The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-07-19
M RELIEF IN
SIGHT AS YET
All Of Eastern States In Grip
Of Oppressive Heat.
MANY VICTIMS REPORTED
Water Famine Threatened In Brooklyn and
Strike Of New York lcsmsn Is tx
pscted 10 Materlallz'.

New York, July io.--An area OF oppres-
Give heat has settled down over the
Eastern and New England states, already
numbering hundreds among It's victims
and causing indescribable suffering to
thousands in this and other cities.
From all points last night came the
story OF the hottest day OF the summer
attended with frequent prostrations and
not a few deaths. Philadelphia reported
maximum temperature OF 9s.3, the high
est figure officially noted.
In this city the weather bureaus high
mark was 96, while in Boston a tempera-
ture OF "a was recorded The official
thermometers in exposed places above the
street did not. however, indicate the tenn
perature in which the ordinary mortal
moved. and street thermometers frequent
ly indicated a temperature OF 100 or higher
Yesterday all records for the summer
were broken In point OF high temperature.
but rnercifully the humidity was corre-
spondingly less. But for this the total
OF prostrations and deaths would have
been greatly increased.
In New York the suffering was intense.
especially in the crowded tenement dis
tricts, where scarcely a breath OF air
relieved the sitting atmosphere. Thou
sands who could afford the holiday focked
70 the beaches, but even in these crowds.
women and children tainted and men were
overcome, making the trip from home
doubtful experiment so far as securing
any comfort was concerned.
WATER FAMINE FEARED.
At a. m the mercury stood at 50 and
rose slowly until the maximum OF 10
was reached at o'clock. The humidity
was 70 a. o'clock. but lessened steadily
until but 35 was registered, when the
temperature was highest.
II was a busy day for the hospitals and
the ambulances were continuously on the
street.
AS usual. most OF the reported deaths
were among the poorer classes.
The prostrations, however, were not
confined 10 these. and many persons in
apparently good health succumbed.
Early in the day the hot wave invaded
the stock exchange and its effect was
quickly apparent upon traders Many
OF the leading operators deserted the floor
and the market became listless and dull
To add TO the unavoidable physical
suffering. Brooklyn was threatened with a
water famine, while the whole city was
startled by the prospect OF a strike OF
the icemen. The water supply In Brooklyn
was reported as nearing the danger point.
and the water department took immediate
precautions, asking that street sprinkling
be temporarily suspended ana warning
householders 10 he extremely economical
In the use Of water.
ICEMEN's TROUBLE.
Manhattan. II was said, has no cause
for alarm. so far as the water supply Is
concerned
II was different with the ice question,
though an expected strike yesterday did
not msterialize. A few ice wagon drivers
stopped work. but deliveries were con-
tinued. There was some anxiety as 10
what tomorrow might bring forth in the
trouble OF the icemen.
Prompt measures were taken today by
the police and park commissioners 10 al
liviate in some degree the suffering OF the
public. Orders were issued 10 keep open
throughout the night the park gates and
20 permit those who would to spend the
night in these places.
The death list was more than doubled
even in the morning and prostrations
we're continuous. An hour before noon
the Weather Bureau had recorded a tom
perature OF 81, five degrees hotter than
at the corresponding hour yesterday. Five
deaths had occurred up 70 that time. The
humidity dropped rapidly as the mercury
rose from ~ TO SO, somewhat moderating
the heat.
WEATHER WILL CONTINUE.
Washington July ls-There will be no
peratures throughput the country for
three or four DAYS, according 10 the
Weather Bureau last night
There were six prostrations from the
heat here today, but none OF the cases
proved fatal The Official thermometer
here recorded Is degrees, two degrees
higher than yesterday and marked the
warmest day OF the year.
NEW RECORD IN BOSTON.
Boston. July 1s.-At o'clock the wealth
er officials announced that a new heat
record for this year had been established.
when the thermometer registered "a de-
grees. one degree higher than that record =
ed at o'clock
The highest previous record for this
year was 80, on July 10. Yesterdays re-
cord. however. does not equal that made
on the same date In 1900, when the mer-
curry climbed 20 ~.
Tony Grazett. who was prostrated I'm
the North End on Sunday, died at the
Relief Hospital yesterday afternoon.