The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-11
HEAT TERRIBLE
IN TENEMENTS
Sc People Died and Over 80
Frustrated in New York Yesterday
POOR SLEPT IN PUBLIC PARKS
During Hottest July 10 on Record Great
Suffering u R,sd,,ts Of Sroxlsi
Sections Resulted.
POOR SLEPT IN PUBLIC PARKS

New York, July li.-Yester6ay wac an
other hottest July day" The big town
baked and steamed uSner II. Never a
| thunderstorm came 20 break its extrem-
/ ity. Up 20 midnight IS deaths and II
/ prostrations due 10 the heat had been re-
| ported
The weather bureau announced Officially
/ that IL had been the hottest July 10, on
record by three degrees, and that with
! three exceptions IL was the hottest July
day. On July 9, 1876, on July 3. 1895, and
/ on July 2 1901, the thermometer got up 20
% degrees. The best or worst II did to-
day was 81 The hottest day ever re-
coraed in this city was Sept :. 1881, when
the mercury touched the loo-degree mark.
The official thermometer Is in a Broad
way skyscraper. 800 feet above the street.
Down on the street II was much hotter
| Many OF the thermometers on the street
registered IS degrees
One thermometer the sun shone on for
short time registered lib degrees. The
, temperature everywhere east OF Kansas
ranged between 90 and 100 degrees.
In spite OF the predictions OF a break
ing UP OF the warm weather and OF cool
er weather in sight, there q not the
slightest indication of a break. save for
such temporary relief as is usually az
forded by a passing thunderstorm
In the tenement district women let
their work lie and gathered in doorways
or steps and wherever there was shelter
from the direct heat OF the sun, and at
the same time more air than there was
IN the oven-like tenement rooms. The
park department took prompt measures
for relief and threw open all the parks
10 all tonight for sleeping purposes
In Central park and the small parks
thousands Of people sat or lay on the
grass all night, sleeping without the
slightest covering Many mothers from
the tenements brought their babies The
streets far from the parks were also il-
ed with painting perspiring men. women
and chil1ren, who preferred 10 get what
Httle rest they could n the open air 20
staying in the surfocating rooms.
HORSES SUFFERED
The horses felt the effect Of the heat
reat deal more than most men pre-
sumably because the horse had not the
average mans freedom and opportunity
10 shirk his work The strongest and
sleekest Of the contractors teams panted
and trembled like the skinniest ram
shacEle harebones in huckster's cart
The fremen at all the engine and hook
and ladder houses throughout the city
did what they could TO mitigate the suf
fering Of the horses. At every Are house
a small hose wars attached 10 the hvdrant
and a group OF cheerful young volunteers
relieved the fremen OF the task Of re-
freshing the tired animals that came
along.
The Society for the Prevention OF Cruel
" TO Animals established three horse re-
lief stations. At these places there was
more or less Of an effort 10 give the
water relief scientifically in order that the
driver might have a lesson In the best
way "a cool his horse of
Even the sparrows were knocked out
by the heat. Many OF them fell 10 the
Some were so completely sun dazed that
they were dashed 10 death and others
managed 70 nutter. half helpless, into tho
cutters, where they hoped about gaspine
listlessiy and unable 10 get out OF the
way Of the urchins who chased them
PEST OF MOSQUITOES.
Reports from all the Metropolitan dis.
tricts show that there has been an IN
usual pest Of mosquitoes since the hot
weather began Certainly the city has
been invaded by them as II seldom is
Last summer and in the early part Of
the present season there were unusual
efforts 20 do away with mosquito pests
IN many places by oiling ponds ard n1arshy
places with larvae killing liquids
Cntil the present hot weather began the
makers and users OF these devices were
highly delighted with the success of their
work. Their voices have now been
drowned by the hum Of the rising clouds
OF mosquitoes
Montclair \. J., reports that The mo
squtoes are 20 thick that the women 70
escape torture decora te their braids with
Chiness joss sticks after first lighting
them. and so guarded they walk abroad
IN comfort.
The fad has grown so that the store
keepers do bigger business IN punk
than in refreshing drink
Park Commissioner Wilcox rave IN.
structions this afternoon that women
and children should he permitted 10 20
uron the large lawns IN all ~ the parks
IN Manhattan during the heated term
regardless Of keep on the grass signs
The commissioner said that his idea was
10 allow the people 20 get as much com
fort as possible during the hot weather
even ~ the grass was IN tured sOr,euyba