New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-07-31
FORCED
TO CLOSE BY HEAT
Thousands Of Employees Excused
From Work at Noon Today
THERMOMETER REACHES 100

Corbn'S, vulcan Iron Works and
Others ACKNOWLEDGMENT and
Letter Carriers Suffer.
The terrific heat wave which has
scorched the city for the past two
days, today continued unabated with
the result that thousands of workers
were compelled to retire to their
homes to avoid heat prostration So
intense was the heat in several factor
les that the officials decided this
morning and this noon to suspend
operations for the day, and in other
plants the workers were excused early
this afternoon. At O'Clock this
morning the thermometer on the
shady side of Church street where the
sun never shines, registered 80 de-
grees. This noon the same mercury
had climbed to an even hundred. In
the sun the heat was worse and scores
of therm ometers noticed in unshel-
tered places registered from 10 to
12O degrees
Factory Employees Suffer.
At the Stanley Rule and Level Co.
1T became apparent to the officials
this forenoon that the heat was too
oppressive for the employees and at
noon the factory was closed for the
day. At the Union Mfg. Co. the moul-
ders left their work this noon and at
the Vulcan Iron Works the moulders,
oppressed by the terrific heat of their
jobs as we'll as the sitting atmosphere
stopped work this morning. The moul-
ders at the P. e F. Corbin factory al
so quit work this morning and at the
Cfon1oI Works nf the mill
operators and laborers were compelled
to cease their work this noon. In
practically every factory in the city
hundreds of workers declined to re-
turn to their jobs this afternoon. The
large number Of young women en-
ployed at the various concerns was
especially affected and comparatively
a few Of these remained at their tasks
throughout the day.
In the average factory working
room the temperature hovered
around 90 degrees all day long, and
in sections of the room were the sun
shone the mercury mounted as high
as 100. In only few instances was
there any welcome breeze and the
toilers found it difficult to remain at
work. At l2:45 o'clock this noon,
when the whistles blew, there was
and fro on the streets, going to their
respective places of employment All
who could possibly do so remained at
home, attired in the lightest possible
clothing, and sought the coolest places
possible. The several swimming
pools in the vicinity of this city were
also we'll patronized this afternoon
and so were drug stores, ice cream
parlors and cafes.
Many Sleep in Park.
While yesterday and today are re-
corded as the hottest and most op-
presive days of the entire summer
thus far, last night was the most dis
tressing. There was hardly breeze
stirring and in almost every home the
sleeping rooms were veritable ovens.
Many people remained on their front
or rear verandas until late hours and
in many instances people who had
hammocks slept on the porches.
Others deserted their beds and sought
cooler places on the floor of their
chambers. A number of young men
declined even to attempt to sleep at
their homes last night and spent the
night in Walnut Hill park. There
were several score of people who
slept in this place, arising from the
cool sod early this morning to return
to their homes for breakfast.
Not only did those whose work kept
them inside suffer today, but also
those who are employed outdoors.
This was particularly true Of police
men postmen and teamsters The
traffic force suffered the most among
the bluecoats and it was impossible
for the men to remain long at a time
on their posts in the broiling sun. Tho
letter carriers, trudging along with
their heavy mail pouches, early dis
carded their collars and ties but fail
ed to find much relief. Ice men, gro
GERS, truck drivers and eXpressmen
also suffered from the heat and even
the dumb beasts feel the oppression
of the atmospheric conditions.
Two Men Overcome.
At least two men were overcome by
the heat during the day. They were
William Bailey of 12S Glen street and
William Fay of 1877 Hartford avenue.
Bailey was stricken this morning,
while at work at the Shuttle Meadow
ice house. loading a truck and Fay,
who is the janitor at the passenger
station, collapsed in the Commercial
street yards during the hottest part of
the afternoon. Bailey was taken home
and DR.. II. Waterman Lyon called to
attend him. AS Fay dropped in the
Commercial street yards the police
patrol was handy and took him home
after first aid had been rendered by
a nurse from I4anders, Frary &
Clark's factory.
New Haven Factories Closed.
New Haven, July 31.-Most of the
large plants here, especially those in