1918 — Aug 2-14, esp. 6-8, Heat wave, esp. Upper Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast — 294
–294 Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.[1]
Summary of State Breakouts
Connecticut ( 3) Aug 5-8
Delaware ( 1) Aug 7
District of Columbia ( 1) Aug 10
Illinois ( 14) Aug 5-7 Especially Chicago (13)
Indiana ( 4) Aug 7-8, 11, 14
Iowa ( 2) Aug 6 and 10
Kansas ( 1) Aug 3
Maryland ( 11) Aug 6-8 Especially Baltimore ( 8)
Missouri ( 10) Aug 6 St. Louis ( 6)
New Jersey ( 10) Aug 7-8 & 13
New York ( 17) Aug 2-9 Especially New York City (14)
North Carolina ( 1) Aug 7
Ohio (111) Aug 5-14 Especially Cleveland (75)
Pennsylvania (106) Aug 5-12 Esp. Pittsburgh (41), Philadelphia (56)
West Virginia ( 1) Aug 9-10
Wisconsin ( 1) Aug 6
Breakout of Heat and Related Deaths by State and Locality (where noted):
Connecticut ( 3) Aug 5-8
–2 New Haven, Aug 6. “Two deaths from the intense heat were reported here today.”[2]
–1 Norwich, Aug 8. Man thought to be G. L. Mareaux, about 7:30 p.m.[3]
Delaware ( 1) Aug 7
–1 Wilmington, Aug 7. Rivet boy, Harlan plant, Bethlehem Company.[4]
District of Columbia ( 1) Aug 10
–1 Aug 10. Former Senator William Pitt Kellogg, 88, at DC home.[5]
Illinois (14) Aug 5-7 Especially Chicago (13)
–14 Blanchard tally based on locality and date breakouts below.
— 1 Bloomington, Aug 7. Heat Prostration cooking large dinner; Mrs. Benjamin Sweet.[6]
–13 Chicago. Blanchard tally based on date breakouts below.
— 7 Aug 6. Defiance Crescent-News, OH. “Many Deaths From The Heat.” 8-7-1918, 1.[7]
— 6 Aug 7. Jacksonville Daily Journal, IL. “Six Deaths in Chicago.” 8-8-1918, p. 1.[8]
— 1 Monmouth, Aug 6. Virgil Davis, while working at Western Stoneware Co. Plant No. 1.[9]
Indiana ( 4) Aug 7-8, 11 & 14
–1 East Chicago, ~Aug 7-8. George Kaash, 140th street and Olcott Avenue; died at hospital.[10]
–1 Evansville, Aug 11. Jacob Kinkle, 76; retired farmer prostrated by heat Aug 10.[11]
–1 Hammond, ~Aug 7-8. Kemper Fulner; heat prostration; Indiana Steel sheet metal dept.[12]
–1 Laporte, ~Aug 14. J. A. Howe; overcome by heat; died at Holy Family hospital.[13]
Iowa ( 2) Aug 6 and 10
–1 Fort Madison, Aug 10. Heart failure “super-induced by the heat.” Zachary Atlee, 71.[14]
–1 West Liberty, Aug 6. Overheated at work on railroad ~Rock Island station; Pietro Siradello.[15]
Kansas ( 1) Aug 3
–1 Colony, Aug 3. Prostrated by heat several days prior to death; John Francis.[16]
Maryland (11) Aug 6-8 Especially Baltimore ( 8)
–8 Baltimore, Aug 6-8. Rasmussen. “Hot…3 days in August 1918. Baltimore Sun, 8-11-2007.
–5 Baltimore, by Aug 7. Capital Times, Madison, WI. “5 Die In Baltimore.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.[17]
–2 Cumberland, Aug 6. Mrs. Melvin Gurley, 81; Benjamin Close, 70, taking a walk.[18]
–1 Greensboro, Caroline County, Aug 6. Man overcome by intense heat; died in hospital.[19]
Missouri (10) Aug 6 St. Louis (10)
–6 St. Louis, Aug 6. Four adults and two infants; deaths “officially attributed to the heat.”[20]
–4 St. Louis, Aug 11. Atchison Daily Globe, KS. “Four Died From Heat.” 8-12-1918, p. 2.[21]
New Jersey ( 10) Aug 7-8 & 13
–1 Bordentown, Aug 8. John McGee, found dead on Borden Street porch; overcome by heat.[22]
–2 Camden, Aug 7. Fracia Addenattor, 40, NY Shipbuilding Co.; Mrs. Pauline Anderson, 38.[23]
–3 Camden, Aug 8. James Farley, 40; Mrs. Jennie Coulter, 50; Catherine Hill, 8.[24]
–1 Camden, Aug 13. Thomas S. Morris, 82; heat prostration at daughter’s home.[25]
–1 Gloucester City, Aug 7. Suffocation and heat (Coroner finding); William Brattan, 51.[26]
–1 Trenton, Aug 7. Thomas Higgins, about 50, an engineer; found dead in hotel room.[27]
–1 Trenton, Aug 8. Michael Zennell, visiting from Morrisville; heat prostration and alcoholism.[28]
New York ( 17) Aug 2-9 Especially New York City (14)
— 2 Jamestown, Aug 7. Emma C. Nelson, 78, at home; John Ploss, 60, night watchman at work.[29]
–14 New York City. Blanchard tally from date breakouts below.
–4 Aug 6. Plus “a score of prostrations was the toll of the heat wave early today.”[30]
–1 Joseph McKenna, 32. Overcome by heat operating crane at Power House.[31]
–1 John Tienonuto, 4th floor, 15 Oak Street; slept on fire escape, fell to street.[32]
–5 Aug 7. New York Times. “City Never So Hot; 102 A New Record.” 8-8-1918, p.7.
–1 Herbert Ling, 38. found dead in vacant lot at 178th Street and Morris Park.
–1 Rogers Jewell, 3, 749 Gates Avenue.
–1 James Marahan, 40, collapsed at 40 West 60th street; died at Flower Hosp.
–1 Lena Rizzo, 56. 189 Madison Avenue, at home.
–1 James Tortington, 4 months ole, 2,451 2d Avenue.
–4 Aug 8. New York Times. “Mercury Down, But Hot Wave Not Over.” 8-9-1819, p. 20.
–1 Peter Curran, 38, 306 West Forty-fourth Street; died at the Mills Hotel.
–1 Patrick Fleming, 54, 298 Cherry Street; died at home.
–1 Harold O’Connor, 7-months; 184 Franklin Street.
–1 Louis Schnieberowitz; died in front of 31 Canal Street.
–1 Aug 9. John Vaughn, 55, 549 West 125th Street; overcome at Chambers & Broadway.[33]
— 1 Reber, Aug 2. Heat prostration; William Strong.[34]
North Carolina ( 1) Aug 7
–1 Back Swamp twp., Robeson Co., Aug 7. Jim Gaddy, ~45, Beaufort Co. Lumber Co. worker.[35]
Ohio (111) Aug 5-14 Especially Cleveland (75)
–111 Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.
— 2 Akron, Aug 6. UP. “Heat Kills Two Persons in Akron. Canton Daily News, OH. 8-7-1918, 4.[36]
— 4 Canton, Aug 6-7. Blanchard tally.
–1 Aug 6. Roy Lucas, 15 months old, “died a victim to the heat.”[37]
–3 Aug 7. Virginia Milner, 1-year-old; Milka Bobich, 7; Shaffer baby, 23-days-old.[38]
— 2 Chillicothe, Camp Sherman, Aug 6-8. Privates Clarence Stratton and Frances E. Kusnick.[39]
— 75 Cleveland, Aug 5-9. Babies “sunstroke and other illness caused by the heat.”[40]
–19 Aug 6.[41]
— 5 Aug 7.[42]
–18 Aug 8.[43]
–33 Date not noted, though presumably during Aug 5-9.
— 1 Dayton, Aug 7. Harry Lavin, 48, carpenter; heat prostration while on the street.[44]
— 1 Louisville, Aug 5. Mrs. Catherine Willig, 76, overcome by the heat in her home.[45]
— 1 Mansfield, Aug 12. E. A. Eberhart, about 40. collapsed on the street Aug 11.[46]
— 3 Massillon, Aug 6, 8, 14.
–1 Aug 6. Cehcosh Dalig, 22, mill worker “crazed by the heat” jumps into canal.[47]
–1 Aug 8. Sunstroke; Man named Helline, 66, on way home from work.[48]
–1 Aug 14. Harold B. Metzger, 6-months-old, “died from the effects of heat…”[49]
— 1 Springfield, Aug 8, after prostration Aug 5. Dr. C. W. Kurtz, 52.[50]
— 1 Toledo, Aug 6. John Sorgenfrend, 55, a car inspector, collapsed in the union station.[51]
— 1 Toledo, Aug 7. “…heat…killed one man and prostrated three others…” on 103° day.[52]
— 19 Youngstown, Aug 6-13. Mansfield News, OH. “Nineteenth Youngstown Heat Victim.” 8-13-1918, p12.
–9 Aug 6-8. Also four prostrations; temperature on Aug 7 of 97° in afternoon.[53]
–1 Aug 13. Michael Stonofki, 38; after being seized with heat cramps at work Aug 10.[54]
Pennsylvania (106) Aug 5-12 Esp. Pittsburgh (41), Philadelphia (56)
— 1 Abbottstown, Aug 10. Henry Wolf, 74; heat stroke and bladder infection.[55]
— 1 Annville, Aug 12. Laminda Heilman, 88. Heat Exhaustion; home of son.[56]
— 2 Chester, Aug 6-7. Alexander Shakespeare, contractor; Alexander Bradley, shipbuilding.[57]
— 1 Landis Valley, Aug 7. Roy C. Burkhard, 2½-years-old.[58]
— 1 Midvale, Aug 7. Alex Yobb, 43 died at home; first heat death in Tuscarawas County.[59]
— 1 New Castle, Aug 7; Thomas Smith, 35, employed at Atlantic furnace.[60]
–56 Philadelphia, Aug 5-9.[61]
–3 Aug 5. A.U. Gantz, ~60; unidentified man, ~60; George Reed, 55. [62]
–4 Aug 6. Andrew Costello, 65; Peter Sommer, 40; John Johnson, 60; John Winnemore, 59.[63]
–9 Aug 7. Philadelphia Inquirer. “Mercury at 106.2 High Record Here…” 8-8-1918, p1.
#1 John Carlson, 37, of 2636 South Carlisle street, died in Philadelphia Hospital.
#2 Richard Corey, 37 North Fifty-eighth street, found dead in bed; intense heat.
#3 James Enright, 40, 4316 Woodland avenue, died at University Hospital.
#4 Estre Greer, 2448 North Pattson street; Women’s Homeopathic Hospital.
#5 George Johnson, 40, 3473 Sansom street, overcome on street.
#6 Howard McElroy, 1847 North Eleventh street, University Hospital.
#7 Andrew Michaels, 40, 111 Jefferson street, prostrated at home, 105° outside.
#8 Quartermaster Joseph Priea, 32, overcome on wharf, fell into river; drowned.
#9 John Webb, 52, of 800 East Chelton Ave., rear of 6211 Germantown avenue.
–16 Aug 8. Philadelphia Inquirer. “Sixteen More Die of Heat, Relief Is Promised Today.” 8-9-1918, 1, 4.
Andrea Azzarella, 5-months, 704 South Schell Street, at home.
Robert Bell, 52, in Philadelphia Hospital.
Patrick Carr, 50, 1726 Juniata Street, at home.
Joseph Dykes, age not noted, 2765 North Taylor Street, died at Frankford Hosp.
Anna Gerlach, 65, 1538 Germantown Avenue, at home.
Howard O. Himmelreich, 42, 5316 Cedar Ave., worker overcome at Hog Island.
Anna R. Hutt, 8-months, 2728 Fletcher Street, at home.
William Keegan, 60, 1923 South Crosky Street, at home.
Rosellla Knettle, 74, 7 West Wildey Street, at home.
Dorothea Leathern, 1-year-old, 2176 East Lehigh Avenue, at home.
Joseph Lee, 9-months, 1344 South Twenty-Ninth Street, at home.
Manus McNichol, 35, 222 Pearl Street, at home.
Mary Spencer, 80, 414 North Fifth Street, at home.
Frank Trunk, 68, 2412 East Harold Street, at home.
Michael Udell, 44, 2710 Stiles Street, died at Frankford Hospital.
Emma Worrell, 64, Sixty-Fifth and Vine.
–14 Aug 9. Philadelphia Inquirer. “Heat Claims 14 More…” 8-10-1918, p. 1.
–41 Pittsburgh, Aug 6-9. Warren Morning Chronicle, PA. 8-10-1918, p. 3.
— 4 Aug 5-6. (Three drownings and aged woman “died as a result of the heat.”[64]
–13 Aug 8-9 (24 hours).
— 1 Prospect Park, Delaware County, Aug 7. Mrs. Mary Jane Yates, elderly.[65]
— 1 Starnes Station, Adams County, ~Aug 7. Mrs. William Weidner.[66]
West Virginia ( 1) Aug 9-10
–1 Harrison County, Meadowbrook mine, Madison Johnson Coal Co., Aug 9-10. M.C. Neemer.[67]
Wisconsin ( 1) Aug 6
–1 Milwaukee, Aug 6. Heat prostration; fireman Frank Shook.[68]
Breakout of Heat and Related Fatalities by Date (Aug 2-14)
Not 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th
Noted
76 1 1 0 12 59 51 58 22 3 5 2 1 2
Narrative Information — General
Henry: “The high temperatures of the first decade of August, 1918, came seemingly as a climax to a year of remarkable weather…in August, 1918, the temperature rose to heights not hitherto attained in almost half a century of observations.
The writer of this paper made the official forecasts for the Washington district for August. While tho hot spell was in progress it was a matter of continual surprise to him that, considering the pressure distribution, such abnormally high temperatures should persist day after day in some portions of the country. Records of maximum temperature that had stood for nearly half a century were not only broken, but the new record itself was in some cases exceeded on the following day. A retrospective view of the conditions preceding and during the prevalence of the high temperatures is helpful to a better understanding of the phenomenon than could be gained by the necessarily brief examination of the daily weather maps that was possible at the time; hence the preparation of this paper….
“Contributing causes.–In my judgment the high temperatures were the result of several influences acting in conjunction, viz: (1) The pressure distribution; (2) insolation, probably not exceptional in any respect, but unchecked by clouds for several consecutive days; (3) the topography of the Plains States, which is favorable to a transfer of heated air from lower to higher latitudes in the region where the hot spell developed; and (4) possibly dynamic heating (over Montana) where there was a descent of warm dry air from high to low levels. Just to what degree No. 4 contributed to the rise in temperature over Montana on the 1st and 2d is a matter of speculation, but it seems quite clear that dynamic heating was at least a factor. The pressure distribution, however, is believed to be the controlling and, indeed, the principal factor in the causation of the phenomena…. [p. 361]
“The movement of a shallow high across the upper lakes on the 2d…seemed to intensify the heat over Kansas, southeastern Nebraska, western Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and extreme northern Texas….
“By the evening of the 5th the eastward limit of the warm weather was found over western New England, with two centers of departure from the normal of 20 degrees or more, one in western Pennsylvania and south-eastern Ohio, the other extending from southwestern lower Michigan to northeastern Kansas. A notable feature of the hot weather in the Lake region was the fact that places on the lee shore of the Lake suffered almost as much from the heat as places on the windward side. Thus, Chicago on the windward side experienced a temperature of 26 degrees above the normal on the afternoon of the 5th, while Grand Haven on the opposite or leeward side of the Lake experienced a temperature of 20 degrees above the normal, or only 6 degrees less than on the windward side of the Lake.
“The peak of the hot spell was reached in Kansas on the 3d; in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and northern Alabama on the 5th; in the middle Atlantic coast States on the 6th and 7th; and in the Carolinas on the 6th. The of spell did not extend into Georgia and Florida or into Maine.
“The greatest excess of temperature was 26 degrees above the normal at Chicago, Ill., at the evening observation of the 5th. The temperature at the observation was 100°. The temperature was between 20 and 25 degrees above the normal in eastern Kansas and western Missouri on the 3d and 4th. On the 5th the region of greatest departure extended from northeastern Kansas to southern Michigan, and a second area covered the upper Ohio Valley. On this date the temperature was 10 degrees or more above normal over an area of more than a million square miles. On the 6th the high temperatures had overspread the Middle Atlantic States, the greatest positive departures being in Pennsylvania. The hot weather continued in the East over the 7th and 8th, but did not spread into eastern New England.
“The hot spell was broken by thundershowers that were irregularly distributed, but were nevertheless effective in reducing the extremely high temperatures, especially in the great eastern cities…. [p. 362]
“In Washington, D.C., while the atmosphere was extremely hot on the afternoons of the 6th and 7th, the air was dry, and but few serious cases of heat prostration occurred.
“The conspicuous features of the hot spell were : (1) Its short duration both in the extreme Northwest and in the East; (2) the general dryness of the air; and, finally, the manner in which it broke up–viz, through local thunderstorms during the night of the 7th-8th.
“The duration in the Canadian Northwest and also in the Eastern States hardly exceeded two days, although locally in the East there were some high maxima on the 8th….
“The break-up of the hot spell.–The peak of the hot spell in the East was reached on the 6th, but there were also high maxima on the 7th and 8th. It was not until the 15th, however, that the maximum temperature at Washington failed to register above 85°. After the local thunderstorms on the afternoon of the 7th in the upper Ohio Valley, southwestern Pennsylvania, the northern portion of the Appalachian region, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, the day temperatures did not reach the high figures of the 5th and 6th, but the night temperature of the 8th-9th, in portions of the Middle Atlantic States from Philadelphia, Pa., south, was exceptionally high….
“On the morning of the 12th high pressure appeared off the coast of British Columbia, and on the 13th and 14th advanced across the northern Rocky Mountain region and the Missouri Valley, thus terminating the period of abnormally high temperature which had prevailed since the 1st….
“In conclusion, it would seem that the explanation of the abnormally high temperatures of August, 1918, is to be found in the fact that for some time, as a result of the unhindered insolation that had been received at the earth’s surface in the Plains States, not only the surface of the earth but the air layers in contact therewith and upward, probably to at least a kilometer above the surface, had become unusually warm: the development of a barometric gradient for fresh southerly winds on the 1st and 2d and again on the 4th, 5th, and 6th, was the concluding step in the phenomenon.” (Henry. “Hot Spell of August, 1918.” Monthly Weather Review, Vol. XLVI, 9-14-1918, pp. 361-363.)
Philadelphia Inquirer, Aug 5: “Discussing heat strokes and exhaustion from heat so frequent in the summer months, especially among the aged, Dr. Witmer Krusen, Director of the Department of Health and Charities said yesterday:
Heat stroke and exhaustion are often fatal conditions. They take their toll chiefly among infants and the aged. Not infrequently adults of middle age succumb to influences of high humidity and temperature. Fatal cases among adults are usually the result of carelessness upon the part of the individual to guard himself from excessive and prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays.
Babies must be given special attention during the heated term. Mothers living in closely built up quarters, in tenements and in courts should keep their infants in rooms which are shaded and ventilated, on the ground floor of the house. Whenever possible babies should be kept outdoors, on the shady side of the street or in area-ways unexposed to the sunlight. The baby’s clothing should consist only of a loose, cotton wrap, the arms and legs being bare. Bathe the baby daily.
Persons of advanced years should not walk the streets during the heat of the day. They should seek the parks, the public squares and such shaded places outdoors as will afford them comfort and relief. Aged persons should not work outdoors a laborious trades.
Among the vast majority of workers engaged at their usual pursuits, a great deal of comfort may be procured if the proper kind of loose, light-weight clothing is worn. Dark clothes absorb the heat rays and tend to make the individual war.
An office with suppressed, soft light appears cooler than one brightly illuminated and receiving the full glare of the sun. Indoor workers can make themselves very comfortable by wearing loosely-woven cotton or silk undergarments.
Bathe daily. A cold shower after working hours and a change of clean clothing are very refreshing. Sleepless nights may be avoided by taking a cold sponge bath before retiring. Bedrooms exposed to the sun may be closed tightly during the day, and opened at sundown.
(Philadelphia Inquirer. “Infants and Aged Targets For Heat.” 8-5-1918, p. 3.)
Aug 5: “Washington, Aug 5.–Relief is not in sight from any quarter from the heat wave which has overspread the entire country east of the Rocky Mountains, bringing record high temperatures today to the middle west, it was said tonight at the weather bureau. The heated area tomorrow will overspread the eastern and middle west, it was said tonight at the weather bureau. The heated area tomorrow will overspread the eastern and middle Atlantic States, causing still higher temperatures than those recorded today.
Evansville, Ind., with an official temperature of 104 was the hottest place east of the Mississippi today. Temperatures of 102 degrees were recorded at Indianapolis, Toledo, and Fort Wayne, Ind., the thermometer readings at Toledo and Fort Wayne being the highest recorded in the 49-year history of the weather bureau. Chicago reported a temperature of 100 degrees. The heat wave will be broken eventually by thunder storms, first appearing in the west or by a high pressure area from Alaska, neither of which is in sight, it was said.” (Oil City Derrick, PA. “Heat Wave Will Continue.” 8-6-1918, p. 1.)
Aug 8: “Some relief from the heat and drought in the West has developed, with moderate declines in temperature and widespread showers in Kansas, Nebraska, Western Iowa, the Dakotas, Oklahoma and the Panhandle of Texas. General cloudiness prevails and light showers are probable in Kansas City this afternoon or night, but another area of low barometer in Canada will cause a return of warmer weather. The heaviest rain recorded this morning was 1.60 inches at Amarillo, Tex., affording relief to important pasture regions….” (Kansas City Star, MO. “Heat Wave Is Broken.” 8-8-1918, p. 1.)
Connecticut
Aug 6-7, Bridgeport: “Continued warm weather today, with the thermometer ranging between 85 and 98, as yesterday [6th], was the midnight prediction for Bridgeport persons, who have sweltered under the heat wave during the past two days. Yesterday the heat seemed more severe because of the high humidity which made living decidedly uncomfortable. One prostration was reported to the police at Elm and Broad streets, but when the police ambulance arrived the heat victim was taken care of by friends and it was not recorded.
“As reports telling of heat records of years standing being broken in scores of cities throughout the East and consequent wholesale deaths and unparalleled sufferings began coming over the telegraph wires, it was announced by William Jennings, official city weather observer, that the 1918 heat record established for Bridgeport July 23 was equaled yesterday at 4 o’clock p.m. when the thermometers of his observatory registered 98 degrees.
“Yesterday dawned with a tense humidity, which made the lesser temperature of the morning seem worse than the latter high record. At 6:30 o’clock in the morning it was 72 degrees, the minimum of the day. At the same time the humidity was 85 per cent., Mr. Jennings stated last night. From this hour the temperature steadily mounted higher until it reached the maximum at 4 o’clock. As the temperature mounted the per cent. of humidity lessened. The average temperature for the day was 85 degrees and the average per cent. of humidity was 72.
“Thousands flocked to the parks and beaches in an effort to get some relief. The parks were just as hot as the city streets, because there was little or no breeze. Those who went into the water, however, were relieved while they were in the water, but after dressing found the old world as hot as ever.
“Last night and the night previous were two of the hottest nights so far recorded….
“Workers in the various factories suffered considerably from the heat, but despite this heavy moisture laden air they kept bravely at their tasks and worked with as much vim as could be possibly mustered up under the circumstances….” (Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Torrid Wave Here To Stay, with no Let-up Predicted.” 8-7-1918, pp. 1-2.)
Aug 7-8: “With the official thermometers of William Jennings, city weather observer, registering a maximum of 98 degrees, equaling the 1918 heat record established for Bridgeport in July, three persons were prostrated in the city yesterday, while hundreds of others experienced the worst of suffering. Scores of workers left their tool in practically all the war industries in and about Bridgeport to escape the suffocating atmosphere. Hundreds of business and professional workers declared a vacation for the afternoon, and business of all sorts was revolutionized….Observer Jennings was doubtful that there will be much of a decrease in the temperature for several days….” (Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “Three Prostrated By Terrific Heat; Business Suspends.” 8-8-1918, p. 1.)
Aug 9-10: “Four days of torrid heat with the thermometer ranging in the nineties were ended here on Friday afternoon [Aug 9] by a terrific thunderstorm at 2:30 o’clock that brought 1.47 inches of rain in about an hour, accompanied by a high wind, and almost incessant flashes of lightning and nerve-racking cannonade, while the streets swam with water almost ankle deep….” (Norwich Bulletin, CT. “Terrific Storm Ends Hot Spell.” 8-10-1918, p. 5.)
Aug 14, Bridgeport: “In spite of the high temperature and humidity in the vicinity of Bridgeport yesterday [14th], the city escaped with but one prostration case. The severe storms and showers which were felt to the north, east and west of Bridgeport skipped this city, although cooling breezes which arose early in the evening forecast immediate relief from the suffering of the past two days. The highest temperature recorded by Weather Observer William Jennings was 97 degrees, one degree lower than the record for this month.
“James Galvin, 47, of 275 Coleman street, was the victim of prostration. He fell to the sidewalk at Main street and Fairfield avenue, prostrated with the heat shortly before 4:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon. A hurried call was sent to the Emergency hospital and the man was treated by Dr. Matthew Foley. He was removed to his home. Galvin is a tinsmith by trade and was on his way home after finishing his day’s work when stricken. His condition was not regarded as serious.
“Observer Jennings declared last night that the present heat wave has been produced by the same conditions as the heat wave last week, an area of high pressure along the Atlantic coast meeting a low pressure area from the Great Lakes, moving easterly.” (Bridgeport Telegram, CT. “One Prostration Here as Heat and Humidity Return.” 8-15-1918, p. 1.)
Delaware
Aug 7: “Wilmington, Del., Aug. 7.–Wilmington sweltered in the heat today. The mercury hovered about 105 degrees for hours. The heat was so intense that work was stopped in a number of the large manufacturing plants and shipyards. One fatality was reported but the name of the victim could not be learned as the case had not been reported to the authorities. The story of the death was given out at the Harlan plant of the Bethlehem Company according to the report. A rivet boy who had worked all day yesterday until the men quit and who refused to quit when the other boys stopped on account of the heat was overcome when he reached his home and died today.” (Philadelphia Inquirer. “Wilmington Plants Closed By Heat.” 8-8-1918, p. 8.)
District of Columbia
2018, Samenow: “On this date [Aug 6] a hundred years ago, D.C. staggered through some of its most intense heat on record. The mercury soared to 106 degrees, a temperature that has only once been matched in the century since, on July 20, 1930….The excessively hot day in 1918 occurred during a heat wave that torched much of the country. Record highs of 104 degrees were set in Detroit, Harrisburg, Pa., and Toledo while Cleveland and Scranton, Pa., touched 100, The Washington Post reported. “All the country sizzles,” read the paper’s headline on Aug. 7.
“While it was 106 degrees in the shade at 24th and M streets NW, Washington’s official weather station at the time, a partially shaded thermometer at a Weather Bureau kiosk on Pennsylvania Avenue hit 114 degrees. Another thermometer, at Washington’s courthouse, which was “exposed to sun all day,” shot up to 121 degrees, The Post reported. The paper reported many cases of heat-related illness and death or “prostrations,” the term used to describe overheated bodies at the time….
“During the five-day heat wave, which spanned Aug. 5 to 9, Washington’s temperature averaged 100 degrees and was accompanied by oppressive humidity levels. The dew point, a measure of humidity, averaged 72 degrees and peaked at 82 degrees on Aug. 8, the highest on record through at least 1949. Dew points over 70 are very uncomfortable and become suffocating over 80….” (Samenow, Jason. “A recap of Aug. 6, 1918, the most viciously hot day in D.C. history — with an asterisk.” Washington Post, 8-6-2018.)
Aug 6: “High temperature records that have marked the limits of heat waves during all the period of official observation in the northwestern quarter of the United States were broken yesterday [6th]. Washington and Baltimore, by weather bureau thermometers experienced a temperature of 106 degrees, a point not even approached by the mercury since 1881, and not reached then….These were the findings of the cool and cloistered instruments in the weather bureau’s minarets. Instruments set closer to the baking pavements of the city streets everywhere showed the mercury mounting to heights officially unbelievable and impossible. On Pennsylvania avenue in the National Capital one of the weather bureau’s own instruments during the day marked 114 degrees. The hottest place in Washington so far as known as registered on a thermometer which was exposed to the sun all day at the court house. It is said this reached 121 degrees….
“The hot wave owes its existence, weather bureau officials said, to an area of low barometric pressure which has been mobbing languidly from West to East across the continent, staying just a little north of the normal track and suffering no competition from other disturbances to the South. In consequence there has been a great and constant flow of the air currents up the continent from South to North which have gathered the accumulated heat that many days of unbroken sunshine has left on the mid-continental territory. The low rested last night above the St. Lawrence River and was presumably bound to dissipation over the Atlantic, but its attendant air drift has lost but little of its thermal content, the experts said. Only the low humidity due to lack of rain, has prevented a larger number of heat prostrations….” (Washington Post. “114 Degrees in Shade. City’s Hottest Day Since Record Was Established in 1881.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.)
Illinois
Aug 4, Monmouth: “It was 102 degrees above zero in the shade yesterday [4th] and the residents of Monmouth who were compelled to stay in the city certainly suffered. The mercury started climbing early and at noon the temperature was at such a high point that many a cold lunch took the place of the customary Sunday dinner. It was the hottest day of the summer thus far, the previous ‘hottest day’ being one Sunday more that a month ago when the mercury climbed to the century mark and stopped. There were few people to be found in the business part of town yesterday afternoon. The temperature on South Main street, where the sun’s rays got a chance to work out on the bricks, was around 110 and in some places higher temperatures than this were recorded by common street thermometers. It was so hot that no disputes on high temperatures took place.
“Owners of automobiles were out in force yesterday afternoon but many returned home early saying that it was just as hot traveling on the country roads as it was in town. The heat worked disaster on motor cars and people who drove over to Galesburg assert that there was an average of one car every mile that was out of commission. The hot roads caused tires to blow out and scores of motorists were compelled to return home last night ‘on the rim.’ The heat also had its effect on engines and countless cars stopped because of internal trouble….
“Ice men were busy today supplying their customers whose supplies were exhausted yesterday. Ice cream dealers did an enormous business all day yesterday and there was a rush at all soda fountains from morning until night.
“There were no heat prostrations reported in the city yesterday due no doubt to the fact that the entire population decided to remain quiet. Last night was a tough one as far as sleeping was concerned in spite of the fact that a brisk breeze commenced blowing shortly after sundown. Many people sought their porches and others got out on the grass in order to get a few hours rest.” (Monmouth Daily Atlas, IL. “Residents of City Baked In Extreme Heat.” 8-5-1918, p. 2.)
Aug 6, Chicago: “Chicago, Aug. 7.–Seven persons are dead and more than a score prostrated yesterday [6th]–the second day of the heat wave which has enveloped Chicago since Monday, when the thermometer went up to 102 degrees at 4 p.m….At 4 p.m. the thermometer registered 101.” (DuPage County Register, Roselle, IL. “Many Deaths From The Heat.” 8-8-1918, p.14.)
Aug 8-9, Monmouth: “A shower about 3:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon [8th] smashed the heat wave which had the city in its grasp during the last few days and after the rain the mercury made a decided drop. The maximum temperature yesterday was 92 degrees, practically 10 degrees less than the day previous and today’s noon temperature was 72 or 20 degrees less than yesterday’s maximum….” (Monmouth Daily Atlas, IL. “Mercury Took A Big Drop.” 8-9-1918, p. 2.)
Indiana
Aug 5, Evansville: “Evansville, Ind., with an official temperature of 104, was the hottest place east of the Mississippi to-day. Temperatures of 102 degrees were recorded at Indianapolis, Toledo and Fort Wayne, Ind., the thermometer readings at Toledo and Fort Wayne being the highest recorded in the forty year history of the weather bureau….” (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN. “Heat Wave Over Entire Country; No Relief in Sight.” 8-6-1918, p. 1.)
Aug 6, Fort Wayne: “The continued hot wave and unbearable heat which struck Fort Wayne Monday [5th] made work in the various shops and factories almost unbearable yesterday [6th]. St the Pennsylvania shops, a large number of the men weakened by the temperature which obtained yesterday afternoon were forced to quit. Not since the establishment of the plant here ahs the heat become so great as this week, and in the blacksmith shop and forced draft forges, the perspiration poured from the men who labored with hot iron, steam hammers and riveting machines. Twp prostrations were reported at the Pennsylvania yesterday. Stock Tender Nahrwald of the store house, succumbed to the heat while at work and was removed to his home. J.C. Smith, another employe collapsed at work and was taken from the shops….” (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN. “Terrific Heat Affects Shopmen.” 8-7-1918, p. 9.)
Aug 6, Indianapolis: “Indianapolis, Aug. 6.–Promises for another day of scorching heat for Indiana were fulfilled throughout the state today, according to reports being received here up to noon. In Indianapolis the mercury started at 82 degrees at seven o’clock in the morning, and climbed rapidly. At en o’clock it was 91 degrees. The experience of yesterday [5th], when the maximum was 102.7 degrees, caused general precautions to be taken today. Teamsters carried extra buckets and threw water on their horses whenever they had the opportunity. Shoppers crowded the stores early, and by noon comparatively little business was being done except at ice cream parlors and places where electric fans were on sale. Reports of extreme temperature received today showed Muncie was the hottest place in the state, with 108 degrees. The reports showed slight variations from 102 at South Bend and 103 at Evansville. All reports were that the mercury had gone above the 102 mark.” (Kokomo Daily Tribune, IN. “Some Promise Of Relief In Shower Area.” 8-6-1918, p. 1.)
Aug 6, Kokomo: “It is not as hot in Kokomo today as it was yesterday–according to the government thermometer at the post office. But people are inclined to question the reliability of those instruments as they pant in the torrid air. At noon the government thermometer registered 98; at 2 o’clock it had climbed to an even 100. Assistant Weather Shark Ingles wouldn’t look at it after that, declaring he hadn’t the heart. ‘But it isn’t any cooler,’ he said.” (Kokomo Daily Tribune, IN. “Some Promise Of Relief In Shower Area.” 8-6-1918, p. 1.)
Iowa
Aug 4: “With hottest weather in 40 years prevailing in the southwestern section of Iowa Sunday [4th] and no relief promised by the weather bureau, indications are that serious damage will result to corn, potatoes and gardens. Officials at the weather bureau predict high temperatures of 100 for Des Moines and southern Iowa Tuesday [6th] and Wednesday. Rain cannot be promised. The heat wave of Sunday continued unabated Monday with a temperature of 102 registered at 1 p.m. It is not thought that the maximum will reach as high as Sunday, but will go above 102 before the end of the day. Early Monday the mercury started on its climb and at 8 a.m. had reached 87 degrees. At noon 99 was registered.
“Lack of moisture throughout the southern portion of the state the last few weeks places crops in a precarious situation. This is also true of Polk-co., according to reports received by C. N. Kennedy, county agent. Northern Iowa is safe for a time, and unless continued warm weather, without rains, prevails, crops will pull thru without serious damage.
“Clarinda, with 113 degrees, was the hottest place in the country Sunday. Des Moines was second in the United States with 110.2 degrees, and Omaha ranked third with 110 degrees. This is a new record for Des Moines, the former high temperature being 100 on July 22, 1901. It was 12 degrees warmer here than at Phoenix, Ariz., which us usually the hottest place in the country. Only five other cities in the United States have reported a temperature above 100 for Sunday.
“There were no fatalities, this fact being credited to the low humidity which accompanied the heat wave. Only one prostration was reported, that of Walter Jones of Melcher, Ia., who was overcome by the heat and taken to the Mercy Hospital. His condition is not serious.
“Miss Margerite Duffy, 733 W. Eighth-st was overcome by the heat in the afternoon while visiting friends. She was taken home and attended by Police Surgeon Lieber, who reported her condition to be favorable.
“Riverview park and the city bathing beaches were the mecca for thousands who sought moist relief from the sizzling ovens of the downtown district and the baking wind which spread the heat to all of the city. It is estimated that 3000 people used the pool at Riverview during the afternoon and evening to secure a little comfort from the heat. Many motored to the country, while still others counted no motion at all as the easiest way to keep cool and remained at home on screened porches, languidly lounging in hammocks and sipping iced drinks.
“The heat was most severe in southern Iowa and it is thought that crops in the southwestern district suffered considerably. According to Director Reed of the weather bureau, Bedford in Taylor-co and Clarinda suffered almost as intense heat as did Des Moines.
“Showers were reported at Cedar Rapids Sunday night and other eastern cities of the state did not suffer like Des Moines. Davenport was 93 and Keokuk reported 108. At 6 a.m. Sunday the thermometer stood at 74 and from there it climbed to the 100 mark at 12:30 p.m. and reached the maximum of 110.2 at 4:30 in the afternoon. At 8 p.m. it had receded to 96….”
(Des Moines News, IA. “Heat Damages Iowa Crops. 8-5-1819, p. 1.)
Kansas
Aug 3: “Topeka, Kan., Aug 3.–Unprecedented high temperatures accompanied by hot winds, prevailed throughout Kansas today, shattering weather bureau records which extend back over a period of thirty-two years. The maximum temperature recorded in Topeka was 109 degrees at 5 p.m., which was the highest temperature on record here. The government thermometer at Abilene set the pace for the state, recording a maximum of 114½ degrees. Salina was next with 111, Junction City, 110, and Winfield, 106. Reports from all over the state show that the corn is suffering considerable damage as a result of the heat and hot winds. The local weather bureau tonight held out no hopes that the heat wave, the worst known in years, will be broken soon.” (Joplin Globe, MO. “Heat Record Broken.” 8-4-1918, p. 7.)
Aug 5, Atchison: “With no prospect for a break in the hot winds that have been making Kansas sizzle the last four days in sight, farmers and grain men are becoming alarmed over the situation….Today is slightly cooler than yesterday and Saturday, but the wind seems almost as hot….Prof. RE. M. Stahl, local observer for the Kansas weather bureau, reported the thermometer at 108 at 11 o’clock this morning and at 107 this afternoon, the fall being due to the fact the wind became a trifle cooler….” (Atchison Daily Globe, KS. “Heated Blasts Shrivel Corn.” 8-5-1918, p. 6.)
Aug 5, Topeka: “Topeka, Kan., Aug 5.–Torrid temperatures continued throughout Kansas today, causing additional damage to corn and garden truck. The first prostration caused by the intense heat was reported from Atchison, where a woman was prostrated late today. The highest temperature reported here today was 104 degrees, two degrees less than the maximum Sunday. A hot wind blew steadily from the southwest, adding greatly to the discomfort of people and animals. The weather bureau held out no hope for relief, the forecast for tomorrow being for continued high temperatures.” (Joplin Globe, MO. “Middle West Swelters.” 8-6-1918, p. 7.)
Aug 6, Cuba, KS: “Suffering humanity was granted a respite from the extreme heat on Tuesday night [6th] of this week. Starting Saturday the mercury ascended skyward reaching at point 104 degrees, Sunday was four degrees higher, and Monday and Tuesday the mercury hung around the 100 mark. Hot winds accompanied the heat wave, and did everything except help the prospects for a crop in this vicinity. Tuesday evening clouds appeared in the west and north and about 11 o’clock a shower visited this neighborhood, but did not last long enough to settle this dust, but the relief from the heat is greatly appreciated.” (Cuba Daylight, KS. “Relief From Heat.” 8-8-1918, p. 1.)
Maryland
Aug 5, Cumberland: “Cumberland sweltered under a boiling sun today that sent the mercury up to 100 degrees early this afternoon, making it the hottest day this summer. Not only was the heat terrific but the humidity was intense. At 1 o’clock this afternoon the official thermometer at the city hall registered 99 degrees. The lowest temperature since 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon was 65 degrees. The city hall thermometer yesterday registered 96 degrees.” (Cumberland Evening Times, MD. “Cumberland Swelters Under Broiling Sun.” 8-5-1918, p. 7.)
Aug 5, Frostburg: “At Frostburg the heat is also intense. Yesterday [4th] John T. Lewis, in charge of the Government records at the Consolidation Coal Company office, reported a temperature of 91. At noon today at the same time the temperature was 90. With the intense heat and lack of rain, the growth of vegetation is being seriously interfered with. This afternoon it was reported that Frostburg’s reservoir was empty.” (Cumberland Evening Times, MD. “No Water At Frostburg.” 8-5-1918, p. 7.)
Aug 6-8, Baltimore (Rasmussen, 2007): “…it’s been hot this week, but not quite as hot as the three-day heat wave that saw temperatures in Baltimore soar to 105 degrees twice between Aug. 6 and Aug. 8, 1918….’The day started out bright and early to be a sizzler. At 9 o’clock this morning, when most of the downtown district was buckling down to the work of the day, the temperature registered 90 degrees – an unusual performance for so early in the day,’ reported The Evening Sun in its editions of Aug. 6. By 1:30 that afternoon, the mercury rose to 102 degrees in the Weather Bureau’s ‘official tube’ atop the Custom House, reported the newspaper, and combined with 58 percent humidity, was the principal ‘cause of wilted collars and wilted looks.’ Between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., the thermometer finally stopped climbing when it reached 105.5 degrees. Baltimore was experiencing a veritable cool spell when compared with Washington, which reported a high of 106, and Cumberland, where temperatures soared to 107….
“Two thousand workers building additions to what was then Camp Meade walked off the job, saying they ‘could no longer stand exposure to the burning sun,’ while hospital emergency rooms were jammed with victims suffering from heat prostration. Many local factories, ‘especially those employing women and girls, will close down early, so that their employees may seek cooler places and thus conserve their strength,’ reported The Evening Sun.
“Baltimore County farmers stopped work and stabled their draft animals; they hauled water after sunset in an effort to save their crops from ruin.
“On the night of Aug. 6, city police estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 men, women and children slept in public parks ‘covering all the slopes with a close-packed mass of suffering humanity,’ the newspaper reported. The temperature at night fell to 88, and the atmosphere was deathly still, with no trace of wind. Baltimoreans had to endure another day of suffering when the thermometer hit 105 degrees at 5 p.m. on Aug. 7….
“Finally, a heavy thunderstorm rolled over Baltimore on the evening of Aug. 8, bringing an end to the heat wave that had ‘worn those in good physical shape to a frazzle, and among the sick, the aged and the infants it was playing havoc,’ reported The Sun. Eight people lost their lives during the heat wave….” (Rasmussen, Frederick N. “Hot, hotter, hottest: 3 days in August 1918. The Baltimore Sun, 8-11-2007.)
Aug 7, Cumberland: “The heat wave that struck this city three days ago and which has swept the country, showed no relaxation today, although many persons believed it was a few degrees cooler than yesterday. The thermometer at the City Hall at 1:30 o’clock this afternoon registered 109 degrees, and it is believed the quivering needle would extend beyond this before 5 o’clock this afternoon. The highest point reached by the mercury yesterday was 109 degrees. Today will break all records for the city. The government weather keeper gives no assurance of any relief for at least two days…The heat wave which has had Cumberland in its grip since Sunday night, came out of the west and continues to extend to the far east, to the south and southeast.
“Vegetation in the rural districts is burning up under the powerful rays of the sun and it is said by farmers who came to the city this morning that hundreds of acres of vegetables will be ruined. One farmer exhibited to customers tomatoes he plucked from his vines early this morning that were burned brown from the heat of the past three days. In some sections of the county and of counties of nearby states, especially on top of the mountains, there has been little or no rain for the past two months….
“Man and beast alike are sweltering in the city. Those with automobiles leave the city with their families early in the evening and do not return until late at night in their eagerness for a breath of air. Large numbers of persons spend the evening bathing in the Potomac river, while others seek shady spots in the parks and nearby woods. Many sleepless nights are being undergone because of the heavy humidity that settles over the city after sun down, making bed rooms almost unbearable. Although water is being used in great quantities, the supply at the Evitts Creek dam remains plentiful.
“The thermometer registered 100 at Frostburg at 2 o’clock. During the night the drop was to 72. Clouds were reported forming in the northeast at Frostburg and signs pointed to showers.”
(Cumberland Evening Times, MD. “109 Degrees t 1:30 This Afternoon.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.)
Aug 8, Cumberland: “After three days of sweltering weather a wind storm that broke over the city late yesterday afternoon [7th] tended to turn off the heat and today saw the quivering needle in the city’s official thermometer at the City Hall descend fifteen degrees. At 1:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon the mercury danced around the 109 mark, while today at the same time it registered only 94 degrees. The lowers temperature up to that time was 74 degrees. The wind storm yesterday was followed by a slight sprinkle of rain accompanied by peals of thunder and flashes of lightning. The shower was of short duration and was not heavy enough to lay the dust that arose to great heights in the downtown sections and made travel difficult….
“The heat Tuesday and Wednesday made it impossible to operate several departments of the N. & G. Taylor mills, while other industries closed at noon.” (Cumberland Evening Times, MD. “Nearby Storms Bring Relief To Cumberland.” 8-8-1918, p. 1.)
Massachusetts
Aug 7: “Springfield, Mass., Aug. 7.–Temperature records for recent years here were broken when the mercury registered 101 in the United States Armory Post Hospital late today. This thermometer is considered official. Several factories closed at noon.” (New York Times. “City Never So Hot; 102 A New Record.” 8-8-1918, p.7.)
Michigan
Aug 6: “Detroit, Aug. 6.–All high temperature records of the local weather bureau were broken this afternoon when an official reading atop a high office building showed 103 degrees at 2 o’clock. In the street the government kiosk registered 113.” (Washington Post. “113 Degrees in Detroit.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.)
Aug 6, Saginaw: “….Nearly 100 years ago today, on Aug. 6, 1918, the temperature in Saginaw soared to 103 degrees…the National Weather Service reports….The headline on an Aug. 7, 1918 edition of The Saginaw News Courier states, ‘Heat record broken Tuesday afternoon as mercury reaches 103.1.’” (Devereaux, Brad. “Heat wave history: The temperature hit 103 degrees in 1918 in Saginaw.” Mlive.com, 8-6-2015.)
Aug 8: “Muskegon — Mayor Lawrence Siear of Muskegon Heights, was prostrated by the heat Thursday [8th] and will probably be unable to resume his executive work for a week or more.” (Ludington Daily News, MI. “Michigan Briefs.” 8-11-1918, p. 7.)
Aug 13-14, South Haven: “The intense heat of the past few days was broken by the cool breeze which sprung up last evening and the shower which followed during the night, although there was probably not rain enough to do much, if any good, to the thirsty crops.” (South Haven Daily Tribune, MI. “Heat Wave Is Broken By Cool Wind And Rain.” 8-14-1918, p. 1.)
Missouri
Aug 3: “Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 3.–A heat wave of unprecedented severity enveloped the greater part of the southwest today and tonight, and according to reports received here …temperature records in many parts of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas have been broken. No deaths from heat prostration had been reported here tonight. In Kansas City the temperature went to 108, the highest on record since the establishment of the local weather bureau. St. Joseph was another Missouri city to report an exceptionally high temperature, the thermometer there reaching a maximum of 105.” (Joplin Globe, MO. “Heat Record Broken.” 8-4-1918, p. 7.)
Aug 7: “Columbia, MO., Aug. 7.–Continued extreme heat and dryness have caused the Missouri corn crop to suffer serious impairment everywhere, says the weekly weather bureau summary issued today.” (Joplin News Herald, MO. “Press-Time Flashes.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.)
Nebraska
Aug 3: “Geneva, Neb., Aug 4.–The local government weather observer reported one hundred and ten and one-half degrees in the shade for yesterday afternoon, breaking the record for twenty-six years that F. M. Flory has been on the job. There was very little wind and it was not what is known as a ‘hot wind,’ but vegetation was almost cooked.” (Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln. “Heat Record at Geneva.” 8-5-1918, p. 6.)
Aug 4, Lincoln: “The mercury shot up to 109 degrees Sunday afternoon [4th]. According to the weather reports there were just two stations which reported a higher temperature. These cities were Omaha and Des Moines who reported a temperature one degree pas the Lincoln record. To add to the high temperature a wind with a highest velocity of fifteen miles an hour made cool shade almost an impossibility. The thermometer reached the top notch at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, according to the weather bureau report. At 4 o’clock it registered the same but dropped 6 degrees the hollowing hour. At 7 o’clock the mercury was still a degree above the century mark. The coolest part of the day was at 6 a.m., when the record shows eighty degrees. The mean temperature for the day was 95 degrees, which is 19 degrees above normal.
“The government kiosk at Tenth and O streets was the mecca for those on the streets, Sunday afternoon. The instrument which is on the street and near the pavement, registered 114 degrees. Many people went to the parks during the afternoon and evening to try and dodge the heat. Little relief, however, was found there, as the winds carried a burning heat.
“Reports reaching Lincoln were that considerable damage was done to the corn altho the amount could not be estimated. Opinions were that rains could yet same the crop bu it was admitted that considerable moisture would be required. A farmer from Raymond reported that the hot winds were doing a large amount of damage to corn from York county to Lincoln. Farmers living near Davey and Ceresco reported a like damage in this territory.” (Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln. “Mercury Hits High Spots.” 8-5-1918, p. 6.)
Aug 9: “Fremont, Neb., Aug. 9.–Thousands of buffalo, carp and bull heads were killed in lakes in the vicinity of Fremont during the hot weather of the fore part of the week. The water in many of the lakes became low and heated with the result that the fish suffocated. None of the game fish such as catfish, crappie or bass are included among the dead ones.” (Lincoln Daily Star, NE. “Thousands of Fish Suffocated During Recent Heat Wave.” 8-9-1918, p. 1.)
New Jersey
Aug 6, Camp Dix: “Camp Dix, Wrightstown, N.J., Aug. 6.–The heat here today sent scores of victims to the hospitals from every section of the great cantonment. Desiring to save officers and men from needless suffering, Major General Scott at noon called off all drill and work programs. Hospital authorities could not even estimate the number of heat cases that were being brought in. Up to a late hour, however, no deaths had been reported.” (New York Times. “Too Hot at Camp Dix for Drills.” 8-7-1918, p. 20.)
Aug 6-7, Trenton: “Death was added to intense suffering here today as the result of the heat wave which is stifling most of the country east of the Mississippi River. Fatal prostration came to Thomas Higgins, an engineer, who was found dead in his room at the Enterprise Hotel, this morning. Higgins, about 50 years of age, lived at 5 School Street, Centreville, Mass. He had been working in Trenton. Coroner Reading…is now endeavoring to locate relatives of the victim.
“Hundreds of persons were victims of the heat yesterday [6th], and the majority of the local plants were so troubled by prostrations that they closed their factories and made no effort to continue work. This morning all of these plants remained closed and a number sent their men home. The Roebling Mills are idle today, and some departments at Tullytown and Bristol are closed down. Other large Trenton plants that are not working today are the Thermoid Rubber Company, Empire Rubber, Taubel Hosiery Mills, American Steel and Wire Company, Ingersol Watch Factory, Enterprise Cigar Factory and Seidenberg’s Cigar Factory.
“Yesterday’s high mark was 100 degrees, this temperature was registered at 4 and 6 o’clock last evening, while at noon today the thermometer at the local Weather Bureau registered 99 degrees, with the prospect of going higher. Yesterday was the hottest day here in 42 years. The only date upon which it was surpassed was July 9, 1876, when the mercury rose to 101. It is the hottest August temperature ever recorded….
“Bathing was everywhere popular, the Log Basin, the river and Lakeside Park being especially crowded. There was much disappointment at the Log Basin when the lights were turned off at 10 o’clock last night, in spite of a promise that this would not be done….
“Men, women and children all over the city were forced to sleep in the grass plots last night. Children especially suffered from the heat. In the old borough section, Capt. Richard Pilger of the Second District Station reports such suffering as was never experienced here before. Mott and Elmer Streets looked like a big field hospital with the sky as a covering.
“A 12-year-old boy, taking a 100-pound block of ice to an East State Street office building this morning, was almost overcome and sat down on a door strep, while the sun quickly made his burden lighter….” (Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “One Dead From Hot Wave Here; Record Broken.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.)
Aug 7, Gloucester City: “Gloucester City, N.J., Aug. 7.–The manufacturing establishments here today closed at noon because of the heat. Many of the employes of the New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York shipyards did not report for work in the morning because they failed to get any sleep the night before and they knew that they could not stand the heat. Several hundred others who reported for work went home again and the few rivet gangs that did start quit at the noon hour, as did 3,000 others in the Gloucester yards. The riveters employed in the New Jersey shipyard have decided to start work in the mornings at 5 o’clock instead of 6:45 until the end of the summer and will quit earlier in the afternoon. Other departments may do likewise….” (Philadelphia Inquirer. “Gloucester Plants Are Closed By Heat.” 8-8-1918, p. 8.)
New York
Aug 6: “New York sweltered yesterday [6th] on the hottest Aug 6 on record. The highest official temperature recorded was 93 degrees at 4:15 in the afternoon, but thermometers on the street were as high as 100. The observer at the Weather Bureau station on top of the Whitehall Building at the Battery has been scanning the horizon for signs of relief, and last night he said there was none in sight.
“The heat was held responsible for several deaths and for a score or more prostrations. Last night thousands of persons slept on the grass in the parks or on the said at Coney Island and other beaches. Others spent the night on the roofs and the fire escapes, and the parks in Brooklyn and Manhattan were open all night. It was the bits of open spaces along the waterfronts that attracted thousands of women and children. Parks along the east side, especially along the East River, were crowded with persons driven from their homes by the heat….” (New York Times. “Heat Wave Breaks Weather Records.” 8-7-1918, p. 20.)
Aug 7, NYC: “Yesterday [7th] was the hottest day on record in New York City, the thermometer reaching 102 at 4 o’clock. This was two degrees higher than the previous high mark, which was made on Sept. 7, 1881. Five deaths were reported yesterday and 126 prostrations directly traceable to the heat.
“Records for heat were broken in cities in many parts of the East. Philadelphia reached a new high mark of 106 degrees and Atlantic City registered 104.
“New York was probably saved from a long list of deaths by comparatively low humidity. When the high mark of 102 degrees was reached the humidity was only 35 per cent.; so that the atmosphere was unusually light and dry for a Summer day, and the heat therefore more endurable….
“Official records have been kept by the Weather Bureau in this city since 1871, so that yesterday is know positively to have been considerably the hottest day in forty-seven years. While the official record makes yesterday only two degrees hotter than it was on Sept. 17, 1881, it is probable that yesterday’s heat was much worse than that on the earlier date. At that time the temperature was taken on the roof of the old Equitable Building, which was surrounded by structures with metal roofs, which put an extra edge on the heat. The thermometer on the Equitable Building usually registered one or two degrees higher than thermometers on the street. The opposite is the case today. The official recording instrument in the Whitehall Building is usually a shade lower than instruments on the street.
“Indirectly the heat yesterday caused a large number of deaths, because it sent tens of thousands to seek relief by bathing in the ocean and a large number of drownings were reported. Many factories and business establishments closed on account of the heat. In the evening, when the humidity rose as the heat went down, the weather was almost as oppressive as when the sun was at its highest. Tens of thousands went to Central Park to sleep, and hundreds lay in Bryant Park and in other open spaces, to get the benefit of occasional breaths of air which were stirring and to escape from the tenements and apartments in which the four walls retained the temperature of midday and let the humidity in without letting the heat out….” (New York Times. “City Never So Hot; 102 A New Record.” 8-8-1918, p.7.)
Aug 8, NYC: “Compared with Wednesday [7th] when the mercury climbed to 102 degrees and smashed ass heat records in New York, yesterday [8th] was a cool day. Nevertheless, the day was hot, scorchingly hot. The temperature registered 81 degrees at 7 A.M., and its trend was upward all day until it reached its highest point, 94 degrees, at 6:15 P.M., the highest mark for Aug. 8 in the history of the Weather Bureau. The hourly differences in temperature meant less, as there was less humidity in the air….Four deaths in the city were reported as due to the heat, and a score or more of persons were prostrated….”(New York Times. “Mercury Down, But Hot Wave Not Over.” 8-9-1819, p. 20.)
Aug 9, NYC: “A breeze that attained the velocity of thirty-six miles an hour yesterday ended, at least temporarily, the hot spell, and brought relief to a gasping city. The highest temperature recorded was 86 degrees at 3:30 o’clock P.M. Even this temperature under ordinary circumstances is high enough to be noted as a hot day, but in comparison with other days, the relief was very noticeable and none the less grateful. In describing conditions the Weather Forecaster said that whatever measure of relief came during the day was due…to ‘local’ conditions, and did not mean a cessation of the hot spell….There was one death due to the heat yesterday, and fifteen persons were prostrated….” (New York Times. “Gasping City Gets Relief in Breeze.” 8-10-1918, p. 5.)
Aug 10, NYC: “An easterly wind blowing in from the sea ended the heat wave and brought relief to New York yesterday. The highest temperature was 72 degrees at 3 o’clock A.M., and the lowest, 64 degrees, at 11 o’clock last night. Between the highest and the lowest point the mercury hung at about the comfortable level of 66 degrees. The Weather Bureau served warning that the temperature was hardly seasonable and that it is going to be warmer by tomorrow, perhaps very much warmer….” (New York Times. “Sea Breeze Ends Hot Wave.” 8-11-1918, p6.)
North Carolina
Aug 6-7, Gastonia: “When it came to heat the rest of the country had nothing on Gastonia yesterday [6th] and last night. Monday was hot, yesterday was hotter and last night failed to bring any relief much in the way of cooling breezes. Gastonians staid up late last night; in fact hundreds of them didn’t retire until the wee sma’ hours of this morning. They slept on porches, in the yard or anywhere they thought or hoped that a breath of fresh cooling air might strike them. After sundown hundreds motored to the country in the hope of finding relief along the river’s bank or on some shady country lane. They found but scant relief. Numbers of Gastonians left Monday and yesterday for the mountains.
“Gastonia has no weather bureau and hence there was no official thermometer to tell the people just how hot it was. From noon till after six o’clock, however, the average thermometer here hovered around 97 or 98 uptown. During the afternoon Main street was largely deserted. People generally exerted themselves no more than was absolutely necessary.
“This morning about 10 o’clock some relief was afforded by a few welcome clouds which broke the intensity of the sun’s rays. However, the general weather report for this morning held out but little if any hope of immediate relief from the oppressive heat.” (Gastonia Gazette, NC. “Country Swelters Under Heat Wave.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.)
Ohio
Aug 4: “Xenians sweltered under probably the hottest day of the year Sunday [Aug 4]. With the thermometer hovering around 94 in the shade and well over the century mark in the sun, there was practically no relief from the terrific heat and the day was undoubtedly the most uncomfortable of the year. A slight breeze failed to bring relief and even after the sun went down the heat continued. One weather report gave the temperature as 80 at two o’clock this morning [5th]….Because the Dayton Power and Light company was working on its lines there was no power even for electric fans which brought some relief up until the power went off completely early in the afternoon.” (Evening Gazette, Xenia, OH. “Hottest Day of Year Experienced by Xenia People.” 8-5-1918, p. 1.)
Aug 5: “Heat records were shattered and the top almost pushed out the thermometer Monday [5th] when the mercury mounted to 101 degrees, the hottest ever recorded in Canton, according of Official Weather Observer Carl H. Meyer….Although cooling breezes competed with the sunshine throughout the greater part of the day they had little effect on the temperature and at 3:30 p.m. the thermometer registered one degree over one hundred. Heat prostrations were reported all over the city and industrial plants experienced difficulty in keeping their men from being overcome….
“The present heat wave is so intense that it is recognized as an ally of the Kaiser [WW1 being fought]. Pasture lands were dried up Monday and war gardens were shriveled by the intense heat. As a result this crop production of the county will be cut down and a milk shortage is feared as a result of the wave. Water pressure in Canon became so weak Monday evening that in outlying parts of the city much suffering was experienced.
“Massillon sent word over Monday evening [5th] that unless the heat wave abates within 24 hours the city will be compelled to draw upon its reservoir supply of water and that an epidemic is feared under such conditions. In some parts of Massillon Monday the thermometer registered 114 degrees. Outlying districts reported that the heat wave sent the thermometer in the neighborhood of 100 degrees and that throughout the county the pasture lands have been dried to a crisp and that serious loss to the crops is resulting.
“Canton experienced no relief from the heat throughout the night Monday. At 9 p.m. the thermometer registered 81 degrees with no breeze to give relief. Cantonians were unable to sleep until past midnight. Lawns were converted into sleeping chambers and parks resembled community hotels. Beds were hastily spread in the parks. Hundreds of persons, mostly from the foreign districts spent the night at Nimisila park and the other parks were filled with people. At Nimisila park the temperature rose to 102 degrees during the day, but became much cooler in the evening and provided a pleasant relief from the sweltering heat.
“ ‘Not since I have been in charge of the weather observatory has the temperature mounted to 101 degrees,’ said Prof. Meyer. ‘And I am unable to find previous records that show such a high temperature. In my belief Monday was the hottest day in the history of Canton.’….
“Robertsville, known as the coldest place in Stark co. in the winter time, reported a temperature of 100 degrees at 1 p.m. Monday. ‘Our crops are practically ruined.’ Said I. N. Dager, of Robertsville. ‘They are shriveled as if a fire had been kindled over them.
“The water pressure became so low in Canton Monday evening that there was no water on the second floor of many homes and the pressure was insufficient for sprinkling in many parts of the city. The amount of water used during the day throughout the city weakened the pressure to an alarming extent.
“Prisoners in the Stark co. jail were removed from the second floor to the first on account of the intense heat Monday.
“Infant sickness increased Monday to an alarming extent, according to reports from the Children’s Aid society. The visiting nurses were rushed with calls throughout the day and much serious illness among the babies of the city was found.
“The coolest place in the city was found to be the Red Cross Shops in the basement of the First Congregational church and many persons shopped in this store Tuesday merely as a means of keeping cool.
“Canton’s ‘ghetto’ Monday night depicted an exodus from close sweltering rooms to comparative sidewalk coolness as man, women and babies sought relief from oppressive humidity….” (Canton Daily News, OH. “Heat Kills One and Many Prostrated in All Sections of City.” 8-6-1918, pp. 1, 4.)
Aug 6-7: “Columbus, Aug 7.–With weather forecasts predicting little or no change in temperature for tomorrow, Ohio today began its struggle through the third day of excessive heat. Reports from every section of the state continue to bring the toll of heat prostrations even higher. Scarcely an Ohio city yesterday had a temperature under 100 degrees for the greatest part of the day. Street level temperatures generally were several degrees above the hundred-mark while official temperatures recorded many feet above street-level in many instances exceeded the 100 degree-mark.
“A stiff breeze which rose during the early hours of this morning aided materially in people getting some relief, but the suffering from every section during the night is reported to have been great….
“The maximum street level heat was reported from Cleveland where the thermometer registered 107 degrees at 7 o’clock last evening.
“Slight relief from the intensive heat was experienced in the state capital [Columbus] today through the prevalence of a slight breeze of six miles an hour from the northwest, though the official temperature continued about on a parallel with yesterday. The official temperature at noon was 95 degrees, which was one degree under the noon reading of yesterday. Many heat prostrations were reported. The new government warehouse, east of the city, reported about two dozen workmen overcome by the heat, but all were revived after first-aid treatment. Factories reported numerous fainting cases….” (Associated Press. “No Relief Is Promised From The Heat Wave.” Newark Advocate, OH. 8-7-1918, p. 1.)
Aug 7, Canton: “Excessive use of water for sprinkling purposes has been banned by Waterworks Superintendent Ohliger. Fear of a water shortage is the reason for such action, it was learned Wednesday [7th]. Pressure the past week has been far below normal, records of the pumping stations show. More than 200 Cantonians were deprived of water service Tuesday night because, when, it is alleged, they ignored orders to sprinkle only between the hours of 5:30 and 8:30 p.m., the water was shut off. Waterworks Superintendent Ohliger, with five department employes in six automobiles, scouted about the city Tuesday night until after midnight notifying persons caught violating sprinkling rules and wasting water that their water would be turned off immediately.
“Ohliger said Wednesday he found scores who had permitted their water to run from early in evening until almost midnight. In one instance was found to have been running constantly from 5:30 in the afternoon until after 12 o’clock.
“Sprinkling from now on must be confined to the property alone. There will be no sprinkling of sidewalks, streets, alleys or driveways, Ohliger said. Persons violating this ruling will be deprived of their service.
“So acute has become the situation that waterworks department officials are taking every precaution to guard against a famine. In many of the higher points of the city Tuesday afternoon and night consumers were entirely without water. The gauge in the office of Superintendent Ohliger recorded less than 30 pounds pressure at 8:30 Wednesday morning. Between 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday night the pressure dropped as low as 20 pounds, the gauge indicated. Wednesday about noon the pressure began in increase steadily.
“Persons whose water has been shut off must pay $1.00 to have the service restored. Those who have twice violated the sprinkling rule will be deprived of service for several days, Ohliger said Wednesday.
“Use of water for bathing children in tubs in the back yards will no longer be tolerated, Ohliger declared….
“In Kenneth-ct NW waterworks employes Tuesday night found streams of water running down the gutters. Investigation disclosed many consumers allowed their hose to run for many hours.” (Canton Daily News, OH. “200 Here Denied Water Because of Violations.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.)
Aug 7: “Limo, O., Aug 7.–With more than 1500 citizens clamoring for ice at one local plant during the night, the discontinuance of all ice deliveries to private consumers in the city and the reduction of water pressure to a point where it cannot be drawn above the first floor, Lima is suffering the worst hot-weather conditions in her history. There is but a five-day supply of water in the city reservoirs, and it has been necessary to reduce plants using it for the manufacture of ice. The city consumption of 500 tons daily has been cut to 150. No one is able to secure more than 20 pounds a day. No rain is in sight.” (Associated Press. “Lima Suffers An Ice Famine.” Newark Daily Advocate, OH. 8-7-1918, p. 2.)
Pennsylvania
Gee: The mercury in Philadelphia topped out at 106 degrees on Aug. 7, 1918. That record heat still stands 100 years later….The 106-degree heater wasn’t a one day event. The day before the record was set, temperatures reached a scorching 103 degrees….” (Gee, Brendan. “Philly’s Hottest Ever Day Happened 100 Years Ago, the High Temp Hit 106.” NBCPhiladelphia.com.)
Aug 6, Chester: “Several heat victims have been treated at Chester Hospital within the past twelve hours and every modern appliance has been placed handy should this extreme hot wave continue and be responsible for any extraordinary number of heat prostrations from the many industrial plants….” (Chester Times, PA. “Heat Victims Are Treated.” 8-6-1918, p. 1.)
Aug 6, Philadelphia: “Death and misery yesterday [6th] accompanied the hottest weather ever recorded in the city of Philadelphia. The thermometer reached 103.2 degrees. Men and beast lay down in their tracks and died. The heat exceeded by eight degrees the hottest previous day of the present year, and it exceeded by two-fifths of a degree the previous hottest day in the Weather Bureau records. This was July 31, 1901, when it reached 102.8 degrees. Several times in local history 101 was reached, but the Bureau records, established in 1874, show nothing like yesterday. More than a thousand persons, it is estimated, were overcome. Horses fell, and did not rise. A crowd of spectators at Twelfth and Market streets watched an auto truckload of chickens in crates droop their heads and die off one by one.
“Shipyards and other industrial establishments were compelled to close at noon. At Hog Island alone, 100 prostrations were added to the record of 400 during the launching of the day before. Even the hardy shipyard workers, stripped to the waist, were unable to go on.
“Hard as the weather was for the average citizen, it was immeasurably harder for ‘the submerged tenth’ — those dwellers in narrow courts and alleys, where not the faintest breath of air could penetrate and where to breathe was of itself a torture. In such periods of intense heat heretofore the children of the congested sections have been able to find a little relief by turning on fire hydrants and splashing in the cooling water. Now, however, the drain upon the city’s water supply is so great that the police have been given sharp orders to prevent a waste of water, and this small pleasure could be enjoyed only surreptitiously.
“Four deaths were added to the three recorded on Monday [Aug 5]….”(Philadelphia Inquirer. “City Swelters in Record Heat; Mercury at 103.2.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.)
Aug 6, Pittsburgh: “Pittsburg, Aug. 6.–Four deaths, several prostrations, a threatened ice shortage and the breaking of all temperature record here were developments today in the extreme heat wave, with no relief in sight tonight. Late in the afternoon the mercury registered 103.2 degrees , the highest ever recorded in Pittsburg. Three persons were drowned during the day while seeking relief from the heat in the rivers and other streams. An aged woman died as a result of the heat and several other persons were prostrated, one of the latter cases being serious.
“Ice manufacturers announced today that the present supply will not last forty-eight hours unless other industries contribute men to assist in the making of the product. W. O. George, Allegheny county food commissioner, said tonight unless the people using ice go light on what they have in store they will be put on rations.” (Bluefield Daily Telegraph, WV. “Ice shortage Threatens As Pittsburg Swelters.” 8-7-1918, p. 6.)
Aug 7, Philadelphia: “With a temperature of 106.2 degrees, at 3:50 in the afternoon, all weather records for the city of Philadelphia were again broken yesterday [7th]. The temperature, at its highest, was three degrees hotter than Tuesday’s hottest, and four degrees higher than on the hottest other day ever recorded in the local weather bureau’s forty years of scientific book-keeping.
“In the Germantown section rain fell shortly before midnight, bringing with it some measure of relief for all sections of the city. A ten-degree drop in temperature, accompanied by winds that seemed cool after the frightful heat of the day, afforded relief which the weather authorities declared was only local, an only temporary. Storms were general throughout Eastern Pennsylvania… Soon after the heat had reached its height, the sky filmed over with clouds which grew thicker and thicker as the hours advanced.
“Comparatively low humidity — 38 per cent at 1 P.M., was a merciful boon granted to human kind.
“Fresh deaths were added to the week’s toll. Prostrations ran into the hundreds again. Manufacturing plants and workshops had to shut down, their workpeople simply toppling over at their labor. Hog Island registered a temperature of 122 — a terrible contrast to the 10 and 12 degrees below zero in which the men worked during the early days of the yard last winter.
“Nine more direct deaths were recorded yesterday. To these should be added several deaths from drowning, where persons had sought relief bathing wand swimming in the Delaware….
“Four thousand men at Yorkship Village, near Collingswood, N.J., had to knock off work at noon, when the thermometer rose to 109. Twenty-six thousand were sent home from Hog Island, where several hundred were overcome. The Midvale Steel Company, the Navy Yard aircraft plant, the Disston works at Tacony, the Cramp Shipbuilding Company, the John B. Stetson Company, the Kirschbaum Clothing Company and the Ford Motor Company shut down. Baldwin’s kept open, with no prostrations. In most of those places work will not be resumed until the weather moderates. And the weather authorities promise no early relief….” (Philadelphia Inquirer. “Mercury at 106.2 High Record Here; War Plants Close.” 8-8-1918, p.1.)
Aug 9: “Despite the strong breeze which blew from the West, the terrible heat wave which has continued for five days with record-breaking temperatures gave but little signs of abatement yesterday [9th], though the temperature dropped one degree below that of Thursday [8th] with slightly reduced humidity. The highest temperature recorded was 5 P.M. when the thermometer registered 92 degrees.
“Fourteen additional deaths from heat exhaustion were reported during the day, bringing the total up to fifty-six since the start of the hot wave.
“The temperature, which was 81 degrees at 1 A.M. yesterday, fell steadily until 7 o’clock, when it went to 78. From that hour until 5 o’clock in the afternoon the thermometer rose steadily until it registered 92 degrees. One slight bit of comfort was afforded, however, by a brisk breeze, which relieved the excessively heavy humidity of the earlier hours of the day, bringing renewed vigor to scorched and fagged humanity….High humidity was responsible for most of the suffering yesterday of the worn-out and over-heated population. At 8 o’clock in the morning it was 82 per cent., but one point below the steaming percentage of last Monday. At 9 o’clock it had declined to 73 per cent., and by 1 o’clock had dropped to 57 per cent….
“While yesterday was many degrees cooler than last Wednesday, when all records of the weather bureau for forty years were broke, when the temperature rose to the unprecedented mark of 106.2 degrees, suffering among horses was greater than at any time since the beginning of the present heat wave, five days ago. Motor ambulances of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were busy during the entire day responding to calls to aid animals which had fallen in the streets from heat exhaustion.” (Philadelphia Inquirer. “Heat Claims 14 More When Humidity Climbs; Relief Not In Sight.” 8-10-1918, p. 1.)
Virginia
Aug 7: “Winchester, Va., Aug. 7.–Apples cooking on the trees in the great orchard region of Northern Virginia is one of the freaks of nature being caused by the hot spell. State Fuel Administrator Byrd is displaying fruit from his orchard, where the thermometer registered 120 degrees in the sun, which has been thoroughly sizzled, if it actually has not bake, and other growers say the fruits are threatened with ruin. Other growing crops are withering under the hot wave and it is said tremendous losses are likely.” (Philadelphia Inquirer. “Heat Cooks Apples on Virginia Trees.” 8-8-1918, p. 8.)
Wisconsin
Aug 7, Madison: “The highest temperature this afternoon at 2 o’clock was at the kiosk, which registered 98. Fauerbach’s brewing company registered 94 but this is 8 degrees cooler than at the same time yesterday when it registered 102. All the thermometers are about 7 degrees lower than they were yesterday, which came within .5 of being the hottest day ever known for August. The highest temperature reached yesterday was 97 at 5 p.m. and the lowest was 73 at 6:30 a.m….” (Capital Times, Madison, WI. “Kiosk Registers 98 At 2 o’clock.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.)
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Mansfield News, OH. “Nineteenth Youngstown Heat Victim.” 8-13-1918, p. 12. Accessed 5-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/mansfield-news-aug-13-1918-p-12/
Mansfield News, OH. “Sudden Death of Visitor.” 8-13-1918, p. 12. Accessed 5-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/mansfield-news-aug-13-1918-p-12/
Middletown Daily Times-Press, NY. “The Heat in New York.” 8-6-1918, p. 8. Accessed 5-8-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/middletown-times-press-aug-06-1918-p-8/
Monmouth Daily Atlas, IL. “Colored Man Dropped Dead This Morning.” 8-6-1918, p. 1. Accessed 5-8-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/monmouth-daily-atlas-aug-06-1918-p-1/
Monmouth Daily Atlas, IL. “Mercury Took A Big Drop.” 8-9-1918, p. 2. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/monmouth-daily-atlas-aug-09-1918-p-2/
Monmouth Daily Atlas, IL. “Residents of City Baked In Extreme Heat.” 8-5-1918, p. 2. Accessed 5-8-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/monmouth-daily-atlas-aug-05-1918-p-2/
Muscatine Journal, IA. “Dies From Heat At West Liberty.” 8-6-1918, p. 2. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/muscatine-journal-aug-06-1918-p-2/
Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln. “Heat Record at Geneva.” 8-5-1918, p. 6. Accessed 5-11-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-nebraska-state-journal-aug-05-1918-p-6/
Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln. “Mercury Hits High Spots.” 8-5-1918, p. 6. Accessed 5-11-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-nebraska-state-journal-aug-05-1918-p-6/
New Castle News, PA. “Heat Fatal To Workman.” 8-8-1918, p. 2. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-castle-news-aug-08-1918-p-2/
New Holland Clarion, PA. “Death Caused by the Heat.” 8-10-1918, p. 4. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-holland-clarion-aug-10-1918-p-4/
New York Times. “City Never So Hot; 102 A New Record.” 8-8-1918, p.7. Accessed 5-8-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-aug-08-1918-p-7/
New York Times. “Gasping City Gets Relief in Breeze.” 8-10-1918, p. 5. Accessed 5-8-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-aug-10-1918-p-5/
New York Times. “Heat Wave Breaks Weather Records.” 8-7-1918, p. 20. Accessed 5-8-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-aug-07-1918-p-20/
New York Times. “Mercury Down, But Hot Wave Not Over.” 8-9-1819, p. 20. Accessed 5-8-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-aug-09-1918-p-20/
New York Times. “Sea Breeze Ends Hot Wave.” 8-11-1918, p. 6. Accessed 5-8-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-aug-11-1918-p-6/
New York Times. “Too Hot at Camp Dix for Drills.” 8-7-1918, p. 20. Accessed 5-8-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-aug-07-1918-p-20/
Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Many Prostrations.” 8-7-1918, p. 2. Accessed 5-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/newark-advocate-aug-07-1918-p-2/
Norwich Bulletin, CT. “Terrific Storm Ends Hot Spell.” 8-10-1918, p. 5. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/norwich-bulletin-aug-10-1918-p-5/
Norwich Bulletin, CT. “Two Die in New Haven.” 8-7-1918, p. 1. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/norwich-bulletin-aug-07-1918-p-1/
Norwich Bulletin, CT. “Unknown Man Succumbs to Heat.” 8-9-1918, p. 5. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/norwich-bulletin-aug-09-1918-p-5/
Oil City Derrick, PA. “Heat Wave Will Continue.” 8-6-1918, p. 1. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oil-city-derrick-aug-06-1918-p-1/
Philadelphia Inquirer. “City Swelters in Record Heat; Mercury at 103.2.” 8-7-1918, p. 1. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-07-1918-p-1/
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Dies of Heat and Suffocation.” 8-8-1918, p. 8. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-08-1918-p-8/
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Eleven Chicagoans Succumb From Heat.” 8-8-1918, p. 8. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-08-1918-p-8/
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Gloucester Plants Are Closed By Heat.” 8-8-1918, p. 8. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-08-1918-p-8/
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Heat Claims 3 More Victims in Camden.” 8-9-1918, p. 4. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-08-1918-p-21/
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Heat Claims 14 More When Humidity Climbs; Relief Not In Sight.” 8-10-1918, p. 1. Accessed 5-7-2019: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-10-1918-p-1/
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Heat Cooks Apples on Virginia Trees.” 8-8-1918, p. 8. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-08-1918-p-8/
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Heat Kills 2, Many Overcome in Camden.” 8-8-1918, p. 8. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-08-1918-p-8/
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Infants and Aged Targets For Heat.” 8-5-1918, p. 3. Accessed 5-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-05-1918-p-3/
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Mercury at 106.2 High Record Here; War Plants Close.” 8-8-1918, p. 1. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-08-1918-p-1/
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Two Chester Deaths Caused by Hot Wave.” 8-8-1918, p. 8. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-08-1918-p-8/
Philadelphia Inquirer. “Wilmington Plants Closed By Heat.” 8-8-1918, p. 8. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-08-1918-p-8/
Rasmussen, Frederick N. “Hot, hotter, hottest: 3 days in August 1918. The Baltimore Sun, 8-11-2007. Accessed 5-5-2019 at: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2007-08-11-0708110075-story.html
Samenow, Jason. “A recap of Aug. 6, 1918, the most viciously hot day in D.C. history — with an asterisk.” Washington Post, 8-6-2018. Accessed 5-5-2019 at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/08/06/a-recap-of-august-6-1918-the-most-viciously-hot-day-in-d-c-history-with-an-asterisk/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.0192bc655b17
South Haven Daily Tribune, MI. “Heat Wave Is Broken By Cool Wind And Rain.” 8-14-1918, p. 1. Accessed 5-11-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/south-haven-daily-tribune-aug-14-1918-p-1/
The Robesonian, Lumberton, NC. “Negro Died From Heat Prostration.” 8-8-1918, p. 2. Accessed 5-11-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lumberton-robesonian-aug-08-1918-p-2/
Titusville Herald, PA. “Two Ages Jamestown People Die From Heat.” 8-8-1918, p. 2. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/titusville-herald-aug-08-1918-p-2/
Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Civil War Veteran Found Dead on Porch.” 8-8-1918, p. 12. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/trenton-evening-times-aug-08-1918-p-12/
Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Death in Sleep At Friend’s Home.” 8-8-1918, p. 12. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/trenton-evening-times-aug-08-1918-p-12/
Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “One Dead From Hot Wave Here; Record Broken.” 8-7-1918, p. 1. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/trenton-evening-times-aug-07-1918-p-1/
Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Services Friday For Heat Victim.” 8-14-1918, p. 10. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/trenton-evening-times-aug-14-1918-p-10/
United Press. “Heat Kills Two Persons in Akron. Canton Daily News, OH. 8-7-1918, p. 4. Accessed 54-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/canton-daily-news-aug-07-1918-p-4/
Warren Evening Times, PA. “Thirty Dead and Thousand Prostrated By The Heat.” 8-8-1918, p. 1. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/warren-evening-times-aug-08-1918-p-1/
Warren Morning Chronicle, PA. 8-10-1918, p. 3, column 1. Accessed 5-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/warren-morning-chronicle-aug-10-1918-p-3/
Washington Post. “113 Degrees in Detroit.” 8-7-1918, p. 1. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-post-aug-07-1918-p-1/
Washington Post. “114 Degrees in Shade. City’s Hottest Day Since Record Was Established in 1881.” 8-7-1918, p. 1. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-post-aug-07-1918-p-1/
Washington Post. “Heat Blamed For Two Deaths.” 8-8-1918, p. 7. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-post-aug-08-1918-p-7/
Washington Post. “W. Pitt Kellogg Dead…Succumbs To The Heat.” 8-11-1918, p. 8. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-post-aug-11-1918-p-8/
Washington Times. “She Did Her Part.” Boone News-Republican, IA. 8-13-1918, p. 4. Accessed 5-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boone-news-republican-aug-13-1918-p-4/
[1] Compiled May 2019 for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com
[2] Norwich Bulletin, CT. “Two Die in New Haven.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.
[3] Norwich Bulletin, CT. “Unknown Man Succumbs to Heat.” 8-9-1918, p. 5.
[4] Philadelphia Inquirer. “Wilmington Plants Closed By Heat.” 8-8-1918, p. 8.
[5] Washington Post. “W. Pitt Kellogg Dead…Succumbs To The Heat.” 8-11-1918, p. 8.
[6] Washington Times. “She Did Her Part.” Boone News-Republican, IA. 8-13-1918, p. 4.
[7] “Seven persons are dead and more than a score prostrated yesterday [6th]–the second day of the heat wave which has enveloped Chicago since Monday, when the thermometer went up to 102 degrees at 4 p.m.”
[8] “The receding heat wave which has broken all August records in the past three days, claimed the lives of six more persons today [7th], altho the highest temperature recorded was only 98, against Tuesday’s maximum of 101 degrees. Three days of the parching blasts were held directly responsible for several fires today, which spread swiftly in baked frame dwellings….thousands of persons spent the night sleeping in the city parks and at the bathing beaches.”
[9] Monmouth Daily Atlas, IL. “Colored Man Dropped Dead This Morning.” 8-6-1918, p. 1.
[10] Lake County Times, Hammond, IN. “Three Dead As Break in Heat Wave Arrives.” 8-8-1918, p. 1.
[11] Connersville Evening News, IN. “Heat Kills.” 8-12-1918, p. 3.
[12] Lake County Times, Hammond, IN. “Three Dead As Break in Heat Wave Arrives.” 8-8-1918, p. 1.
[13] Goshen Daily Democrat, IN. “Heat Victim.” 8-14-1918, p. 9.
[14] Evening Democrat, Fort Madison IA. “Zachary Atlee, Pioneer Resident Dead–Missing Two Days.” 8-12-1918, 5.
[15] Muscatine Journal, IA. “Dies From Heat At West Liberty.” 8-6-1918, p. 2.
[16] Iola Daily Register, KS. “The Happenings at Colony.” 8-6-1918, p. 2.
[17] “Baltimore — Five deaths and three prostrations from heat were reported here up to noon today. At that hour the local weather bureau thermometer registered 100.” [No date is given; newspaper published Aug 7/]
[18] Washington Post. “Heat Blamed For Two Deaths.” 8-8-1918, p. 7.
[19] Denton Journal, MD. “Greensboro.” 8-10-1918, p. 3.
[20] Defiance Crescent-News, OH. “Many Deaths From The Heat.” 8-7-1918, 1.
[21] “Four deaths Sunday [11th] were reported to the coroner today as having been caused by the extreme heat.”
[22] Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Civil War Veteran Found Dead on Porch.” 8-8-1918, p. 12. Notes that Mr. McGee was on a visit from the Soldiers Home at Kearny. “It is thought that he stopped to rest on the Borden Street porch, was overcome with the heat an died sometime during the night.”
[23] Philadelphia Inquirer. “Heat Kills 2, Many Overcome in Camden.” 8-8-1918, p. 8. Notes many heat prostrations.
[24] Philadelphia Inquirer. “Heat Claims 3 More Victims in Camden.” 8-9-1918, p. 4.
[25] Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Services Friday For Heat Victim.” 8-14-1918, p. 10.
[26] Philadelphia Inquirer. “Dies of Heat and Suffocation.” 8-8-1918, p. 8.
[27] Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “One Dead From Hot Wave Here; Record Broken.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.
[28] Trenton Evening Times, NJ. “Death in Sleep At Friend’s Home.” 8-8-1918, p. 12.
[29] Titusville Herald, PA. “Two Ages Jamestown People Die From Heat.” 8-8-1918, p. 2.
[30] Middletown Daily Times-Press, NY. “The Heat in New York.” 8-6-1918, p. 8.
[31] New York Times. “Heat Wave Breaks Weather Records.” 8-7-1918, p. 20.
[32] New York Times. “Heat Wave Breaks Weather Records.” 8-7-1918, p. 20.
[33] New York Times. “Gasping City Gets Relief in Breeze.” 8-10-1918, p. 5.
[34] Adirondack Record, NY. “Reber.” 8-2-1918, p. 9.
[35] The Robesonian, Lumberton, NC. “Negro Died From Heat Prostration.” 8-8-1918, p. 2.
[36] “Akron, Aug. 7…Two dead and more than a score overcome was the toll of Akron’s hottest day Tuesday [6th], when the mercury climbed to 104.”
[37] Canton Daily News, OH. “Seven Lives Is Toll Of Record Hot Wave In Stark County During This Week.” 8-9-1918, p. 19. Paper notes the temperature reached 104 degrees in Canton that day.
[38] Canton Daily News, OH. “Seven Lives Is Toll Of Record Hot Wave In Stark County During This Week.” 8-9-1918, p. 19. Notes the temperature reached 102 degrees.
[39] Both of Cincinnati. Journal-Herald, Delaware, OH. “Two Deaths At Camp Sherman From The Heat.” 8-9-1918, p. 6. Writes: “Within the last few days no less than 200 men have been overcome by the heat at the cantonment.” Noted several were still in the camp hospital.
[40] Associated Press. “Weather Report Says Heat Spell Has Been Broken.” Newark Advocate, OH, 8-9-1918, p. 1.
[41] “…Nineteen babies under 1 year of age died and three persons were prostrated here yesterday [6th] as a result of Cleveland’s hottest day in 21 years.” (Evening Tribune, Marysville, OH. “Heat Kills Babies.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.)
[42] Evening Tribune, Marysville, OH. “Heat Kills Babies.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.
[43] Associated Press. “Weather Report Says Heat Spell Has Been Broken.” Newark Advocate, OH, 8-9-1918, p. 1. The date of this article, Aug 9, is a Friday. Article notes 75 infant deaths for the week in Cleveland. The heat wave began Monday, Aug 5, thus our dating of Aug 5-9. Article notes that a very heavy rain during the night of the 8th appeared to bring the heat wave to an end in the area.
[44] Evening Gazette, Xenia, OH. “Former Xenia Man Dies Result Of Heat.” 8-9-1918, p. 3.
[45] Canton Daily News, OH. “Heat Kills One and Many Prostrated in All Sections of City.” 8-6-1918, p. 1.
[46] Notes coroner ruled death “was due to the heat.” Mansfield News, OH. “Sudden Death of Visitor.” 8-13-1918, 12.
[47] “Crazed by the heat, Cehcosh Dalig, 22, a mill worker of Massillon, jumped into the canal and was drowned Tuesday afternoon.” Notes that at 114°, Massillon reported the highest temperature of any place in Stark County. (Canton Daily News, OH. “Mercury Climbs to 104 Here.” 8-7-1918, p. 1.)
[48] Canton Daily News, OH. “Heat Wave Takes Toll Of Four Children In City.” 8-8-1918, p. 1.
[49] Evening Independent, Massillon, OH. “Death of Child.” 8-14-1918, p. 1.
[50] Evening Tribune, Marysville, OH. “Doctor Kurtz Dead.” 8-8-1918, p. 1.
[51] Newark Daily Advocate, OH. “Many Prostrations.” 8-7-1918, p. 2. Cites the coroner for pronouncement that death was “due to heat prostration.” Notes several non-fatal heat prostrations as well.
[52] Evening Independent, Massillon, OH. “Heat Kills Many in Buckeye State.” 8-8-1918, p. 5.
[53] Evening Independent, Massillon, OH. “Heat Kills Many in Buckeye State.” 8-8-1918, p. 5.
[54] Mansfield News, OH. “Nineteenth Youngstown Heat Victim.” 8-13-1918, p. 12.
[55] Hanover Evening Sun, PA. “Henry Wolf.” 8-12-1918, p. 4.
[56] Lebanon Daily News, PA. “Mrs. Heilman Died At Age Of 88 Years.” 8-13-1918, p. 3.
[57] Philadelphia Inquirer. “Two Chester Deaths Caused by Hot Wave.” 8-8-1918, p. 8.
[58] New Holland Clarion, PA. “Death Caused by the Heat.” 8-10-1918, p. 4.
[59] Evening Independent, Massillon, OH. “Heat Kills Many in Buckeye State.” 8-8-1918, p. 5.
[60] New Castle News, PA. “Heat Fatal To Workman.” 8-8-1918, p. 2.
[61] Philadelphia Inquirer. “Heat Claims 14 More When Humidity Climbs; Relief Not In Sight.” 8-10-1918, p. 1.
[62] “Three persons were killed and several hundreds prostrated yesterday when heat waves of blistering intensity rolled over the city and high humidity wrapped its smothering blanket around the town. Four hundred dropped exhausted under the merciless pressure of a temperature of 92 and humidity of 93 per cent at Hog Island alone [now filled in and Philadelphia International Airport built upon]. Ambulance calls came thick and fast from all parts of the city and hospitals were kept busy treating the many victims which crowded their wards. Beginning at 1 o’clock yesterday morning, when the thermometer recorded 71 degrees, the mercury rose steadily throughout the day till it reached the high point, 92, at 5 P.M. The humidity also increased apace all day and even by midnight had dropped only to 68 percent.” (Philadelphia Inquirer. “3 Killed By Heat…” 8-6-1918, p. 1.)
[63] Philadelphia Inquirer. “City Swelters in Record Heat…” 8-7-1918, p. 1.
[64] Bluefield Daily Telegraph, WV. “Ice shortage Threatens As Pittsburg Swelters.” 8-7-1918, p. 6.
[65] Chester Times, PA. “Death of Old Resident.” 8-9-1918, p. 4.
[66] Associated Press. “Overcome With The Heat During A Thunderstorm.” Titusville Herald, PA, 8-7-1918, p. 3.
[67] Charleston Mail, WV. “Heat Prostration Fatal.” 8-10-1918, p. 1. Victim was loading coal when overcome.
[68] Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, IA. “Widowed Mother Mourns Son’s Death.” 8-12-1918, p. 9.