It is always interesting to see what is going on around the eastern United States while the lighthouse keepers at the Twin Lights maintain their routine duties, keeping notes in the official log three times a day at the change of each of the eight hour shifts in a 24 hour day. But on July 8 and 9, 1876, the lighthouse keepers recorded just about the same comments as numerous newspapers in the area, although more succinctly.
In the log for July 8, 1876, the keeper simply wrote “The thermometer marks 100 degrees at 4 p.m. In the shade.
The same message is repeated July 9, 1876.
Newspaper accounts reported the same conditions, albeit with more interesting stories.
In Washington DC, it was reported that the temperature was 103 degrees in the shade and six people died from heat prostration.
In New York City, with the same high temperatures, it was reported that 50 people suffered sunstroke and 19 of those attacks were fatal.
But the West Virginia Intelligencer made a bit of jocularity about the soaring temperatures and unforgiving sun. One columnist said the temperatures was 96 in the shade resulting in “small congregations and perspiring preachers.” He also reported “Only the invincible reporter is not overcome by this heated term.”
Then the reporter continued, perhaps with a touch of relief, “People are not disposed to take any active part in politics when the weather is so hot.”
For lighthouse keepers, busy with their routine chores, only the necessary facts were logged routinely, always the weather conditions, usually if there were any official visitors, and only going into detail when it was a matter of grave importance.
