New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-06-27
THE HOTTEST DAY OF YEAR
MUCH SUFFERING IN TENEMENT HOUSE
Observation-Disclosures PROSTRA-
TONS REPORTED.

Twice between sunrise and sunset yesterday
the mercury indicated 80 degrees. The first
time this high temperature was recorded
at IL 40 a M which is not usually the warmest
period in the day. 1t dropped three degrees by
o'clock only to climb again to 90 when
o'clock was reached. Yesterday was the hottest
day OF the year. although not the hottest June
26 on record.
There had been little relief all through the
night, and what little there was disappeared
when the showed his face. The temperature
rose several degrees every hour. and when bust
| ness men came downtown to their offices they
travelled through 70 degrees.
In the streets, where the full effect of the
breeze that blowing could not be felt the
heat was intense. and men walked along Broad
way hopping their faces and swinging their hats
in an effort to amelorate their heated condition
All places where liquid refreshment is dispensed
were working to their full capacity and along
the curbs downtown a host Of wagons carrying
barrels and coolers filled with lemonade ap-
peared as II by magic. and did a rushing bust
ness. Down in the Wall Street district where
there few soda water fountains. brokers
stood by the side Of messenger boys and
quenched their thirst at these mushroom" foun-
tains
In the tenement house districts the suffering
worst. Packed in these houses on the East
Slue ana the west Slde, IN close ana StuHE
| rooms. where a breeze is seldom If ever felt
women and children were almost stifed by the
heat. Wagons that peddle small pieces of ice
were followed by eager children. who begged for
| small piece Of the commodity which this
| weather makes a necessity. When they could
not beg It they did not hesitate to steal it, If OPP
portunity offered.
In tenement districts the back yards the
usual retreats in the daytime. but as evening
| comes on the people throng into the streets As
phalted streets were crowded from stoop 10
| stoop across the roadway with men. women and
children whose rooms were hotter than any tenn
perature recorded by the official thermometer
OF the Weather Department here. Children
with scant clothing played about the streets
| and the small parks for no heat can keep them
quiet.
Fresh air is rare in these neighborhoods, for
what breeze there is tends only 70 scatter. not
to dissIpate. the odors that always present in
such places. AS the night grows late these peo-
pie retire-to the roofs the fire escapes. even
to convenient doorways that offer places where
they may rest their heads and sleep as we'll as
they can until the stir of the morning wakens
them to another day of summer suffering.
There is little likelihood of any relief to-day.
The forecast is for fair weather, with variable
winds The latter means more than it did
as applied 10 yesterday. when the wind varied
several points to the east. but brought little
lief from the heat.
In Chicago the highest point reached the
same as in this city-90 degrees. which was a
drop of S degrees from the day before. st. Louis
Montgomery. Dodge City. Memphis. Davenport
and North Platte each had 96 degrees. which
was the highest in the United States. Helena,
Mont. was the coolest spot, with ~ degrees.
Eleven persons We're overcome by the heat and
attended by ambulance surgeons. Some were
taken TO the hospitals and few We're able to
walk home No fatalities We're reported.