Imagine a time without air conditioning or central air, then imagine living in the city. It was hell on earth, for sure. Here are the result of a heat wave that swept over Chicago on September 2, 1912.
Heat Storm Results
The heat and t he electrical storm that swept over Chicago yesterday caused seven deaths, and thousands of dollars to property.
Mrs. Margaret Doyle, 54, 2756 Parnell ave., crazed by the heat, ended her life by drinking paris green.
Frederick Wintermantel, 40, 165 W. Indiana st., committed suicide by inhaling gas.
Eugene Kercher, 39, 537 S. Clark st., died at the county hospital after being prostrated by the heat.
Peter Morranllioni, 27, 2425 W. Huron st., overcome by heat, fell from wagon and suffered fractured skull. Died.
Mrs. Mary Reiser, 30, 1137 W. Washington blvd., found suffocated in bed.
Gerwatz Elizowski, 33, 13051 Houston ave., overcome in home. Died in Chicago hospital.
Unidentified man ended his life in lake at 54th street. Crazed by heat.
The rain did most damage on the West Side. The loop, between Adams and Van Buren, was badly flooded.
Bolts of lightning struck many chimneys and church steeples, but did not do great damage.
One freak bolt of lightning struck Mrs. Celia Halford, 21, as she was playing piano in home of her mother, 1439 W. 13th st. Burned hole about the size of a dollar and one inch deep in her foot.
Twenty-four girls were trapped in their dressing rooms at the Princess theater, when the flood burst open a manhole cover.
Seventy small fires, caused by lightning, broke out in all parts of the city within three hours, keeping the firemen on the jump.
Scores of telephones and electric lights were burned out.
Over 500 basements were flooded.
The Congress and Auditorium hotels were flooded by a burst water main.
Traffic was tied up for hours in some parts of the city.
[Source: The Day Book (Chicago, Illinois newspaper). September 03, 1912.]
