Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-13
SAYS WORST IS OVER
Weather Bureau Promises
More EndurabIe Weather.
SUNDAY A REAL SC0RCHER
Mercury Reaches 104, Highest
Point in Seven Years.
MUCH LESS OPPRESSIVE TODAY
Brief Storm, With Wind and Elec-
trical Display, Affords Relief.
Ground Needs Soaking.
Today's Record of Heat.
Downtown

One hundred in the shade at 1 o'clock
this afternoon.
The foregoing temperature reading was
given by the big thermometer at Afleck's
1t marked the street heat as experienced
by pedestrians in the downtown districts.
At the same hour yesterday the same
thermometer gave a reading of 1O3 in the
shade. and at $50 o'clock the mercury
reached the highest notch in seven years
1O4.
Sunday was a sizzling scorcher and hui
manity indoors and out fairly wilted. Even
the gray sparrows painted and there was
tropical drone in the air which was
heightened by the chirping of the crickets.
sure harbinger of excessively hot condi-
tions, according to farmer forecasters.
Although the temperature was high to-
day, the atmosphere was not as oppressive
as il was yesterday. owing to the per cent
of hmuidity being much less and the prev
alence of a cooling breeze which blew In
from the southeast Otherwise today was
to all intents and purposes a midsummer
occasion.
Says the Worst Is Over.
THE worst Of the warm wave is over"
Prof Garriott said this afternoon. The
temperature will gradually moderate to-
night and tomorrow. and there is a
chance of local rains within the next day
or two. According to the weather bureau
records yesterday was the hottest day in
the past seven years. There is no indica-
ton now of another period of excessive
heat in the near future. The official
l o'clock today the mercury In the
weather bureau thermometers had only
reached the 80 mark
kilograms received from the chain OF
weather stations today show that the
temperature is moderating in all sections
of the country. with scattered showers.
The breaking of the heat wave came
last evening with a brisk wind from the
north. which quickly shifted to other
points of the compass. The wind was
cooling. and under it's influence the tenn
perature went down with a rush until 1t
was % degrees lower than the maximum
for the day. With the gale came rain and
display of lightning. the combination
producing pleasant results to heat-wiited
humanity.
Storm a Welcome Visitor.
The storm. which was a welcome visitor
to Washington Is said to have come
bounding over from the Ohio valley II
caught many picnickers in the surround
ing woods, whther they had gone to es-
cape the oppressiveness of the city's at
mosphere. and they were drenched with
rain in consequences
The people generally and wisely re-
manned indoors and the number of cases
of illness from the heat was kept down
The records show that Washington was
day.
Speaking of the prevailing drought
Prof. Garriott said conditions in the sur
rounding agricultural sections are re-
ported to be very serious. He added that
the only thing that will break the
drought and bring about desired results
will be two or three days of good, soak
ing rain.' but he added that the desired
relief is not yet in sight The best that
can be hoped for in the precipitation line
at this time is some scattered showers
and they will not break the drought con-
ditions.
Ground Needs Soaking.
Reports brought in by farmers in ad-
joining Maryland and Virginia counties
are to the effect that the crops are suf-
fering terribly from the lack of rain. In
some parts Of nearby communities, 1t Is
| said. old-fashioned .'pray-for-rain meet
ings'' are being held.
Advices from Hyattsville to The Star
state that following a day of intense
heat, the thermometer registering 81 at
3 o'clock in the afternoon. that section
was visited by two storms yesterday, the
first arriving about o'clock and the
second about s o'clock. During one OF
these storms lightning struck the Pres
byterian Church. carrying away the
steeple pole and damaging the belfry
Splinters from the wrecked steeple were
carried more than hundred yards
| Trees were blown down and much dam
age was done to fencing. Not over half
an inch of rain fell.