FLOODED.
SHADE WAS SCARCE AND AT PREMIUM YEsrER-
DAY UNTIL THE STORM BEGAN-DEATHs


There was pcarly tint TO the sky at sunrise
yesterday morning, which indicated the existence
of high degree of heat and moisture in the at
mosphere. The night had been period OF sleep
lessness and unrest and misery for many thousands
of wretched people within the city's limits. A few
sharp flashes of heat lightning the evening be
fore had inspired the hope that fall of rain would
occur and relieve the terrible oppressveness. But
the face of the sun when the shadows of night
were completely brushed from before il, glittered
with blaze that seemed almost white in the de-
gree of its intensity.
Even the leanest distractions, affording the mar.
rowest lines of protection against the glowing heat
were sought and by midday when the suns rays
beat squarely down upon the streets and avenues
running north and south, pedestrians iostled each
other for the coolest spot within the slender shad-
ows of awnings and oTept closely to the fronts of
buildings seeking the protection Of the dark fringes
caused by the shade of overhanging cornices
At 10 a. m. the official figures Of
the Weather Office on the Equitable Build
ing showed temperature degrees
higher than that at the same hour Monday
while az 8 o'clock in tie morning the humidity
reac1ed 70 per cent. increasing as the day ad-
vanced until the storm developed. At neon tho
mercury stood at 90 in front Of EIudnut's. Be
tween noon and l O'Clock p. m. the temperature
at the Weather Office went up TO SO and fraction.
Had these conditions continued the day would
have been one Of unparalleled heat But
meanwhile volumes of clouds were accummulat
in the southwest, ard the eastern edges over
hung the western limits of the city Shortly after
O'Clock big drops of rnin fell and soon it de-
scended in torrents, but all the while the clouds
were tipped with silver edge OF sunlight and at
n
was little or no lightning and thunder. though
and then deep voice like that of z German bssso
in Wagnerinn chorus echoed from overhead.
The current of the wind increased TO a We
locty OF twenty.eght miles an hour, and the tenn
pepture dropped TO SO degrees. BIT the storm
passed over and at o'clock the mercury rose TO
02 degrees at the Signal service office At 80 it
had fallen again. Hudnut's marking sc at that
hour, and Perry's 81. The storm hugged the coast
closely. 1t did not extend so far northward even
in this latitude as the Polo Grounds. though it had
the effect here of preventing many from going
thithpr TO witness the baseball game. But there
rainfall in the afternoon as far north as Albany,
where the temperature reached 02, and rs far to
the northeast rs New Haven, Conn Tie rainfall
in New-YOrl< City was 3s-100 of an inch. The
mean temperature of the day here was "a de
grees being the same as on Monday and IL de-
grees in excess of the normal.
The hot area while narrowing, extends Still
as far westward as Cincinnati and indianapolis,
where the maximum temperature yesterday was 90
degrees There was fall OF degrees at st. Louis,
and west of the Mississippi generally the weather is
much cooler. Thursday, it is predicted, will
mark the limit of the present hot spell here At
Buffalo the maximum temperature So, at
Erie So, at Philadelphia and Baltimore 94, and
at WRSlipGton %,
The customary evidences o. not day We're
everywhere apparent. Car hsHcs looked jaded
as they plodded along, and at the stables and differ
cnt points of exchange they received a spOnging
and liberal allowance of time for rest The
public baths were well patronzed. Long before
the opening hour Of o'clock in the morning tie
crowds were literally forced back to admit of the
entrance of the first instalment This condition
was somewhat relieved when the rain began, though
at the Battery one of the attendants said that an
average of about 900 boys and men were in the
water constantly.
The letter-carrcrs' lot is not an especially
viabe when the thermometer registers 90
degrees or thereabouts and f. VI. Morgan, Super
intendent of the City Delivery Of the POStoffce
did what he could to make their task easier
Yesterday and on Monday he took off three col
lectons and deliveries, 70 the men did not have
10 hasten much their other trips In conse-
quence, no doubt, Of this arrangement, no cases
of prostratons by heat were reported among the
carriers.
The cooler breezes of last evening promised to
afford relief during the n ght, but the prospects
are that to-day will be mWh such day yeSter-
day. including local rains
The Health Board decided to have
copies of q statement concerning the prevention
Of sunstrOke, printed in Gorman. Italian and
English distributed in the tenement houses by
the physicians Of the summer corps The English
copy reads
sunstroke is caused by excessive heat. and especially
II the weather Is muggy.' 1t is more apt To occur
on THE second, third or fourth day Of heated term
than on the first Loss Of sleep, worry, excitement
close sleeping rooms, debility abuse OF stmulants pre-
in the sun, and especially between the hours Of II
O'Clock in the morning and O'Clock in The afternoon.
ing-rooms possible. AVOID loss of sleep aud all un
necessary fatigue If working indoors. and where
there is artificial heat-aundres, etc.-see that the
II working in the sun. light hat mot black.
absorbS heat straw, etc, and pat inside Of 1t on ne
the hat from the head and sec that the cloth i, wet
Do not check perspiration but drink what water you
need TO Keep II up as perspraton prevents the b-dy
from being Oyerheated Have, whenever possible, an
additional shade. az thin umbrella. when walking,
canvas or board cover when wording In the sun;
When much fatiguet do not 60 10 work. but be excused
from work especially after IL O'Clock in the morning
very hot days II the work Is In the sun II
feeling OF fatigue dizziness, headache exhaustion
occurs. work Immediately. lie down in Il shady
over hea ad ahd neck II any one is overcome by the
heat send Immediately for the nearest good physician
While waiting for the physician give the person cool
drinks of water or cold black tea or c2ld coffee. II
able to swallow. II the skin Is hot and dry, sponge
with or pour cold water the body and limbs, and
apply & the head pounded ice wrapped in towel or
other cloth. II there is no Ice at hand keep cold
cloth the head, and pour cold water on IL as well
as on the body.
If the person is pale very faint, and pnlse feeble let
him inhale ammonia flr few seconds. or give him
easpoonul OF aromatic spirits Of ammonia in two table
spO0nfuls OF water with little sugar.
The following persons were reported to have
died from the heat in New-York
Rose McChnnis, agsd rtyeight, at her home No
GO5 spring Arthur Mirhles, nine months old,
died In his mothers while being carried from
his home. at No. 81 arlcst. 10 the Chambers street
Hospital, AEastasia Whalen, infant. at her home
~ UISt SiNteentl-it; sarah Fielding. APu
4 Iytv-onc. ~ No. - West RToahway Kate Dmbad,
a servant aged Afty-hve, az No. 450 Secondave.
Among the sufferers rom the heat in this city
were the following persons
josiah Rhodes eighty four years old, Of No. j43
IIudson-st., removed 70 the New York Hospital
cnar1 BUscel AGED thirty glt, OF No. 20 President
st Brooklyn, attended by ambulance surgeon IN
'front.' OF No. ia WOrst.: Patrick Cannes aged MY
htre carpenter Of No 425 West FOTtyilfthst. taken