New-York tribune., 1918-08-08
Temperature

records, dating from the founding of
the city by the Dutch and the Indians,
would be shattered before sundown.
There had been no dissatisfaction
with the old record of 100 degrees in
the shade, established thirty seven
years ago. 1t was a good enough hot
weather record for any community.
Not even the ice makers, soda fountain
owners, brewers and Coney Island con-
cessionaires would have voted for
warmer weather than we have been
having this summer.
1t was a spoiled day for everybody
Nobody could perform any hard work
without the risk of topping over En-
ployers realized this and had no stom-
ach for running a chance of causing
heat prostrations.
Plants Shut Down Early
One big firm after another released
its employees when the mercury began
climbing up toward the end of the
tube. At the shipbulding yards there
had been too many heat prostrations
of late. 1t became evident during the
morning that riveting could not be
dard Shipbuilding yard on Shooters
Island. the men were notified that ali
who desired to knock off work at -: 80
o'clock could do so. About 5000 men
are employed in the yard, and 1000 of
them laid down their tools and boarded
the terryboat Highlander for New York
City. 1t was an enjoyable trip, the
men said, except that part when the
ferry lay hitched up at the hottest end
Mo- hot TC1o ho pot+
The thermometer stood at 102 in the
shade at Shooters Island. 1t was
about 10 off the Battery, where there
is no shade.
At the Todd shipyards in Erie Basin
500 men, about 80 per cent of those
mployed. failed to show up yester-
day morning. Most Of them we're riv-
eters. Handling and hammering red
hot rivcts might be good job for Hun
The bosses at Todd's said that none
of the deserters would be punished for
showing the good sense to stay away
from work. At the Morse Dry Dock,
foot of Fifty-frst Street, Brooklyn,
many worHmen took holiday and
went swimming.
More than 5000 employees at the Tiet-
jen & Lang Drydock Company. Hobo
ken, and 1000 workers at the Reming-
ton Arms Company, making munitions
for the government, were given a nalf
Simon Silk Mills closed down The
Reilng e. Schoen factory. in West Ho-
boken, and the Schwarenbach- Huber
plant, in North Hudson, did likewise.
Among the other big plants that
closed we're the Julius Kayser silk fac
tory, at DeKalb and Kent avenues,
Brooklyn, whose 5000 employees were
dismissed shortly after they reported
for work yesterday morning; the J. &
T. Cousins shoe factory, whose 5000
employees were given n day off, and the
in West Forty-siXth Street, employing
200 men and women.
Nearly all the industrial plants of
Yonkers, employing about $4,000 men
and women, were closed in the after
noon. The Alexander Smith e. Sons
Carpet Company, employing 5000; the
Waring Hat Company, employing
1000; the National CONDUIT. and Cable
Company, employing 5000; the David
Allen Foundry Company and other con-
Germs knocked off work because of the
heat.
In New Rochelle Mayor Waldorf
closed the City Hall at 8 O'Clock and
official business was stopped Bust
ness virtually came to a standstill in
Mount Vernon and other communities 8
in the ncighborhood.
Beaches and Parks Crowded
The rush for the beaches began earlv
! in the forenoon and kept up till late
last night. Coney Island experienced a
second day of terror. Early arrivals at
the resort found that some 5000 men,
women and children had camped there
overnight. Thousands of persons slept
along the beaches. The parks Of the
city were virtually turned into hot
weather dormitorics.
The unlimited use Of the parks was
sanctioned officially by Mayor Hylan in
letter yesterday TO William W. GrclI