New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-07
HOTTEST SO FAR THIS YEAR.
A swELTERING DAY FOR NEWCOMERS.

NO PROSPECT OF IMMEDIATE RELIEF-rwo
DEATHS AND NUMEROUS PROsTRATIoNs.
New-York was swelterng yesterday, the hot
test day so far this year. The refreshing south
erly breeze that had so materially helped to
make the weather at least endurable on Mon
day died away almost to nothing yesterday.
Deprived Of this tempering influence. wave or
oppressive heat, irksome alike to man and beast.
surged over the city So fierce were the suns
rays and so we'll were they backed up by lam
guor- producing humidity that 1t was hardly
necessary to obtain assurance from the officials
in the eyrie away up In the tower or the Man.
haitian Life Building that the mercury had
touched higher point than upon any other day
In the present season. The people on the streets
were sufficient evidence in themselves OF the
fact. A taste of the intense heat that has been
rendering life unbearabe in the South and West
had found its way to Manhattan Island.
There were two deaths attributed to the heat
and numerous prostratiops.
The enervating effects of the suns rays were
easily noticeable in the faces OF people, who, d.
vested of waistcoats and often with their coats
slung over their arms, tramped YEARLY along
the sidewalks. Soda water fountains and other
places where refreshing drinks were served did
a profitable business. The entrances to the
many public baths were thronged by eager
crowds awaiting their chance to find relief in
the cooling water and at the Battery baths. In
particular, there were frequently as many as
two hundred men and boys at one time besieg-
ing the gangway and waiting for opportunities
to enter the water.
Yet the day was not a record breaker. There
have been warmer sxths Of July and the rec
ords for the month show numerous days upon
which the mercurJ has climbed several degrees
higher than it did yesterday. The Weather Bu-
reau books show that the hottest July was IN
1881 when the temperature reached 3l degrees,
while the hottest of all July days since the Bu-
reau was established was July y. 1876, when the
90 mark was touched. Yesterday at 10 a. m.
the temperature was 81 degrees. and then 1t con-
tinued TO rise gradually until at 12:4o the
maximum point for the day was gained.
At this hour the thermometer registered
SS degrees Thereafter the mercury began
to drop as steadily as 1t had risen until about
) o'clock when the sky becoming overcast.
1t had been reduced to 81 degrees At 10
o'clock last night much more comfortable state
of things prevailed. and only II degrees Of heat
were recorded At time in the day there was
a percentage OF 81 Of humidity. But these OBJ
servations. II must be remembered, are taken at
an altitude of over 200 feet above the sidewalks.
Down in the streets, when the heat was most In
tense during the day. the thermometers showed
a prevailing temperature of 1O2 degrees. Mr..
Dunn holds out no immediate prospect of cooler
weather His predictions in fact, tend the other
way and 1t is possible that the arid waves that
are prostrating people in the West and the
South may be felt with some severity in this city.
Yet New-Yorkers may find some comfort from
Mr. Dunn's statement that. officially. at least.
the 100 degree mark will not be reached In the
present spell. The most comfortable place in the
cJ.ntry yesterday was Helena, Mont, where
only 46 degrees were registered.
The forecast for to-day Isl Fair, followed by
showers in the afternoon Stationary temper
ature.