Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1897 — HIT BY THE HEAT. [ARTICLE]

HIT BY THE HEAT.

Intense Suffering Caused by Torrldity of an Autumnal Month. It lacked only one degree Thursday on the official thermometer of the weather bureau to give Chicago the hottest day for September in. twenty-six years. Under the deadly rays of the sun the mercury climbed to 94 degrees, and would have gone farther up the scale to set a new mark for the month had it not been for the kindly intervention of a lake breeze. One death and four prostrations; bear witness to the torridity. Workmen were stricken in the midst of their toil and had to be carried away for succor. In the early days of the weather oflice heat in September like that of Thursday was unknown. In. 1881, with the quarters of the department much nearer the sidewalk, a mark of 94 was reached. For twelve years this was the maximum until the mercury rose to 95 in 1893. This high mark was reached in the middle of the day and with no southeast breeze engaged in an attempt to discourage the tendency of the thermometer. Considering the conditions, Thursday might be called the hottest day of the year in Chicago. Thermometers nearer the sidewalk than the top of the Auditorium tower showed 98 and this was the temperature in which Chicagoans sweltered. At Milwaukee there was one case of heat prostration reported. Miss Annie Sohmers, employed in the inspecting room of the Layton Packing Company, was overcome about noon and was taken to her home. She may not recover. The week has been the hottest September week Oshkosh (Wis.) has any record of. Thermometers Thursday registered M; .. .... ../■ . ■ ■

At Pana, 111., the Government thermom. eter registered 104 in the shade. Rain is needed. Corn in many places is scorching. La Salle, 111., reports the week to have been the hottest of the season, the thermometer registering 100 in the shade. Corn is drying up in the fields. The heat was so intense in Champaign, 111., that the schools had to be closed Thursday afternoon. Corn is drying up on the stalks and farmers say much of it can never fill out. At Valparaiso, Ind., the thermometer registered 102. Several prostrations are reported, but none fatal. Throughout the county the corn is drying up for want of rain. -- • The Government thermometer at Eldora, lowa, the last ten days has avereged 95.