The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-04
RICHMOND
SCORCHINC
Three We're Frustrated by the
Intense Heat.
.MANYRODE: MANYWALKED
The Soda Fountains the Most Popular
Places in the City Yesterday-Con-
ditions May Be Somewhat
Better To-Day
MANYRODE:: MANYWALKED

All Richmond went a-mopping and
a-panting yesterday. Not for long time
has such day been seen In this city.
Three strong men, moro exposed pos
sibly than others, went down In prostra-
ton before the blazing sun. while thou
sands suffered a discomfort akin to
misery.
Since Tuesday the mercury has been
climbing up the glass. dropping back
little at night. but going higher the next
day than on the day before. Tho climax
of tho year was reached yesterday. What
to-day may bring forth none can say.
But yesterday at B o'clock The Times
Dispatch thermometer, hanging fifty feet
from the street. and where the sun can
not reach 1t any hour OF the day. regis
tered 0S. Down upon the pavement,
where the people live and where the re-
Elected heat of the streets IS added to tho
heat OF the atmosphere. tho Instrument
would certainly have shown the air tho
city moved, worked in and breathed to
be no less than 100 degrees.
The Suns Victims.
The victims of this torrid heat belt
which holds Richmond in its grasp We're
George Jenkins. who fell on the street:
William Wray, employed ut the Southern
Biscuit Works. and a soldier who was
doing his duty to his State DR.. Latttmer.
in charge Of the ambulance, gave medi-
cal attention to all three cases. The
first named was taken to his home on
Reservoir Street: William Wray was also
removed home while the stricken soldier
was carried to military headquarters at
the regimental arnory. There may have
been other prostrations, and doubtless
there were. which were treated by the
regular practitioners Of the city. But
forra1 To Weld
CONGREGATIONAL surrender to the unusual
thermal conditions here are but the
smallest percentage OF yesterdays suf-
ferers. Probably those who fought it
out, who went on with the daily tasks
in the face of all OF the demons OF
gscorching temperature had a greater
burden to bear than those whose consti-
tutions did not admit OF SO prolonged anu
successful a fight. At any rate. Rich.
mond walked, perspired until it seemed
that one was really 5dissolving; Richmond
drank cooling drinks and cheated Itself
into believing that for the moment It was
cool; Richmond took ride out on the
cars last night. ccasng to breathe the
3stifling air of the city, for the change
of inhaling the air OF the country.
Many Walked and Mopped.
MANY braved the heat and walked yes
terday, But street car travel was 1ar
heavier than any day since the strike
begun.
Tho soda fountains, the delightful places
where cooling drinks are dispensed at
nickel apIece--those precious places
where the big electric fans cool ones fe-
vered brain-are necessity In reason-
able weather they are a luxury, and It
NAV be possible to spend money more
wisely But when one has walked down
town on a day like yesterday-when one
has been stopped on the street half a
dozen times and asked If 1t We're not hot
enough for him--when dozen little
things have happened which irritate one
and nearly drive him crazy-no mint IN
the world has ever turned out nlckel SO
precIous that 1t cannot be spent many
times over for the soft. cooling drink.
These little wayside inns We're thronsed
all day and last night until late hohr
by Richmonds weary and sleepless trav-
elers.
The largest crowd since the strike be-
gan vent out to the Reservoir last night
Tho people lived out doors as far as pos
slble. A little girl once thought that
.'cool" was a personality akin to her
friend, Jack Frost. SO one hot day she
said: "Cool, Cool. come in, Cool And
that was the unanswered prayer OF a
hundred thousand people last night.
1t was the unanswered prayer OF ten
times that number also. for the entire
Eastern section OF the country Is wrapped
In this steaming blanket. Baltimore was
the hottest city on the continent Yester-
day. Richmond ran the Monumental city
a close second. while on the Pacihc Coast
IL Is near to freezing.
To-day there will possibly be thunder
storm or shower In the afternoon. The
weather prophets say It will not be quite
so warm.