New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-03
Temperature Drops to 70;
Permanent Relief
Promised
Four Men Killed
By Lightning Bolts
Babies Suffer as Milk Ship
ments Sour on the
Way Here

thunderstorm yesterday afternoon the
forces of heat which have been besieg-
ing the city since Monday broke and
retired. By to-day, the Weather Blu
reau predicts. they will be in full Hight
with no sign of a return TO the attack
Before the heat wave rcceded 1T ac-
counted for fifty-nine more lives IN
greater New York. Most of these died
during the torrid morning that pre-
coded the storm. During the down
nopr four men were killed by lightning
and there was minor damage to prop
erty.
The local Weather Bureau prediction
for to-day is Fair; cooler Saturday.
To this the bureau at Washington
adds: "The heat wave in the East
broken tonight by scattered showers
shows slight probability of an immi-
.nent recurrence
Last night the city breathed the
coolest air that had been its portion
since Sunday. When the storm hit the
city. shortly after 3 o'clock, the mer-
curry had climbed to "a. In the hour
THAT followed it dropped degrees and
continued to sink. At 10 O'Clock last
night it was 49,
Storm Brings Relief
Baked in their attempt TO relieve the
h.at stricken city on Wednesday, the
thunder clouds returned to the attack
again Yesterday afternoon and won a
partial victory. By 1880 black masses
we're piling up in the west for the as
sault and the thunder was mutterins
like far away cannon FIRE.
Shortly after 2 o'clock the storm
broke above the city. Rain fell Ike a
waterfall upon the sizzling streats'
Lightning played necessarily, perilous-
~ close to the housetops, and the wlnd
which drove the clouds along brought
with il a genuine breath Of coldness'
Men and women leaned from WIN
dows. never minding the downpour, and
learned again the pleasure OF breathing
live air. Children of the East Side
broke away from parental restraint and
frolicked through the flooded streets
sbrieking their delight at the cold touch
of the rain.
New York, which had suffered so ter
ribly from the heat, did not emerge
from the rescuing storm unscathed'
-Four Killed by Storm
Four men we're killed in the city by
lightning bolts One flash came so
close to the Chief Magistrates ONCE,
at 800 Mulberry Street, that the De.
partment of Statistics was put out OF
business for the rest of the day.
Charles W. Strong, chief statistlclan'
was working at one Of the tabulating
machines when the stroke came. lie
was knocked down and his coat was
scorched Five machines were dam
aged, and all electric connections were
burned out.
Throughout the city trees were up
rooted and poles were thrown down,
I'm The Bronx over which the heaviest
assault of the storm passed, all sewers
we're flooded. Three of the men killed
were digging for clans at Rodman's
Neck, The Bronx, when single bolt
finished them. ,--
They are Christopher CANNED, Of l75
Varick Street; Conrad Hagel, Of 3O4
East Fifth Street, and Carlo Petru-
chilla, of 72O East 214th Street.
Antonio Teusino was the other VIC
tim. He was sitting on the roof Of his
home. TIA West Houston Street, when
lightning struck him.
Hail in Westchester
In Westchester the rain turned TO
hail. The stone, according to the de-
positions of various citizens OF Mount
Vernon and New Rochelle, ranged in
size from ostrich eggs to golf balls.
Golf balls is the lowest estimate.
Electric connections in New Rochelle
and Larchmont were burned out, and
two houses were set afre by the light
ming. The hail broke many windows.
and beat down large quantities OF
crops. ..
The effect of the storm was immedi-
ate here. The mercury, which has been
doing its accustomed devils dance well
above the 90 level, sank Immediately to
lowly Sc, and by o'clock to 81 HUI
midity was still high, and no one had
reason to forget that he had many
million sweat pores, but the relief was
distinct, and gratefully received.
When the city awoke yesterday from
another restless night there was no
sign of any abatement of the heat. Al
noon the thermometer registered "a,
The unpromising beginning Of the day
caused members Of many Of the ex-
changes throughout the city to urge
that their organizations close on Fri
day.
The stock Exchange inaugurated
this move and was followed by the
Cotton, Produce and Coffee and Sugar
Exchanges. Petitions were circulated
and definite action will be taken to-
day.
Milk Supply Goes Short
Another peril was added TO the
many under which babies have been
existing, Yesterday morning, when
many mothers found IT impossible Ia
get milk for their children. Shipments
10 the city Wednesday night soured
IN transit for some reason, and
although additional shipments we're al
once ordered. many branch stores OF
the dairy companies were without sup
ply until after 10 a. m.
Recent mortality figures for the city
have been smashed by the deaths OF
the last four 9ays. A statement issued
Yesterday by Or. Charles r. Bolduan, Of
The Board Of Health, announced that uI
70 that time S78 persons had persisted
Most OF these deaths, DR.. Boduan said
were due directly or indirectly 20 the
high temperature.
The heat Of the early day was espe'
cially deadly % horses. Before 3 p. m
25S had been killed, and the Board OF
Health was having difficulty in cart
ing away the earcasses. Fifty motor
trucks were hired for the emergency.