New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-08-01
INDUSTRY HALTED BY HEAT;
FACTORIES CLOSED AGAIN
City Vainly Looks for Relief
Only to Find Mercury Co.
ing Higher Than Yester-
days Mark.
MAIN STREET MAN
FIRST HEAT VICTIM

General Exodus for Country in Pro-
gress Early This morning-Death
List Grows in New York, Philadel-
phia and Chicago But Shift in Wind
Brings Relief to Boston-Springt
field May Lose Trolley Service.
Again today, as a result of the
fiercest heat the city has endured for
many years, practically every factory
is crippled and several have closed
down absolutely. Employers early this
morning realized the strain under
which their men were working and in
many cases the workers were volun-
tarily excused, while only small per-
centage remained at their tasks all
.jday. The bathing pool on the sum-
NIT of Walnut Hill has been the
Mecca for hundreds of children, while
the Older people have focked in great
mum bers to Lake Compounce. Wat
kins' swimming pool and other resorts.
Old residents Of the city state that
last night was one of the most dis
agreeable they have ever experienced
and records indicate that yesterday
<'was the hottest July 81 and today the
hottest August / on record. After
resting we'll over the 80 degree mark
all Monday night, Old Sol took humid
ity for an ally early yesterday morn
ing and as the day advanced the ther-
,4fa o1i hol ~<1
traffic post in front Of City hall the
mercury registered los degrees. At
=, other places it went as high as 112
degrees. At o'clock in the afternoon
the heat had reached it's climax and
the mercury registered SO and 80 in
the shade. There was but compare
lively little rehef even after the sun
dropped behind the hills. The humid
ity continued great and there was
little breeze blowing. Hot, tired
people climbed into crowded trolley
, cars for relief, while others lolled on
their porches or in the yards Others
thronged Walnut Hill park, where, on
the summit, little children found re-
lief in the cooling waters of the bath
ing pool. Many people, including en-
tire families, slept on the greensward
at the park last night and about IS
people slept on the grass in Central
Park.
One Death Reported.
Medical Examiner Harry A. Elcock
reported one death due to the heat. A
GA year old man named Mike Kak-
man of 644 Main street was the VIC
tim The man passed away this
morning.
Peter Hedberg of 25 Greenwood
:, street, a painter, was overcome by
the heat on Arch street this morn
ing. He was taken to his home in
the police ambulance.
Again today it was necessary for the
Stanley Rule and Level Co. to close
down the entire factory just before
noon, so impossible did the employees
find it to work. Landers, Frark &
Clark also closed down this morning
:. and at the Vulcan Iron Works, the
Malleable Iron Works, the foundry at
the P. & +. Corbin factory, the North
and Judd factory and the Union Mfg.
Co. the moulders found it impossible
to begin their work because of the
heat At other factories entire de-
partments left their work. This noon
there was a marked absence Of men
and women returning to their working
places, and this afternoon there was a
concerted move LOWdIu luo CIO1lcy
cars and swimming pools. At some of
the factories, where it was impossible
to excuse the entire Office force, the
managers sent out and secured ice
cream and cooling drinks for the
toilers.
Letter Carriers Excused.
Postmaster William F. Delaney,
realizing the strain under which his
carriers were compelled to work this
morning as they trudged along their
routes, under the broiling sun with
the heavy mail pouches over their
shoulders, ordered only one delivery,
excusing the men when they returned
from their mornings work. Others
whose work took them outside suf-
fered much today, especially ice men
and teamsters who Sc work is heavy.
Today has been even hotter than
yesterday for at noon yesterday it
was Just SO in the shade. This noon
the thermometer registered SO and
was still soaring. The weather bu-
reau holds cut no hope of relief before
tonight and doctors look for further
prostrations, particularly because of
the debilitat1on occasioned by three
days of such torrd temperature. The
heat has driven crowds into saloons
but it has shepherded them in far
greater numbers to soda fountains
and ice cream parlors. Under these
assaults Of thirst soda water and ice
cream have melted away more rapid
ly than if directly exposed to the sun
Last night several ice cream dealers
found themselves without supply
4 and frantic efforts were made to re-
penish the stock Dealers say that
40 10 nd fro 6c