New-York tribune., 1900-08-13

IT tore the clothing from little children and
burned some of them so badly that they are not
expected 20 live
DEATHS EXCEED THOSE OF SATURDAY.
For more than a week people have been suf
fering. keeling over and dying from the heat
Every day the hot spell continued seemed
harder TO bear. There not much induce
ment to go to the summer resorts up and down
the coast, for reports told how the outing seek
ers were suffering. almost in as great degree
as those left behind Saturday, the hottest day
in years. made the sufferers desperate. Dark
ness came on. but brought no cooling breeze,
while the sunhaked bricks and stones turned
loose the heat which they had stored up during
the day. Midnight came, and many a tired
aching head was thrust out of windows TO see If
there any hope OF getting sleep. Night
workers who went home early morning ele-
waited trains read their answer. Thousands
sat up ali night, lights which shone from
the windows testified. They read. played cards
did anything. in fact. to get their minds off the
heat The very touch OF sheets burned, and
those who had not the energy to divert their
minds hung out of windows and suffered in
silence or did what was worse for those about
them-growled about the weather 1t seemed
as if the night would never end, and many ex-
pressed the foolish hope that it never would
for them.
At last the sun made its way around again
and smiled down the sick city, which was
sleepy. but couldn't sleep There was hardly
cloud fake TO divert the suns rays. Then the
morning papers came and told of a cooling
storm which was slowly finding its way East
and would give relief. at least for a time The
people looked up at the sun and felt their
fevered pulses Then they laughed with scorn
al the man who peers into the future for wealth
er news. But he was right; happily right
It was a deadly morning. nevertheless, and
more people met death from heat during the
few hot hours than did all of Saturday. Six
teen deaths were reported to the police during
the morning. while Saturdays total was only
fifteen Only twelve prostrations were reported.
however compared with fifty of the day before
This only gives an idea of the number of deaths
which would probably have occurred had the
Etorm not driven of he heat Those who gave
way in the street yesterday morning died in
nearly every instance before reaching the hos
pital II would be impossible TO count those who
feel that they have been saved from death Itself
by the change in temperature.
DR.. O'Hanlon. of the Coroner's Office, said
last night that not less than 125 deaths had
been caused by the heat during this recent spell
DR.. Muller. Of the Harlem Hospital, said that
sixteen cases Of prostration had been treated at
that hospital. Four of the victims died, includ-
Ing two yesterday. DR.. Muller says the hos
pital has been greatly handicapped in its work
by insufficient ambulance equipment. From
$40 a. m to midnight of Saturday not less than
forty ambulance calls were answered He said
that the calls for aid came in so fast that on
two or three occasions there were eight waiting
until an ambulance could be obtained DR..
Muller says this is little less than criminal.
Many times deaths result from this delay, and
he is hopeful that the proper authorities will do
something in the matter
MINDS GIVE WAY, POLICE OVERCOME.
II the storm had not put check the
odus out of the city. records Of the kind would
have been broken yesterday. AS 1t every
boat and train and streetcar running to sup
posed cooler places than Manhattan crowd
ed to the guards. .s'BhA1Tnsh began early and
even o'clock trains TO downtown wnarves and
ferry stations crowded Most of those
who could do so left the city Saturday, but
there thousands who atailed themselves
Of a last chance yesterday morning
Two minds gave way from yesterdays heat.
Mrs. Fannie Gottschal, ifty-two years old. of
No. 1.6S6 Park-ave., lost her mind and had to
be sent TO the Harlem Hospital Her mental
alteration is not serious. Gustave Baer, forty
two years old, Of No. - East One-hundred- and
fenth-st., was demented by the heat. He
discovered hurting empty bottles into the win
dows Of other tenants. Three policemen held the
man at bay until DR.. Mooney arrived from the
Harlem Hospital. He then induced the patient
TO go with him with little difficulty.
Two policemen were among those overcome
yesterday. John H. Kelly of the Central Park
Squad, was overcome at the West Drive and
,Sixty-sixth-st,. and Fatrolman Selig Whitman.
better known as Ajax, the strong man." was
prostrated at No. 21l Delancey-st. while attend
ing a fire.
The storm found a throng of people about the
Brooklyn Bridge terminal, waiting for
take them to Coney Island and other beach re-
sorts. They noticed the clouds and waited to
grew larger and larger until the storm fell.
Most Of the people waited until its first fury
and then returned to their homes
Lightning struck the ffty-foot fagpoe run
ming through the clock tower on top of the
Gilsey House yesterday sending fifteen feet of
the big pole crashing into Broadway and badly
frightening the occupants Of the tower suite of
rooms and other guests Of the hotel. Fortu-
nately the bolt did no damage to the clock
tower or the hotel. Many Of the guests, think
ing the hotel fire, down into the
Office, where they were quieted- Among those
occupying tower rooms and to whom the thun-
derous crash accompanying the lightning flash
sounded especially loud, "Al' Smith, the
well known sporting man, who has occupied a
room the seventh floor Immediately beneath
the clock tower for twenty-five years Mr
Smith ran down into the Office thinking the
roof was falling in. Mr. and Mrs. De Wolf Hop
per. occupying a tower suite the parlor floor
were also much alarmed.
DEATHS REPORTED BY THE POLICE.
The deaths from heat reported by the police
follow:
BTNE. Morris forty wears old. Austrian died suddenly
22i Seventh-st. without medical
attendance from tn effects of the heat
oAN NsTsa5et }.s yea Years od e No 24e East
Thirty- -Iourthrst ard died before the arrival Of
hfth-st police station.
brown yt Wilhsm sad n, r. I've tn, years Old Of No First
ERANDEkRERG. William olda