The evening times., 1901-07-04
FEATURES OF THE HOT WAVE.
Suffering Humanity Finds Relief in
the Parks a.sd en- the Sidewalks.


The efforts OF sweItering humanity to
{ find rest and reD0se-cOmfUrt has been
! out Of the question. since the present hot
spell set ia-have been the occasion Of
many unusual scenes in Washington. In
ciderts that might previously have occas-
iOned considerable comment have passed
{ UunOttced. Where il was possible TO find
! a moments sleep there was 10 be found
q cluster of suffering human beings
/ seeking temporary fOrgeUfUIuess Of their
uncomfortable surroundings. In the low
( eT sections Of the city. where the heat
was most felt the occupants Of many
( buildings abandoned their usual cGuchps
/ and sought rest n the PARKS OF upon the
sidewalks On D Street. between Sixth
and Seventh, this condition was particI-
+ larry apparent and almost the entire
population OF the block remained out Of
doors throughout the Iorg hours Of the
night Many carried pillows and other
/ bedclothes out upon the sidewalks and
made their beds upon the very edge of
the cutters.
Even in the more prosperous and styI-
ish sections of the city II the vicinitg- Of
Connecticut Avenue the door steps have
in many instances been occupied until the
rays Of the morning sun were disceruible
in The eastern sky The parks have been
/ crowded at all times. and not content
with the usual accommodations that are
provided many persons carried with them
chairs and even sofa pillows AMI sought
such relief as would be found upon the
moist sod Entire families spent the
/ night together IN the parks and policemen
rcfrained from commanding them 10 move
! on as IS usually done with Ioiterers after
midnight Even the members Of the po-
( easily as possible and the public Is OK
teUuIag thanks 20 the relaxed enforce
meut OF the rules Of the Police Depart
meTt- As Il result not a policeman has
succumbsd to the heat.
The firemcH were equally fortunate Nj
ButtoR, the Chief Engineer. has taken
/ every precautiOn 10 care for his men
| EHtn the heated spell IS over he has di-
rsctCd that upon every alarm Of fire one
less company VIII respond than is usually
the case. thus keeping an adequate re-
serve force for an emergency. After a
ruH 10 q hre in the br0iIiug sun the
horses are pretty well exhausted and r.
! QUire ConsiderabI bic attention
One Of the busiest as well as one of the
| most interesting places in the city during
! the heated spell has been the corridor of
| the Emergency Hospital, where all cases
treatment The room is large and is pro
/ yided with mosaic floor, with the neces-
/ sary drainage traps for carrying off the
water that is literally used until the
temperature has been reduced
The corridor itself opens onto both Ohio
Avenue and D Street and screens have
/ been made use of TO obstruct the gaze Of
! the curious from the street Behind these
screens are to be found several impra-
vised operating tai les on one of wLl, d
/ the sufferer was 7 I@eld innl- d 81 teIy unvsf
I reaching the ans L ton With a phvsI-
elan directing and several doctors and
nurses assisting the temperature IS ia
I ken and the vigorous rubbing process
with cakes Of ice IS commenced \ sec
tion OF garden hose supplies all of the
water needed AID the efforts are coutlq-
Ued until the temperature IS reduced u
q degree that Is considered safe, whan
the patient is sent to ward only TO
make room for another heat victim.