Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-12
LOOKING FOR RELIEF
Weather Bureau Hopes for Cooler
Weather Tomorrow.
DEATH IN THE TORRID HEAT
A WelI-known Member of the Fire
Department a Victim.
GEN ERAL CONDITI ONS

Weather Forecaster Dunwoody lolled
back in his chair this morning, tanning
himself with a weather map. 1t bore the
date Of January 16, 1896. He waved it in
such way that his eyes could catch
glimpses Of the outlines of snow areas, and
OF isotherms and other things that had
icicles all over them, and 1t was evident
from the Immaculate stiffness of his collar
the starch primness Of his cuffs and his
calm-and-dry countenance that he had
found a sort Of magic talisman to prevent
him further suffering from the awful heat
I'VE will probably have some thunder
storms in this region this evening or to-
night, said the major. with lingering
glance at the place on the floating map
where Helena, Mont, showed below Zero
and the indications are that it will not
be so warm tomorrow. Chicago and its
surrounding countryare cooler this morning,
with the thermometer showing about ~
degrees. Washington air will be better to
breathe tomorrow. too. l believe, but the
cold wave. The conditions show no present
possibility of a visitation of that sort but
there viii be relief from the prevailing in
tense temperature"
!here Will be ger eral and devout thank
1ulness even for small favors in this direc-
tlon, as continuance Of present conditions
would mean little less to Washington than
plague There are thousands of persons
whose systems are almost exhausted by the
constant strain they have been subjected
TO by the pei sistent hot weather, and ply
siclans have been growing more and more
alarmed as time has passed without bring
ing aught in the way Of refreshing weather
There was one death from the heat this
morning, occur ring in Georgetown.
ne victim was John D. Angel, engineer
OF hre engine company No. 5.
John Kane. Nhite ha rher 20d opd NJ
streets, was Frustrated this morning.
ne temperature WAS more unbearable to-
Gay than yesterday, the thermometer at
the weather bureau having reached "a de-
grees by l o'clock, when 91a was the high
est reached up to the same hour yesterday.
Dr. NeV1tt, surgeon to the police and fire
departments, today. after the death of
Engineer Angel, issued a caution to the
members Of the two forces. warning them
to abstain from drinking too freely OF ice
water.
street Car Horses Suffering.
The hot spell has caused the death or
prostration of number of horses belong
ing to the Belt and lexington and Soldiers
Home railway companies, despite the fact
that every precaution Is taken by the Off
ciais to reduce the work required of the
animals to the minimum
Quite number of the cars Of both roads
have been taken off the lines, and the
horses are now making but two trips a day
instead of four as formerly. Besides this.
there are on the lexington line RELAYS of
horses at the New York avenue station of
the y. and O.. where men are kept con-
stantly sponglng the horses as they come
up, and also at 9Th street and New York
avenue northwest where similar course
Is pursued. In East Washington from six
to ten extra horses are kept at all hours
at 1st and c streets to fill any call that
may be made upon them, with a sponger
also in constant attendance, and at 11th
and E streets northwest, where two di-
visions Of the Belt line unite, there were
until today a number Of extra horses and
a sponger kept This morning, however,
the police officer on duty ordered the man
in charge Of the horses to take them away,
as one or two persons living in the neigh
borhood had complained about the animals
Superintendent Todd, however, called on
Maj. Moore, superintendent of police, and
explained to him the necessity of having
relay horses at that point, and Maj. Moore
Immediately gave permission to Mr.. Todd
to have the horses returned there, which
was done shortly before noon.
Other Precautions Taken.
foot of 11th street, where one Of the Sec
tions of the Belt line terminates. the COM
pany keeps man there to sponge each
animal as the car arrives. and, in addition
to all the precautions named, two ambu-
lances, one at 11th street and Florida ave-
nue. northwest and the other at 18th and D
streets northeast, are kept ready for emer-
gencleS, and as soon as horse drops on
the streets one Of these vehicles is sent for
and the animal is carried to one or the
other stables. where 1t is treated by a We
terinary surgeon in the most approved
manner known to the profession.
Southern Crops Injured.
The weekly weather report for the week
ending August 10. Issued last night, which
includes a statement of crop conditions
shows that the principal crops in the south
ern states have been affected very unfa-
vorably, cotton particularly being almost
disastrously injured. In North and South
Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Ala
bama. Mississippi. Arkansas and Tennes-
see, cotton is dropping rapidly opening
prematurely in many places and turning
yellow. All indications are of a crop far
| below the average. In summing up the
situation the report says:
Intense heat and general lack of rain,
conditions which characterized the preced-
ing week in the southern states, have con-
tinued during the week ending August 10,
and have affected the principal crops in
that section very unfayorably. While the
week has been excessively warm through
out most Of the country east of the Rocky
mountains, the injurious effects of heat
upon crops have been largely confined to
the southern states, and cotton Is the crop
that has suffered to the greatest extent
The cotton crop has deteriorated gen.
orally throughout the cotton belt. The in
tense heat and lack OF moisture have caus-
ed premature OF ening of bolls and shedding
snd in portions Of Arkansas the plant on
uplands is ding. In centraa and northern
| Texas and Oklahoma hot Winds have seri-
injured cotton. hn OF