Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-22
CITY SWELTERIlVC
AT 80 DEGREES
Mercury Likely to Reach
Even Greater Altitude
Than Yesterday
ONE DEATH RECORDED
Many Philadelphians Spent
Last Night in Parks and
on Roofs
ONE DEATH RECORDED
Washington, July %,

most severe heat waves that has
gripped the east for years were
blasted today when the weather
bureau forecast for the eastern
States reported. continued warm.
partly cloudy. high temperatures" !"
The western districts arc slightly
below the seasonal heat, the bureau
report showed. The report is for
tonight and tomorrow.
Philadelphia is sizzzling today in the
grip of the first real hot wave of the
summer
Apparently there is no prospect Of
early relief. The forecast says fair
and continued warm.
The day started out scorchingly hot.
ecipsirg even the temperatures of yes
terday. At II o'clock this morning
the mercury, pausing for brief while
in its flight, stood at 30. Yesterday, at
the same hour. 1t was IS.
The humidity today is 6s per cent.
Yesterday 1T was 4s. What little air
there was stirring came in the form of
tickle breeze from the south.
The high temperature for this date Is
90, which was recorded in 1914. 1t is
likely the temperature today will equal.
II not exceed this mark. Yesterdays g
maximum of "a was the highest for that
date since 1885, when a record Of 81 was
established.
The heat wave Is causing suffering in
the tenement districts. Last night many
persona slept on doorsteps in the hope
that there they might find comparative
conness
tn, rtt ~
| today. with little prospect of early RELIEF.
| Early this morning, while the tempera
turc assembled the humidity Increased.
! and promise was given that yesterday s
record-breaking temperature of "a de-
| crees might he eclpsed.
The temperature was the highest yes
| tcrday OF any July 81 since 1895. when
| the mercury attained height OF % de-
| grees.
Attracted by the reduced excursion
fares, thousands sought relief from yes
| terday's heat at the seashore. Thousands
of others who wished to take advantage
of the sl.35 rate were Senied the priv.
ilege when ovrrcrowded trains forced
the suspension of the sale of tickets.
Trains Crowded
| Many trains were crowded long before
| starting time. aud the late arrivals were
forced to stand outside the gates and
| watch the lucky ones" departing.
one death resulted from the heat yes
terday. Frank a. Quinn, forty year.
old, 5022 Race street, becoming crazed
leaped seventy-fve feet from the Chest
nut street bridge into the Schuylkil
River and was drowned.
Frank Peterson. seventeen years old
, 5i24 Chestnut street. was overcome h.
the heat at Fourth and Market street
last night. He was taken to the Jeffer
son Hospital in passing automobile
but was later discharged.
All day the ice cream parlors wer
crowded with persons trying to GOO
off," while soft drink emporiums did
rushing business. Many ice boxes wer
devoid of ice long before the day end
ed, ice water being in demand
Parks were thronged early in the af
tcrnoon by thousands of families. seek
ing relief from the redhot sun ray
under the cooling trees.
Many sleep Outdoors
When n'ghtfall came many person
pulled benches together and made rest
ing places. spending the night there
Housetops and roofs of downtown build
ings were crowded with sleepers. Who'll
families moving OUT Of crowded tene
ments. Many slept on fire escapes an
other places where they could catch an
cooling breeze that might blow.
Babies, clad only in tiny shirts, SUI
fered more than older children.
The humidity continued during tn
night and many persons, after retirirA
left the hot rooms of their homes an
made beds on porcnes, in swings an
hammocks. and in back yards.
New York, July c2.-No relief wt
promised today from the heat wav
which yesterday drove the temperatul
to 90. record for the season. At
a. m. today. the mercury registered {
and was still ascending.
, The heat. which has gripped the el
tire East will remain unbroken for Sc,
cral days at least, the L. S. Wealth,
Bureau says.