The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-04
RigOrs of the Temperature May Be
Mitigated To-Day by Clouds and
on Sunday by Showers.
MUCH SUFFERING ELSEWHERE
DEATHS AND MANY PROSTRATIONS
IN SEVERAL BIG CITIES.
Mercury at Philadelphia Forced Down
Twenty Degrees in Twenty Min
utes by a Storm.

Old Sol beat down upon the. citizens of
Indianapolis yesterday with greater fury
than on the day before. His merciless rays
seemed to penetrate all hooks and corners
of the city. No one escaped. Wherever any
one went he met fellow-citizen hopping
his brow and complaining. The greatest
heat was felt at o'clock. when Forecaster
Blythe sent out word that the highest point
reached by the thermometer this year had
been recorded. The mercury stood at
80 degrees. Men and women who trudged
along Washington street would have been
willing to wager that it was nearer 1872
degrees. Mr.. Blythe, by way of explana-
tion, said that the people did not suffer
from the heat-it was the humidity that
caused the suffering.
There was hardly any time during the
day that the heat was not felt. Shortly after
o'clock in the morning Old Sol began his
little game. Throughout the day he kept it
up. Mr.. Blythe could give no promise of
rain or any abatement from the torrid
wave. Old Sol seemed to know this full well
and took greater delight in showing his tor
rid powers. At times during the day a
strong wind crept across the city, but Ii
carried no relief to sweltering thousands
The wind was from the south, and it was
like blast from furnace that confronted
the few pedestrians who ventured out. The
downtown streets have been seldom so va
cant as they were yesterday The street
cars carried many women and children to
parks, but even the breezeS in these retreats
offered slight relief. Riverside Park seemed
to be the Mecca for the meager crowd that
went out. Old Soils rays even penetrated
here, although the heat was not so oppres-
inp xxhay,
the sun began to sink behind a few strag-
Cling clouds in he west, sitter breeze
came up, which was greatly appreciated.
FLED TO THE PARKS.
Riverside Park was not the only park
visited yesterday by those who sought the
shade. Garfield, Brookside and Fairview
Parks had their quota of visitors. People
seemed not inclined to move, but remained
on the benches or on the cool grass mopping
their foreheads. These same people on
their return to the city felt the heat more
intensely. When the street cars reached
the improved streets, the warm waves
that confronted them made them squirm in
their seats. The asphalt and creosote pave
ments resembled heat reservoirs.
Although Old Sol may not have been in
tent on murder his rays overcame Patrol
man II. C. Davis. 1853 Shelby street. Mr.
Davis fell to the ground delirious. He was
taken home in a carriage. DR.. Garstang
called and found Mr.. Davis in a critical
condition.
NJ. Waugh. an inmate of the Soldiers
Home at Quincy: o. Mr.. Waugh recently
came to this city and, becoming i'll, went
to the City Hospital. Yesterday morning
he asked leave To quit the institution He
walked up town through the torrd morning
sun. Arriving at the north entrance of the
Statehouse. he sat down TO rest. In a
short time he was overcome Drs Cum
ningham and Seatcn, of the City Dispen-
sary, were called. Waugh was returned to
the City Hospital In serious condition.
TILE IIOIrRI Y PEcoRn