323, Boston, Jersey City, NJ, Philadelphia–383

lornajarrettblanchard August 9, 1853

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-7-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–400 American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Year 1854 (Vol. 25).

–383 Blanchard tally based on State and locality breakouts below.[1]

Summary of State Breakouts Below

New Haven, CT ( 2)

Massachusetts ( 31)

Jersey City, NJ ( 12)

NY esp. NYC (333)

Philadelphia, PA ( 5)

Total 383

Breakout of State and Local Heat Fatalities

Connecticut ( 2)

–2 New Haven, Aug 13. “…two fatal case of coup de soleil on Saturday.”[2]

Massachusetts ( 31)

–23 Boston, Aug 13. Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, PA. 8-16-1853, p. 2, col. 2.

–1 Aug 12. William Mansfield, at work getting in coal, Common Street schoolhouse.[3]

–1 Aug 12. Cornelius Murphy died at No. 3 Half Moon place, “effects of heat.”[4]

–1 Aug 12. Mrs. Eilen Sharp, while ironing, fainted and expired.[5]

–1 Aug 12. Edward Thomas, “congestion of the brain, the result of sunstroke.”[6]

–1 Aug 13. Child named Brannon, 4, sun-struck while playing in the street.[7]

–1 Aug 13. John Campbell, sun struck while driving watering cart; died few hours later.[8]

–1 Aug 13. William Hayes, a baker, over-exertion and “coup de soleil.”[9]

–1 Aug 13. Patrick Morrison, a laborer. Newburyport Herald, 8-19-1853, p. 2.[10]

–1 Aug 13. Dorchester neighborhood. Man named White while walking on Pond St.[11]

–2 Aug 13. Two unknown Irishmen, at work in South Boston, from “coup de soleil.”[12]

–1 Aug 18. William Costello, sun struck on South St.; died in a few minutes.

–1 Aug 18. Jeremiah Lynch, at Buffalo house, drank water while “overheated.”

–1 Aug 18. “a seaman was struck, and died almost instantly.”

— 1 Dartmouth. Caleb Slade, field worker. Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p2.

— 1 Gloucester, Aug 12. Patrick Foley, at work on fishing vessel, Grover and Steel wharf, sunstroke.[13]

— 1 Lawrence, Aug 13. Irishman, John Croeg, sunstruck at work on the streets and died later.[14]

— 1 Newburyport, Aug 12. Thomas Kane, sun-stroke.[15]

— 1 Roxbury, Aug 13. Man named Hogan, fell dead at work – “coup de soleil.”[16]

— 3 Springfield. Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2.

New Jersey (>12)

—>12 Jersey City. Aug 12-15. New York Times. “The Late Excessive Heat.” 8-16-1853, p. 8.

“ Aug 12. Patrick Feehan, North Point, Jersey City Cement Works.

— 2 Jersey City, Aug 13. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

— 1 “ Aug 14. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

— 5 “ Aug 15. New York Times. “The Late Excessive Heat.” 8-16-1853, p. 8.

New York City area: (323)

–333 Blanchard tally based on locality and day breakouts below.

–220 NYC & Brooklyn. Gettysburg Star and Banner. “220 Deaths by Heat!” 8-19-1853, p. 4.

Brooklyn: ( 38) [Brooklyn was incorporated into New York City in 1898]

— 38 Aug 9-14. Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2.

— 21 Aug 12-13. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

— 6 Aug 14. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

–3 Child, 14 months, “exposure to heat.” Rosetta Docharts and Catherine Buckley.[17]

— 6 Aug 14-15. New York Times. “The Late Excessive Heat.” 8-16-1853, 8.[18]

New York City: (276)

–276 Blanchard tally of named heat fatalities in New York Times, Aug 15 and 16.

–260 NYT. “Sun-Strokes. Comparative Results…the Past Twenty-Seven Years.” 7-6-1872, 8.[19]

–250 New York Daily Times. “The Deaths By The Recent Heat.” 8-17-1853, p. 1.

–200 Sparks. American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Year 1854. p.350.

— 7 Aug 9. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

— 9 Aug 10. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

— 8 Aug 11. New York Times. “Deaths From The Heat Yesterday.” 8-12-1853, p. 8.

— 14 Aug 11. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

— 27 Aug 12. NYT. “Twenty-Seven Persons Killed by the Heat…Yesterday.” 8-13-1853, 4.

— 31 Aug 13. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

— 32 Aug 13. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.[20]

— 51 Aug 13. Up to 10 PM. Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2.

— 92 Aug 14. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

–100 Aug 14. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.[21]

–188 Aug 9-14. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

— 88 Aug 15. New York Times. “The Late Excessive Heat.” 8-16-1853, 8.[22]

Staten Island ( 4) [Staten Island was consolidated with New York City in 1898.]

–4 Aug 9-14. Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2.

Troy (16)

–16 Troy, Aug 12-14. Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2.

Williamsburg ( 5) (North of and adjacent to Brooklyn.)

–5 Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2.

–1 Aug 13. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

–2 Aug 14. New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

Pennsylvania ( 7)

–2 Philadelphia, Aug 10. William Wallace, culvert laborer; Lewis Reiger, laborer.[23]

–5 Philadelphia, Aug 14. New York Times. “Effects of the Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Aug 10, Philadelphia: “Philadelphia, Aug 12….The heat yesterday [11^th] was exceedingly oppressive. The thermometer stood at 96 degrees in Chestnut street. Two deaths occurred on Wednesday [10^th] from the heat. William Wallace, a laborer, while working at the culvert in Girard avenue, was sun struck. He was conveyed to the St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he died. Lewis Reiger, another laborer, also died at Fourth and Poplar streets.” (Pittsburgh Daily Morning Post, PA. “News of Our Own State.” 8-16-1853, p. 2.)

Aug 11-14, American Almanac: “Aug. 11-14. – Great heat throughout the United States and Canada, the thermometer everywhere ranging at about 100 [degrees] Fahrenheit. 200 deaths are occasioned by heat in New York on the last of these days, and the total deaths of the four days from that cause exceeded 400.”

Aug 11: “The intense heat of yesterday was fatal to several laboring men in different parts of the City, and the Coroners were called to hold inquests. There were two cases of sunstroke at the City Hospital, held by Coroner Wilhelm, one of which was on the body of Patrick Coffin…aged 36 years, who was prostrated while at work on the Vessey street Pier, North River. The other was on the body of Jeremiah Callahan…aged 50 years, who was sun-struck while at work on the new Hospital Buildings….Four inquiries were also held by Coroner O’Donnell on the bodies of four persons, who died from the overpowering effects of the heat. The names of three of these men were Daniel Mahony, aged 39…; James Woodland, aged 34…; and Timothy Sullivan… Another was an unknown man, who was sun-struck in the Bowery, and died in the drug store, No. 6…. Coroner Hilton held an inquest at No 304 Greenwich street, on the body of James Kelly, who died from over-exertion and exposure in the sun. The deceased was…aged 34 years. An emigrant was sun-struck in the Fifth Ward yesterday, and died while he was being taken to the Station-house.” (New York Times. “Deaths From The Heat Yesterday.” 8-12-1853, p. 8.)

Aug 12: “The intense heat of yesterday produced some truly tragical effects in the City. No less than twenty-seven persons were prostrated by ‘sun-strokes’ and lost their lives. The Coroners were occupied during the entire day in holding inquests. Annexed is a list of those cases returned to the Coroner’s Office up to the hour of closing last night:

Henry Hassler, aged 35 years, born in Ireland…
Caroline A. Emmons…
John Herman Kohler, aged 32 years, born in Germany…
John Morrissey, aged 30 years, born in Ireland…
Mary Weilman, aged 26 years, born in Ireland…
John Canfield, aged 33 years, born in Ireland…
A man died at the City Hospital, whose name, age and residence are unknown.
Frederick Pribenow, born in Germany…
Peter Laver, aged 40 years, born in Ireland…
Michael Hampton, aged 24, born in Ireland…
John Zellee, aged 48 years, an emigrant just landed.
Michael Clrey [unclear], aged 40 years, born in Ireland…
Mary O’Leary, aged 38 years, born in Ireland…
Wm Davis, aged 30 years, born in Ireland…
David Hennesay, aged 40 years, born in Ireland…
Caspar Hawzard, aged 46 years, born in Germany.
Hugh Hunter, aged 29 years, born in Scotland…
Patrick Harregan, aged 21 years, born in Ireland…
Thomas Hart, aged 22 years, died at the City Hospital.
Unknown man, aged about 38 years, died at the Hospital.
James Hennehan, aged 35 years, born in Ireland, died at the City Hospital.

“In additional to the above list, Coroner Hilton held inquests at the City Hospital on the bodies of three men who are unknown. Three other bodies, also of people unknown, are awaiting inquests.

“The above cases are all that have come before the notice of the Coroners. We have heard of some other fatal cases. A very large number of persons were more or less overpowered by the heat, but recovered sufficiently to be taken home.

“The thermometer yesterday at 2 ½ o’clock, P.M. stood at 96 [degrees] in the shade. At 3 P.M. we saw a thermometer in an office in Nassau street, which stood at 101 [degrees]….” (New York Times. “Twenty-Seven Persons Killed by the Heat of the Weather Yesterday.” 8-13-1853, 4.)

Aug 13, Baltimore: “Baltimore, August 13. The heat is intense here. In New York, Boston and Philadelphia there have been many deaths from sun-stroke, the heat there, too being very great. In Philadelphia the mercury stood at 95⁰ in the shade, at 3 P.M.” (Pittsburgh Daily Morning Post. “Telegraphic.” 8-15-1853, p. 3.)

Aug 13, Boston: “The heat was excessive here [Lancaster, PA] all last week – the thermometer, on Friday, ranging as high as 102 in the shade. In the larger cities it was also very great – in Boston, On Saturday [13th], 23 deaths were reported from sun stroke!….On Friday and Saturday, in the city of N. York, the deaths of persons from the excessive heat was from 60 to 70, and of horses about 100! In Philadelphia, also there were an unusually large number of sudden deaths from the same cause.” (Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, PA. 8-16-1853, p. 2, col. 2 bottom.)

Aug 13, Jersey City: “Jersey City. Death From The Heat. – A man named Patrick Feehan, employed in the Cement Works at North Point, Jersey City, was so much injured by the heat yesterday afternoon, that he died shortly afterward. He had no family. Many persons who were working in a situation where they were exposed to the sun, ceased labor to avoid death or sickness from the same Cause.” (New York Times. “Jersey City. Death From The Heat.” 8-13-1853, p. 8.)

Aug 13, Philadelphia: “Philadelphia, Sunday, Aug. 14. There were five deaths in this city, yesterday, from the effects of the heat. Among the victims is General Bennett, who was taken sick while employed in the Assayer’s office, at the Mint, an appointment which he received only last Wednesday. General Bennette served as Captain in the Pennsylvania Volunteers, during the Mexican war, and, after his return, was elected General of the Second Brigade. He was employed in a room at the Mint, where the thermometer stood at 160⁰.” (New York Daily Times. “Effects of the Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.)

Aug 15, New York City: “The effects of the present unusually hot weather are truly tragical, and resemble more the results of an epidemic, than the ordinary consequences of an increased temperature. Since Tuesday morning [Aug 9] no less than 188 deaths have occurred in this City alone, that have been brought under the Coroners’ notice, the whole of which were either from direct exposure to the sun’s rays, or from over-exertion in a heated atmosphere. To prove that exposure to the sun is not necessary to produce fatal results, we may mention that yesterday afternoon, a printer in the composing room of the Herald office, while packing up types at his frame, fell suddenly dead from the effects of the heat. And among the list of dead, which will be found below, there were several instances, as appeared upon the inquests, where the ‘stroke,’ as people are fond of calling it, was received either within doors or in the shade. It is impossible to be too cautious during the continuance of such weather. Servants should not be kept cooking over fires; laborers should be allowed to strike work in the middle of the day….Temperance, too, should be rigidly maintained; the large majority of those who have fallen victims within the pat few days being persons of intemperate habits.

“The frightful list of cases reported below, is compiled from the official returns of the three Coroners, who are engaged in holding inquests. As will readily be believed, their time yesterday was fully occupied. From an early hour of the morning to a late hour last night, they never ceased holding the inquests, and yet, so urgent were the demands upon them, many cases had to be postponed till this morning. Often the relatives of the deceased would besiege the Coroners, with imploring appeals, that the inquest might be held, so that the bodies might be taken away for burial. These appeals, for positive lack of time, could not be heeded, and the bodies were removed to the Dead House.

“Annexed is the list of deaths of yesterday, reported up to last evening.

Margaret McElise…aged 28 years, born in Ireland.
David Dyer…
A man, resident corner of Montgomery and Water streets.
John Lancaster…
An unknown man, residence No. 142 Reads street.
Ann Brady, aged 70 years…
Patrick Murphy…aged 35, born in Ireland.
Christianna Schmidt…aged 25, born in Germany.
Unknown man, aged 35, born in Ireland.
Mary [unclear]…born in Ireland, aged 28 years.
A female, residence No. 48½ Cherry-street.
An emigrant, residence No. l 95 Washington-street.
Wm Smith…aged 32.
Mary Borne, born in Ireland…
An unknown man…about 22 years old.
Henry Welsh…
A man, residence No. 222 Thirty-seventy street.
A man, residence No. l 42 Cherry-street.\
A man, residence No. 31 Roosevelt street.
Ann Colgan…born in Ireland, aged 64.
____, residence corner Fortieth-street and Seventh avenue.
Catherine Bradley…aged 52, born in Ireland.
An unknown man at Governor’s Island.
Augustas Rominosxr…born in Prussia, aged 40 years.
Patrick Ryan…
A man, residence No. 71 Washington street.
A man, residence corner of Thirtieth street and Fourth avenue.
A man, residence No. 212 East Eleventh street.
Israel Neal…born in Ireland.
John McGlenn…aged 25, born in Ireland.
A man, residence No. 82 West Thirty fifth street.
Johasna Haggage [unclear]…aged 35 years, born in Ireland.
John Constantine…
Stephen Hargins…
A man, residence No. 236 Houston street.
Joseph Jay…
Floyd…
A man (unknown)…
A man, residence corner Thirteenth-street and First avenue.
A woman, residence No. 49 Jackson-street.
A man, residence No. 57 Mulberry street.
James McGuire…born in Ireland, aged 38 years.
A man, residence No 5 Hester street.
A man, residence No. 291 Front-street.
Margaret Wheelan…born in Ireland, aged 27 years.
____ McSheeny…born in Ireland.
Robert Stewart…
A man, residence No. 57 Mulberry-street.
A man, residence No. 6 Monroe-street.
Martin Horan…born in Ireland, aged 33.
John Fitzgerald…born in Ireland, aged 37.
John Sullivan…born in Ireland, aged 45.
Bradley…born in Ireland, aged 34 years.
A female, residence No. 173 West Thirteenth-street.
A female, residence No. 368 Third-avenue.
______, residence No. 222 Thirty seventy-street.
A man, residence corner of Fifteenth-street and Eighth avenue.
Mary Bently…aged 47, born in England.
A pauper, died at the Bellevue Hospital of congestion of the brain produced by…heat.
A man, residence No. 400 Fourth-avenue.
Martin Mollenkoot…
Ann Colligan…born in Ireland, aged 64 years.
McIntyre, residence cor. Thirty-second-street and Tenth-avenue.
Michael Kelly…born in Ireland, aged 40 years.
John Short…born in Ireland, aged 36.
____ Goodwin…age and nativity unknown.
Henry Lowe…born in Ireland, aged 33 years.
Unknown man died at corner Twenty-ninth-street and Ninth-avenue.
An unknown man died at the City Prison.
A man, residence, No. 24 Pell-street.
Unknown man fell dead in Twenty-seventh-street.
Unknown man, died at No. 25 Oak-street.
Edward Tierny…born in Ireland, aged 42.
A man (unknown) residence No. 23 Bridge-st.
Miss Clifford died at No. 139 Anthony-street.
A man (unknown), residence No. 595 Washington street.
A man, residence, No. 121/2 West Twenty-seventh street.
A man, (unknown), residence No. 235 Tenth-avenue.
A boy, residence No. 262 West Eighteenth-street.
A woman (unknown) died at the Tenth Ward Station-House.
Michael Murphy…born in Ireland, aged 34.
Neil McNamfe…born in Ireland, aged about 38.
Matthew Lancaster, died at a dyeing-house, corner Third street and First avenue.
Ellen McCarthy, aged 33, fell dead while inquiring for her husband…
Thomas Johnson…born in Virginia, about 55 years of age.
Rusert Christie, born in Scotland, aged 32 years, died at the Hospital.
Unknown female, residing in Elm-street, died at the Hospital.
Unknown man, residing in Duane-street, died at the Hospital.
Lawrence McKensie…aged 35, born in Ireland.
Unknown man was overheated in Chambers-street, and died in the Hospital.
Fowler…born in New-York, aged 50 years.
Joseph Gay, died from the heat at his residence, No. 82 West Twenty-fifth street.
Daniel Kilbridge died at the City Hospital.
…At the Herald Office…Robert McCurdy, a native of Newry, Ireland…

“We called at the Hospital, at 10 o’clock last night, and found seven fresh cases…These, with the above, make exactly One Hundred Deaths reported yesterday for this City alone.

“Inquests Held on Saturday. The three Coroners…held inquests, on Saturday upon the following persons…[32 deaths reported]. [Then follows a long list of persons prostrated by the heat on Saturday and sent home or to the hospital, some reportedly “in a dying condition.”]

“….In the afternoon, about 4 ½ o’clock, a man names Michael Hampkin, became over-heated at work, and went to his residence, No. 162 Jan street, where he died…afterwards….

“Nicholas Walsh, residing at No. 90 West Twenty-seventy-street, was prostrated by the heat about noon, in the Eighth avenue. Officer Holty, of the Twentieth Ward, had him conveyed home, where a physician was called in; but the man died in the evening….

“At 4 o’clock, P.M. officer Miller found a man at the corner of Sixteenth street and Seventh-avenue, named Samuel McCantlis, a cartman, sun-struck. He was taken to his home, No. 8 Union court, near Twelfth-street, by a policeman, and attended by a physician, but he died in ten minutes after….

Recapitulation.

“The following are the number of deaths from the heat during the intensely hot weather of last week:

Tuesday… 7 Friday… 27 Total… 181.”

Wednesday… 9 Saturday… 31

Thursday… 14 Sunday… 93[24]

(New York Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat. One Hundred Additional Deaths reported Yesterday in the City. Thirty-Five Deaths Reported on Saturday. Twenty-Six Deaths in Brooklyn. Deaths in Williamsburg and Jersey City.” 8-15-1853, p. 1.)

Aug 15, Philadelphia: “Philadelphia, Monday, Aug. 15, 1853. We are still suffering from excessive heat. Already there have ben many deaths from this cause in the city. The thermometer at noon today, at McAllister’s, stood at 96 1/2⁰.” (New York Daily Times. “Philadelphia. Deaths from the Heat…” 8-17-1853, p. 2.)

Aug 16: After recording eighty-eight recent heat related deaths not included in the report above of August 15, the Times writes:

“The rain which fell on Sunday night and yesterday morning, though it was only moderate, had the effect of lessening the temperature, and yesterday the thermometer marked eighteen degrees less than on the previous day. A load seemed lifted off the hearts of our citizens. The unprecedented effects of the heat of the previous days made every one sad and thoughtful when he came to read of them in the newspapers, and very little was spoken of in the early part of the day, that had not reference to the awful catalogue of victims published by the morning journals.

More Deaths recorded in Brooklyn.

“In our report of yesterday morning, we gave 21 deaths, caused by heat, upon which the Coroner had held inquests. To-day we have to report 12 additional cases, making the whole number of deaths by heat in this city thirty three up to last evening….” (New York Times. “The Late Excessive Heat.” 8-16-1853, p. 8.)

Aug 17, New York City: “The Coroners have brought their labors to a close. For nearly a week they have been occupied, with scarcely an intermission, in the holding of inquests on the bodies of persons who died from the effects of the heat. Forty eight inquests were held yesterday which bring us to the end of the fatal list. The names, ages, and places of nativity of the sufferers, are as follows:

Jane Hopper, 25; Ireland. 202 West-street.
Thomas Brennan, 26; Ireland. 235 Tenth-avenue.
Michael Moran, 48; Ireland. 208 Elizabeth-street.
Mary Kerrigan, 26; Ireland. 43 Laurens-street.
Ann McAber, 45; Ireland. 43d-streeta and 11^th
Margaret Hawks, 35; Edinburgh, Scotland. 248 Tenth avenue.
Patrick Moyna 14; Ireland. 162 West 18^th
Philip McCabe, 35; Ireland. Died corner of Chambers and West
Michael Murtha 20; Ireland. Died corner of Ninth and 21^st
John McAdam 56; Ireland. Died at 697 Washington-st.
Edward Nolan 20; Ireland. Died at 129 West 17^th
Unknown man 40 Died at 14^th Ward Station-house.
Patrick Griffen 23; Ireland Died at 24 Pelll-st.
Edward Lewis 34; Ireland. Died at 359 Water-st.
Eugene Pelatere 40; France. 91 Reade st.
Thomas O’Brien, 40; Ireland. 11 Batavia-st.
Cork, 37; Ireland. Died at 69 Reade-st.
Unknown man 23; Ireland. Died at the N.Y. Hospital.
Martin Redmond 24; Ireland. Died at 106 Cliff-st.
John Sullivan 45; Ireland. Died at 26 Oak-st.
Kennedy 26; Ireland. Died at 4 Hamilton-st.
Mary Ann Farley, 40; Ireland. Died at 138 Orange-st.
Rosanna Shields 45; Ireland. Died at 14^th Ward Station-house.
Sarah Woods 35; England. Died at 78 James-st.
Mary Noble 45; [not noted] Died at the City Prison.
Frederick Linger, 24; Germany. Died at the N.Y. Hospital.
John Sullivan 36; Ireland 1 Oak-st.
Grady, 40; Ireland 49 Mulberry-st.
Mary Hennessy 30; Ireland. 92 Cherry-st.
Hannah ? 44; Ireland Died at 139 Washington st.
Unknown man 38; Ireland (supposed) Died at Essex Market Prison.
Unknown man 30; Ireland Died at 19^th Ward Police-station.
Unknown man 30; Ireland Died at New York Hospital.
August Remanosker 40; Prussia. Died at 20 Orange-st.
Thomas Johnson 57; born in Virginia. Died at 284 Walker st.
Francis Finnigan 50; Ireland Died in 49^th near 2d-av.
Derby Boucher 30; Ireland. Died at the Hospital.
Timothy Gann, 30; Ireland. 161 East 24^th-st.
Edward Trynson 24; Ireland. Died at the Hospital.
Richard Nugent 40; Ireland. Died at Bellevue Hospital.
Owen F. Cavannagh 35; Ireland. Died at 46 Sixth st.
Dogold McNeil 29; Scotland. Died at Bellevue Hospital.
Patrick Kelly 32; Ireland Died at 560 Fourth-st.
Henry Jacques 25; Ireland. Died at Bellevue Hospital.
Peter Tiernan 44; Ireland. Died at 473 East 12^th-st.
Christina Smith 23; Germany. Died at Bellevue Hospital.
Hugh McTierman 40; Ireland Died at 268 First-st.
James McGintez 36; Ireland. Died at 339 East 13^th-st.

“How many deaths really occurred during the intensity of the heat can never be accurately ascertained. The report of the Health Inspector will come very near the mark, if to next Saturday’s table be added the deaths from coup de soleil recorded last week. In the newspaper reports, the names of the victims have often been repeated, and ‘an unknown man’ has been identified in another portion of the list. But, at the most moderate calculation, not far from Two Hundred and Fifty persons perished in this City alone from the excessive heat. Of this number not twenty were born in this county. The large majority were Irish emigrants, recently arrived, and laboring as masons on new buildings, or servant girls, fresh in arduous situations. A few Germans and English helped to swell out the long and terrible catalogue of the Deeds of the Sun.” (New York Daily Times. “The Deaths By The Recent Heat. The Inquests Concluded – List of the Latest Victims.” 8-17-1853, p. 1.)

Aug 17: “A heavy storm took place on Monday afternoon [Carlisle PA], and the rain fell in torrents for several hours. The heat had been most intense for a number of days previous, and never did relief come more opportunely. There can scarcely be another period of heat so excessive this season. The season has been most extraordinary in its long continued intensity of heat and drouth.” (Carlisle Herald, PA. “Relief from Heat.” 8-17-1853, p. 2.)

Aug 19, Newburyport Herald, MA: “The Hot Weather. We have never before heard of such universal suffering, and so many cases of death, as during the hot weather of Friday, Saturday and Sunday [Aug 12-14]. At New York, the loss of life on Sunday, which was not a working day, was nearly one hundred. One hundred persons dying from the heat appears to be incredible. The Times gibes the following as the number of deaths in the city proper from being sun-struck:

“On Tuesday 7, Wednesday 9, Thursday 14, Friday 27, Saturday 31, Sunday 92 – Total 180.

“To the above should be added 38 deaths in Brooklyn, 5 in Williamsburg and 4 in Staten Island, making 237 in all. Nearly every one of the names published under report of the coroner’s jury was that of a foreigner – the Irish first, and the Germans next leading among the sufferers. The New York Herald says of the mortality:

“The coroners’ records yesterday exhibited an alarming increase of deaths caused by the heat of the weather. Although the day did not appear any warmer than the day previous, by the thermometer, yet the deaths reported at the coroners’ offices amounted to ninety cases. Some of these, in all probability, were the result of exposure to the heat of Saturday.

“In Brookly, the number of deaths caused from the heat was ttrly frightful, being greater than those in this city, according to the population, by nearly three to one. A great number of the streets in Brooklyn are so located that the buildings do not afford the least protection from the sun during any part of the day on either side, and to this fact may be attributed, in some degree, the swelling of the number of deaths from the overpowering heat.

“….In Springfield, three Irishmen, all named O’Brien, were killed by the heat, and others were injured. At New Bedford, Saturday was the hottest day known for seven years, the mercury rising to 100 degrees at noon. There were several cases of coup de soleil in the neighborhood, but one of which was fatal. Mr. Caleb Slade fell down while at work in his field in Dartmouth, and died on Sunday morning.

“The Heat has already caused much sickness and several sudden deaths in this city. On Friday afternoon, Mrs. Eilen Sharp, while ironing, became exhausted, sat down in a fainting condition, and after taking a drink of cold water, expired. Her sudden death was caused by “heat and over-exertion while ironing.’ On Saturday morning, Patrick Morrison, a laborer, in the employ of Mr. Elias Kingsley, died from the effects of heat. He leaves a wife and three children, who reside on South street. Edward Thomas died at No. 14 Hamilton street, of congestion of the brain, the result of a sun stroke, while at work on a wharf, on Friday. Cornelius Murphy died at No. 3 Half Moon place on Friday night, from the effects of the heat. William Mansfield, of 82 Atkinson street, while at work on Common street, getting in coal at the school house, was struck down by heat, on Friday afternoon, and died during the night. We learn of several laborers who have been compelled to quit work on the wharves and other exposed places, in consequence of the extreme heat.

“Yesterday, a man named Jeremiah Lynch died at the Buffalo House, from the effects of ice water, which he drank while over-heated. He had arrived in a morning train from the South, and was on his passage to Maine. He was accompanied by his wife. He was about thirty years of age. Yesterday afternoon, William Costello was sun struck in South street. He was taken instantly to the house of a friend, in Utica street, and died in a few minutes. He was about twenty seven years of age, and was a waiter in the American House. In the same street, about the same time, a stranger, apparently a seaman, was struck, and died almost instantly. His name we did not learn. His body was taken to the ‘dead-house.’ The letters ‘AA.H.’ were printed on his arm in India ink, together with representation of a ship and a mermaid. This man was about forty years of age. (Boston Atlas.)

“….Letters from the White Mountains [NH] state that those frozen regions were touched and melted. A letter from the Alpine House at Gorham says: The thermometer here on Friday stood at 95; the ‘oldest inhabitants’ never knew such weather for more than a day. On Friday night there was a terrific thunder storm – such lightning, and such rain, we seldom see.

“At New Haven there were two fatal cases of coup de soleil on Saturday.

“In Troy, N.Y., the weather is stated to be the hottest ever known in that vicinity. There were 13 deaths from heat on Friday and Saturday, and a line of stages between that city and Albany lost 7 horse. On Sunday it was known that there were three deaths from the same cause.

“The Boston Atlas says, Sunday, until near 5 o’clock was the hottest day of the season, and though a stron breeze prevailed, yet it was hot like the air of a furnace. Until near 5 o’clock, P.M. the thermometer ranged from 100 to 105 in the shade, and a strong southwesterly wind prevailed. Between 5 and 6 o’clock the wind changed to the north, and brought rain, lightning, and thunder, which continued most of the night, and rendered the air comfortably cool.

“The intense heat continued on Saturday in New York. Up to 10 o’clock, on that day, 51 deaths had been reported at the office of the superintendent of burials, from sun-stroke, and 16 were in the hospital, many of whom would die.

“A remarkable change inn the temperature has taken place, the few hours past, the weather glass, at twelve o’clock, to-day, showing a difference of twenty-nine degrees, as compared with the heat at the corresponding time yesterday (Sunday), when the thermometer stood at 103 in the shade….

“Last week will be long remembered for the terrible heat, and its calamitous results. Its mortality has had no parallel in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. (New York Express of Monday evening.)

“Sun Stroke. John McLaughlin was sunstruck on Saturday afternoon, while at work on Sargent’s wharf, and was conveyed to the Hospital, where he is not expected to recover. Two Irishmen, names unknown, at work at South Boston, died on Friday, from coup de soleil. (Boston Courier.)

“In Lawrence, on Thursday, an Irishman, by the name of John Croeg, was sun struck while at work at the corner of Newbury and Common streets, about noon, and died the next morning. Another, named Patrick McGuire, died from drinking cold water, while at work near the Carpet Mill.

“In Gloucester, an Irishman, by the name of Patrick Foley, while at work on board of a fishing vessel at Grover and Steel’s wharf, on Thursday, was so badly injured by the heat of the sun, and by drinking cold water, that he was obliged to go home about noon, and died about 4 o’clock.

“Coup de Soleil. Thos. Kaned died on Saturday, from a sun-stroke. He resides at 42 Curve street, and leaves a wife and two children. A man named Hogan, resident on Second street, South Boston, fell dead while at work at Roxbury on Saturday, John Campbell was sun struck while driving a watering cart on Saturday, and died in a few hours. William Hayes, a baker by trade, died very suddenly on Saturday, from over-exertion; he resided at 162 Fourth street. A child named Brannon, but four years of age, while playing in the street on Saturday, was sun-struck and died; its parents reside in Northampton street. A man named White while walking through Pond street, Dorchester, was sun-struck, and died in a few minutes; he leaves a wife and family in Ireland. (Boston Courier).” (Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2.)

Sources

American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Year 1854 (Vol. 25). ( Sparks, Jared, Johann Schobert, Francis Bowen). Boston: Phillips, Sampson & Co., 1854. Digitized by Google; accessed 3-6-2024 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=v5gYAAAAIAAJ&dq=editions:LCCN05001604&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Carlisle Herald, PA. “Relief from Heat.” 8-17-1853, p. 2. Accessed 3-7-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/carlisle-herald-aug-17-1853-p-2/

Gettysburg Star and Banner. “220 Deaths by Heat!” 8-19-1853, p. 4. Accessed 3-7-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/gettysburg-star-and-banner-aug-19-1853-p-4/

Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, PA. 8-16-1853, p. 2, col. 2. Accessed 3-6-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lancaster-daily-intelligencer-aug-16-1853-p-2/

New York Daily Times. “Brooklyn City…Deaths by Heat.” 8-19-1853, p. 6. Accessed 3-6-2024 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1853/08/19/87864220.html?pageNumber=6

New York Daily Times. “Deaths From The Heat Yesterday.” 8-12-1853, p. 8. Accessed 9-27-2012 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=2809713

New York Daily Times. “Effects of the Heat.” 8-15-1853, p. 1. Accessed 3-6-2024 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1853/08/15/87863897.html?pageNumber=1

New York Daily Times. “Jersey City Death From The Heat.” 8-13-1853, p. 8. Accessed 3-6-2024 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1853/08/13/issue.html

New York Daily Times. “Philadelphia. Deaths from the Heat…” 8-17-1853, p. 2. Accessed 3-6-2024 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1853/08/17/87863986.html?pageNumber=2

New York Daily Times. “Terrible Effects of Intense Heat. One Hundred Additional Deaths reported Yesterday in the City.” 8-15-1853, p. 1. Accessed 3-6-2024 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=2809830

New York Daily Times. “The Deaths By The Recent Heat.” 8-17-1853, p. 1. Accessed 3-6-2024 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1853/08/17/87863975.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0

New York Daily Times. “The Late Excessive Heat. More Coroners’ Inquests – Forty Additional Deaths Recorded Yesterday.” 8-16-1853, 8. Accessed 9-27-2012 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=2810034

New York Daily Times. “Twenty-Seven Persons Killed by the Heat of the Weather Yesterday.” 8-13-1853, 4. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=2809766

New York Times. “Sun-Strokes. Comparative Results During the Past Twenty-Seven Years,” 7-6-1872, p. 8. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=19717535

Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2. Accessed 3-7-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/newburyport-herald-aug-19-1853-p-2/

Pittsburgh Daily Morning Post, PA. “News of Our Own State.” 8-16-1853, p. 2. Accessed 3-7-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pittsburgh-daily-morning-post-aug-16-1853-p-2/

Pittsburgh Daily Morning Post. “Telegraphic.” 8-15-1853, p. 3. Accessed 3-6-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pittsburgh-daily-morning-post-aug-15-1853-p-3/

[1] We view these numbers as very conservative. The reports were essentially for adults who suffered sunstrokes, though there were some reported as brought on by the heat. What is noticeably absent, however, is reporting on infant, elderly, and sickly mortality. We know today, from reporting on many subsequent heat waves that in the nineteenth century a large number of fatalities were of infants. Today, the majority of heat and heat-related deaths are among the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. All these were largely unreported in the 1853 statistics. There were probably many dozens of other non-sunstroke, but heat-related, deaths during this heatwave.

[2] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2.

[3] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2. Cites the Boston Atlas.

[4] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2. Cites the Boston Atlas.

[5] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2. Cites the Boston Atlas.

[6] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2. Cites the Boston Atlas.

[7] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2. Cites the Boston Courier.

[8] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2. Cites the Boston Courier.

[9] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2. Cites the Boston Courier.

[10] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2. Cites the Boston Atlas.

[11] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2. Cites the Boston Courier.

[12] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2.

[13] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2.

[14] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2.

[15] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2.

[16] Newburyport Herald, MA. “The Hot Weather.” 8-19-1853, p. 2. Cites the Boston Courier.

[17] New York Daily Times. “Brooklyn City…Deaths by Heat.” 8-19-1853, p. 6.

[18] The paper notes 12 deaths not included in its report of the 15^th, noting 21. It had, however, reported 6 additional deaths later in the paper. Thus we only count six of the 12 “newly reported” heat fatalities here.

[19] Though the New York Times, in 1872, reported 266 sunstroke-deaths for 1853, if its two articles of August 15^th, noting 188 heat (basically sunstroke) deaths for August 9-14, and August 16, noting 88 additional reports new or not covered on the 15^th, then the total comes to 276 essentially sunstroke deaths.

[20] These represent only those for whom an inquest was held.

[21] These represent only those for whom an inquest was held.

[22] The names, addresses, nationality, and age, where known, are provided in tow lists. One is a list of 46 for whom inquests had been held the day before, Monday August 16, on people who had died on Sunday the 15^th but had not been included in the paper’s death-lists on the 15^th. Then there is a list of 41 deaths reported the day before, but for whom time did not permit a Coroner’s inquest. Finally a note is made of a “Polander” whose badly decomposing body “lying at No. 20 Orange street, who died from the effects of the heat” had “obliged” “those residing in the neighborhood…to quit their residences…” We have not included the names of persons described as “cases which have not yet terminated fatally.”

[23] Pittsburgh Daily Morning Post, PA. “News of Our Own State.” 8-16-1853, p. 2.

[24] Noted in the article above, however, are 100 heat deaths for Sunday.