Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-20

The cumulative effect OF the con-
tinued torridity of these days was evil
dent in the enormous increase Of the
number Of deaths in New York. While
the death roll Of yesterday was only 26.
that of today reached the appalling to-
tai of IS, while over double this num-
Der were treated for heat prostrations.
This was almost entirely due to the
collapse of young children and aged
persons whose exhausted vitality was
unequal to the strain of further suf-
fering.
After a night of sweltering heat
passed by thousands in the streets in
the public parks, on piers along the
river front, and every vacant place
that promised breath of air, the con-
ditiOns that confronted the people of
New York. this morning, were terribly
ing. The sun rose in a cloudless sky and
hour after hour the heat grew more
and more intense. Every ambulance
was kept busy and by noon. the hos
pitfalls were crowded with sufferers.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, came
the long prayed for relief when a ter
rifle thunderstorm and a deluge of
rain burst over Brooklyn and the lower
paw VA NuoiihdttdIl anu SCCtloiiS VI ANCW
Jersey In Brooklyn, two men were
struck by lightning and seriously hurt
and in Jersey City. one man killed.
While the storm lasted only few min
utes and left the upper part of the city
untouched, the relief was almost in
Simultaneous and from then on the mer-
curry fell steadily. and a cool breeze
springing up after shutdown gave as
surance of a comfortable night.
Even the seashore resorts in the vi
entity Of New York did not escape the
heat and many prostrations occurred
among the thousands that f1ocked to
Coney Island and the other beaches on
the Long Island shore.
Among the distressing incidents of
the day was the killing Of her infant
in Brooklyn by a young woman who
was suddenly driven insane by the
heat. She stabbed the child to death
and then made a vain attempt on her
own life.
Leonard Sanders, a colored man from
New Haven. went mad in the public
park In East One Hundred and Thir-
tieth street and leaped into the river
from the Harlem bridge. He was res
cled by three boatTen after a struggle.
in which lie upset the boat and nearly
drowned his rescuers.
Several of the deaths reported were
those of persons who had fallen, while
asleep. from fire escapes. where they
lad made their beds.
With $50 bodies in the cold storage
room at the city morgue. the refriger-
ating system was found to be out of
order, today. and 1t was necessary to
resort to the use of tons of ice, in which
the bodies were packed. and so bodies
were hurriedly shipped to the Potters
field.
For the first time. the New York City
Railroad Co. issued a general order,
permitting II nntorucn "Hi con
duCtors I" r"T'uyc their so;.,s While rl
duty during tho hral.,! t.rl,,. Al:,ust
all III" wea awaited t!Iy.as, lNc.- IF tha
privilege.
The suffering among animals during
the day was intense, hundreds OF
horses, many Of which died, being pros
trated. An extraordinary mortality
among dogs and cats. If which hun
dreds Of bodies were picked up in the
streets. as reported by the police.
Throughout New York state severe
thunderstorms with rain and high
winds served to moderate the heat.