On this page we will look back at life in the city during the war years. Here we will provide the visitor with the stories making the news, what was happening in sports and entertainment, city politics, the social scene and the prominent people at the time. So, check back often for new editions. To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com

TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – WEDNESDAY JULY 24, 1918

Philadelphia today is like a steaming Turkish bath. The heat is bad but the humidity is making things very uncomfortable. At 9:00am this morning the humidity was measured at 84%. Thankfully since then it has steadily decreased. Hospitals are being deluged with patients suffering from heat prostration. The news from the national weather bureau in Washington D.C. is that the heat is covering most of the Eastern and Midwestern states. Today’s high will again reach 94° with the low tonight only near 73°.

The weather has also taken its toll on agriculture. From New Jersey comes the news that the unrelenting sun and heat has caused the loss of over 400,000 crates of tomatoes in Gloucester and Salem counties. The loss of this crop will result in a monetary loss of over $1,000,000.00. Farmers in the state are engaged in frantic efforts to pick as many tomatoes as possible and ship them to New York and New England to ripen there off the vines.

Four new names are added to Philadelphia’s honored dead. Those killed in action are Lieutenant William C. Orr, Jr., U.S.A., of 2207 South 15th Street and Lieutenant Ewing Anders Gabryel of 23rd & Dauphin Streets. Lt. Orr was 24 years old and enlisted in May of 1917. He was a graduate of South Philadelphia High School. Dying of wounds is Private Norris J. Deland, U.S.A., of 13 North 39th Street. Dying of disease is Bugler Frank E. Prandie, U.S.A., of 1612 North Marston Street. Listed as missing is Sergeant Louis Leslie Byers, U.S.A., of 1123 South 48th Street. Sergeant Byers was formerly a member of the Lafayette Escadrille.

Bugler Frank E. Prandie

 

Sergeant Louis Leslie Byers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The National Baseball Commission has presented its brief to Provost Marshal General Enoch Crowder requesting exemption from the decree of “Work or Fight”. General Crowder is considering whether baseball players, who are employed in a non-essential occupation, be exempted from the draft. Alternatively the owners are asking General Crowder to grant a limited exemption and allow the teams to finish out the present season. Otherwise the owners contend they will be unable to replace, mid-season, the players lost to war work or the draft. On the field here today the Chicago Cubs arrived to begin a four game series. Unfortunately notwithstanding a great showing by Gavvy Cravath, who knocked out a double, a triple and drove in a run, the Phillies lost 5 to 4. The Athletics are idle today.

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