Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-09-22

ATRosPHERIC CoNcUssIoN-TaEoRY OF RAIN BEING
Produced BY FIRING CANNoN-The learned secretary
of the Smithsonian institution, in some meteorological
observations audes to the current opinion that rain
may be produced by the firing of cannon. He says:
The notion that rain is 10 some wey connected with
great battles, entertained by the ancens when no
cannon were used. Putarch 10 bis life of O. Marins
says 1t is observed, indeed that extraordinary rains
generally fall after great battles whether it be that
some deity chooses to wash and purify the earth with
water from above whether the blood and corrup-
ton, by the moist add heavy vapors they emit thcken
the air. which sliabie to be altered by the smallest
cause. Plutarchs explanation of the supposed fact Is
not very satisfactory TO physicist CT this time. But
bis own observations contain cause that the Sec
rotary of the Smithsonian psi ution says posi-
bly, connect great battle with rain 10 physical Sc
quence. "I however the air says the secretary is
surcharged with moisture and the atmosphere is in the
unstable condition which Immediately precedes rain,
then violent commotion or an upward current OF air
produced by large fire may bring en- rain which
might in some Instances not other"lse have TAI
Ien" The shouts OF ancient armies, and the clash and
capgor OF their arms produced nearly great commo-
ton in the atmosphere as the firing OF cannon In
modern battle. Putarch, in his lite OF tlamlnius,
says: The hyperbollcal accounts that have often
been given Of loud shouts were verified on that
occasion. For the crows, when they happened 70
be filing ov their heads fell into the the theatre. For
the sound OF many united voics beng violently strong,
the parts of the air separated by IT, and void is left
which affords support Or perhaps the force OF the
sound srik the birds IKE arrow, and Kills them In
an instant Or possibly "a circular motion is caused
10 the Dir, whirlpool is prcdaced in the sea by
the agitation OF storm And in his life OF
Pompey, Plutarch says: WHEN birds fall Oh
such oc1asions it is not becauss the air is so dvi
ded leave vacuem bnt rather because the sound
strike them like blow II the shouts of The multitude
in the Roman Ihea,er could produce such effects as
here mentioned by Piutarch, how much greater must
have been effect of lbe ro5s OF ancient battle In
disturbing the atmosphere?
In the case of Mr., Mutually editor OF the New York
Metropolitan Record, the United States Comm!ssi oner
decided follows:
I" A careful audy Of the sections has led me to the
conclusion that bfoe any persoa can resist any draft
of men enrolled INFO the service of the United States,
shall counsel another to resist any such draft the
draft must be actually in operation dra wing the names
from the wheel and going through the modus operandi
of the preceding. 1t is true the enrolment is
peted, being completed and The Provost Marshal is
perhaps resdy TO draft as the expiration of the time
allowed By the Presidents under his proclamation for
the respective districts to fl the quota assigned. Still,
until the order is actually enforced cannot how
person commit the offence OF resisting the draft
counsel resistance to the draft. II ia operation
not OF ise and ali the steps taken up to the 5th of
september premina ries to the draft, and |
decide that the defendant is not properly put on the
compl4nt aud hereby order bis discharge"