The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-07-26
uJ-NnREDS OF PEOPLE DIED,
AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS
WE'RE FRUSTRATED.
HOT WEATHER RECORD BROKEN

From the Rockies to the Coast of
New England Abnormal Hot Wave
Spread Suffering and Death.
Morgues Were Filled and Hospi-
tails Crowded. Crops Badly In
iured in Some Sections.
The hot wave which recently
swept over the south, middle west
and east left behind it a trail of
suffering and death never perhaps
equaled in the history of the coun-
try. In parts of the west the Their
mOmeter climbed to ia degrees in
the shade, and in Boston the mercu-
ry in the tube mounted to 104. Be-
tween the Mississippi valley and the
New England coast the country was
literally baked, and the heat wave
extended from the Gulf far among
the pines of Canada. Even the
mountain states siZZled in tempera-
lures which were almost beyond the
point of endurance.
As If Struck by Plague.
The big cities became veritable
ovens, and among the greatest suf-
fererS was New York. In the metro
politan districts hundreds of persons
were Frustrated daily, and over 200
persons persisted. Many other deaths
indirectly due to the heat occurred.
People fed from the oven-like city
to the waters adjacent to New York,
and while bathing and boating, in
the hope of getting relief from the
excessive land temperature, many
were drowned. Fifteen thus perish
ed in one day in waters adjacent to
the city, and every day during the
prevalence of the hot wave added to
this list of indirect fatalities. The
hospitals were crowded with suffer-
ers, and the clang of hurrying ambu-
lances in the streets was almost con-
slant New York was almost like a
plague or battle-ridden city. The
parks and other public places were
thrown open to the people to sleep
in, and thousands availed themselves
of the privilege The water fronts
and even fire escapes were used as
bedrooms, and hundreds of thous-
ands of the citys jewellers spent the
nights outdoors. Several persons
suffering from the heat committed
suicide and others were driven in
sane.
Hundreds of Deaths.
throughout the vast region cover
ed by the torrid visitation the casu-
alties were as great as in many big
battles. Increased humidity in some
cases and the strain caused by the
cumulative heat proved as deadly as
bullets. Over 700 persons died from
the heat in the cities and towns, and
even out in the rural regions fatali-
ties were many. The number of
Drostrations probably totaled 5000.
Conditions in New York were re-
peated in many other cities. Boston
was an oven, and every day had a
long list of prostrations and fatali-
ties In Chicago scores of persons
died of the heat and there were
scores of prostrations reported daily.
The temperature was the highest on
0~SiN VIII INO SACSpLIOuS. Alld-
delphia had total of 90 deaths in
hye days, and both it's morgues and
hospitals were overcrowded. The
temperature was the highest, with
one exception, in the history of the
weather bureau.
In New England 207 persons died
OF heat and 50 others, who were
seeking relief on the rivers and lakes,
We're drowned.
Throughout the entire southwest
the temperature ragged from 100 to
10y degrees, and there were many
deaths and prostrations.
Corn Crop Injured.
AT Lincoln, Neb., the mercury
ciImbed to ITO degrees-the highest
ever experienced there. In many
parts of the country work on the
farms was abandoned. Horses fell
uead IN the harness. The sufferings
OF tasse faithful servants of man,