CHICAGO, July 19.—Upward of a dozen persons died today from the record-smashing heat wave which overspread the middle west yesterday and brought the mercury to new high levels today.
The middle west and northwest probably will have another hot day tomorrow, weather bureau officials indicated tonight. Some hope for relief was held out with the prediction of possible thunder showers for some of the sweltering states.
Chicago experienced its hottest day of the year when the mercury reached 94 at 4 o’clock. Eight deaths here were attributed to the heat. Two deaths were reported from South Dakota, one at Sioux Falls, where the mercury was at 103, and one at Mitchell, where it was 107. Lisbon, N. D., reported an official reading of 108.
Minnesota reported three heat deaths and one occurred at Alliance, Neb. Points in Nebraska, Missouri, the Dakotas, Minnesota and Illinois, all reported today was the hottest of the year, with the mercury hovering about the century mark.
112 at Yuma.
Yuma, Ariz., claimed the distinction of leading the perspiring cities with a temperature of 112. Omaha reported the hottest July 19 in history.
Farmers throughout the middlewest said continued hot weather would hurt crops, particularly corn, which is in need of rain.
Douglas Dispatch, Douglas, AZ, July 20, 1926
