New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-12
A PROSPECT OF RELIEF
COOLER WEATHER PROMISED.
DEATHS NUMBERED 1s1 IN AND NEAR
THIS CITY YESTERDAY.

ONE HUNDRER AND THIRTEEN IN NEw-YoRK-
NUMEROUS PRosTRArIoNs REcoRDEp-Iy-
TENSE SUFFERING ON EVERY SIDE
The Weather Bureau officials give promise OF
speedy relief from the extreme heat They say
that this evening the temperature Will begin
to fall rapidly, and that before the evening is
over the weather will be comfortable. The heat
yesterday caused appalling mortality and SUI
ferng in the metropolitan district. In this city
there were 113 deaths and 237 prostratlons; In
Brooklyn. 20 deaths and ss prostrations; in near
by New,Jersey towns, 80 deaths and 81 pros
trations; In Long Island City, deaths and Is
prostrations; on Staten Island, 3 deaths and 2
prostratons and In Westchester County. 5
deaths and prostrations. Total for metropolis
tan district: Deaths. 1sl; prostratlons, 405.
The best and most welcome part OF this story
is that In all probability the back OF the hot
wave will be broken BY tonight 1t will be fair
and warm to-day. the weather prophets said
last night. but people endure thai cheer
fully when they know that the erd Of an almost
unexampled period Of general physical suffer-
Ing is no near at hand. Dispatches received
from Chicago yesterday afternoon said that the
weather was then much cooler there. but at y
o'clock last night the thermometers OF the
Windy City still registered IS degrees. although
a thunderstorm had just set in. AT Buffalo. how
ever n. temperature had fallen to the COMPARE
lively icy figure Of 76. and at ST. Paul - degrees
cnly was recorded. Through all the Northwest.
too the air was much cooler than earlier In the
day. and the local prophets thought that by this
evening the temperature In this city and neigh
borhood would begin to fall rapidly BY to-mor-
row morning New-York will probably be row.
elling In the luxury Of cool air. But yesterday
broke three records-t the hottest day OF
the present warm wave: it was the hottest day
of the year and it the hottest August IL
in the history of the local Weather Bureau.
SUFFERING FOR THE TOnERs.
Those Of the city's toilers who rise early looked
anxiously for the sun to appear hoping that It
would be more mildly disposed than during the
long and sitting six days in which the great city
and the surrounding country have suffered so
much But the sun rose as 1t hai set the nigh, be-
fore, great ball OF fire. and with the sun also ross
the thermometer. As early ) o'clock in the
morning it stood at S3 degrees and the morn
ing advanced people had to admit 10 themselves
that the heated tern was by no.neans at an end
Higher and higher rose the mercury and with
.i,a c,,fe. Of
At II o'clock the record was 81 degrees an un-
usual temperature for so early in the day. At
noon it had gone down . degree but the differ
was rot percepthe. and by 3 o'cjck the
record for the day and for the year was reached
At that hour the Official rhera ometer marked
go degrees.
All through the middle Of the day and far on
into the night men and women all over this city
and Brooklyn fell in the streets and at their
work. and some of thenl-in fact many or them
will never rise again, The effect Of the heat was
most severe upon manual la5orers in the open
air. while small children ami old people died IN
large numhers. The inhabitants OF the East
side district, where the crowds are greatest
cry and all the narrow streets that lead from 1t
fairly sizzled and broed the unfortunates that
We're forced to drag their slow and painful way
through them \ number Of horsecar drivers
and gripmen On the Thrd-ave lines were over
come at their work and had 10 leave their cars
;ust where they happened to be. Stricken men
seated or lying on the walks became so common
a sight that they hardly drew crowds while
even a horse lying dead or dying on the pave
ment failed to exercise its usual charm FOR the
danizens Of the Bowery All day long the drink
ing fountains were surrounded BY horses. whose
heads and shoulders were drenched with water
thrown by their drivers. The whole city dropped
like Nthered flower.
TWO TRYING NIGHTS.
Monday and Tuesday nights In the tenement
house district will not be soon forgotten by the
East Side. All night long the curbstone and
stoops were crowded with a weary mass OF hu-
manity fairly gasping for air. The authorities
flooded many of the streets In this district with
water from the hydrants. and the way the
suffering women and children rushed for tho
streams and lay down In them and fairly wal
lowed in them was treat to see. This thought
funess on the part OF the authorities doubtless
made the suffering OF thousands easier 70 bear.
But there was little sleep on the East Side Mon.
day night or last night either. for that matter
There was absolutely no air stirring last night.
and during the greater part OF the evening tho
thermometer read S5 degrees but toward mid.
night 1t dropped to S3
News from the hospitals showed that the
STATS Of nearly all the hospitals IN the city were
overworked in their attempts TO take care Of
the stricken men brought to them In the day
and evening. The Coroners ONCE too re-
nnrted that II had ha h..r,