New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-01
Mercury Registers SO on
Hottest July 81 on
Record
No Relief Promised;
Fear Felt for To-day
Poor Pass Restless Night in
Parks; Five Dead in
Jersey

IN the fercest heat which the city has
endured in the last sixteen years. The
Weather Bureau holds out no hope OF
any relief before tonight, and predicts
more casualties to-day because of the
debilitation occasioned by three days of
torrid temperature.
After resting all Monday night we'll
above the so mark, the heat took humid
ity for an ally early yesterday morning
and rolled in upon the city mercilessly.
By 5 o'clock in the afternoon the at
tack had reached its climax. The
Weather Bureau thermometer then
registered 9S.
Hottest July 81 on Record
Bureau officials then announced that
the day was the third warmest in the
forty.seven years Of the Weather Bu-
reau's existence. 1t was also the hot
test July 81 on record. Statistics show
that on no day during a summer has
the mercury driven so high since July
|, 1901, when the mercury rose to 80.
Dazed by the sun, stifed by the mois.
ture filled air, men, women and chill
dren were overcome by the score. At
II o'clock last night the city's total
was l94 prostrations.
All through the night people contin-
ued TO drop, for the mercury re-
treated sullenly and slowly, and
seemed prepared TO climb to higher
levels to-day. At II p. m. 1t stood at
s2.
The heat that disorganized New York
CITY spread over practically the entire
country east of the Rockies. In Cleve-
land fourteen persons perished. In
Chicago twelve died, and in Philadel-
phia, where the temperature mounted
70 102, eight were killed
Horses died by the score in New
York, and the intense heat went further
in its search for victims and killed
even DOGS and cats. Streets were oven
like in temperature, and the subway
seemed to store up the accumulated
heat of the day and hold it all night
long.
In many factories throughout the
city conditions became unendurable, and
by p. m. employees were ordered home.
As night came on, bringing no relief,
people from the poorer quarters OF the
city, where brick and asphalt still
radiated heat, fed 10 the parks for
comfort. Every "lung" of the city
from Central Park 70 the smallest plot
OF grass became a dormitory for the
poor.
Even there they found it hard 10
sleep, for at midnight the temperature
was nigh for even midday. All night
long men, women and children lay upon
blankets spread upon the hot earth.
Under the glare Of a brazen moon they
seemed the victims Of a mighty battle,
as they tossed about, all night long,
with the walls Of hest-tortured infants
10 heighten the resemblance.
For the first time in many years the
docks Of the city were also turned over
20 those made homeless by the heat.
Thousands occupied these all night
long, and suffered less than their fell
lows in the parks, for whatever breeze
there was came swinging up the river
from the sea.
Near the heart Of the city's wealth
lest district, on the broad steps Of st.
Patricks Cathedral, men from the
slums tried 70 sleep.
From yesterday morning, when the
thermometers registered 81, until 5
Yesterday afternoon, the upward climb
OF the mercury was urrelenting. AT
noon II had reached 30, and at 5, 90.
From then on until midnight ii fell
about degree an hour.
Jersey towns suffered as heavily in
proportion az did New York. While
eleven we're being killed here, three
died and twenty-five were overcome in
Jersey City and two deaths and thir-
teen prostrstions were recorded in
Newark
The list Of dead follows;
MANHATTAN
Bensoth, John, forty-hve. Of 4os East
SeYenty-ffth Street. Overcome at Sixty
second Street and East River. Died in
Flower Hospital.
Blsise, Lena, So Manhattan Street.
Overcome a. her home. Died In
Knickerboeksr Hospital
Hopkins, John, address unknown,
Overcome a. East Forty-frst Street.
Died IN Bellevue Hospital.
Freisted, sibert, thirty-siz, of AZ
Renwick Street. Overcome in West
Street saloon. Died in Hudson Street
Hospital.
Peacock, Patrick, fifty, szl Eighth
Avenue. Died q. nome.
BRONX
Elk, Harry, forty-seyen. g24 Pros
pecs avenue. Overcome AZ 1870 Third
avenue. Died In City Hospital.
BROOKLYN
Alton1rs, Marie, seventy-three. 34O
s hast inirty-third Street. Died at her
Lewis, Orlando, III West ISs,h
street. Died a. his home.
Cieniek, Louif, thirty-two, address
unknown. Overcome while working on
barge az foot Of East Seyenty-nlnth
STeet Fel overheard and drowned.
DpisehsneinZ, Joseph, forty-six, 243
i.oyo street Died at 1876 Hamburg
Estesito. Thomas, ffty.four, Of ls4
s.shtsih Street. Died at Thirty-ninth
st and Third Avenue.
e,,.IAhe Ida, hfty, Of i22 Forfeit
~ Died AZ her home.
gsg.iisfthy. Mrs. Anna, thirty.four, II;
T.y Avenue. died AZ her home.
q, esshtihed woman, about fifty, diet
"sf Avenue. Coney Island
QUEENS AND RICHMOND
e., ,ioreksome, John, Llnoleurnyille
Ssssn Sa,ss Island. Died while walking
Nsggtnhsimsr, Daniel, address un
s,Tn. Oysreoms while working 81 Col
Foint. Died In Flushing Hospital
e,cxk.. John. fI4 East Fifty-elghtk
sb Manhattan. Overcome on Jack.