The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-02-15
Effects Of Theoretical Speculations.

Sacramento railroad oracle had thor
oughly shown the feasibility of the Espy
theory for the artificial production of rain,
and our people, in the face of adverse
Providence, naturally felt . deep and
abiding interest in the matter. The
Granger element was first to come for
ward and offer cooperation in the expert.
mental work, and our people generally
were eager to grapple with any undertak-
ing that would tend to solve the weather
problem and place our agricultural inter-
ests ON ssafer basis. Accordingly, meet
ing was called, and on the day appointed
all ME farmers. merchants and mechanics,
and even laborers for at least fifteen miles
distant met to agree upon salts. actory
terms of testing the great theory then
wrapt in mystery. II was decided that ON
the following Saturday everybody should
come and bring with him one cord of
four.foot wood and all the shot guns,
rifles and ammunition obtainaEle. The
place of action was to be along Cache
Greek for q distance of about five miles.
Saturday came, and so did thousands of
people, seated on huge loads of cortlwoOd,
and bearing firearms of all kinds. At
ten clock the banks were lined with q
pile of wood twenty feet high. At
huge breastwork and gave orders to set
fifty feet In the air, and in half an hour
the heat became 90 intense that every per-
son had to retreat and take . stand one
mile away. Orders were then given for
the simultaneous discharge of firearms.
The demand was followed by q flash and
roar as of thunder. Again the pieces
were loaded, and the explosion fairly
made the earth tremble. Up to this time
Twelve m.) the heavens had shown no
indications of yielding to artifice. As they
were about to despair and give up the at
tempt % q miserable failure, . voice was
heard to cry aloud, Behold, yonder cometh
cloud, looming up in the SOUTH" All
eyes were turned in the direction indi-
Gated, and cry of exultation broke. forth
from the expectant crowd. The cloud
continued to increase and by four O'Clock
p. m. the heavens were black and threat
ened rain at any moment. The heat had
gradually driven Us back, till we found
ourselves climbing the foothills, four
miles from the fire. At sunset 1t CON-
menced raining, and the rejoicfngs OF
the assemblage were carried almost 70 ex-
tremes. 4 gentle southeast breeze now
sprang M, and the rain dcscc64kd In tor
rents. At dark the heat OF the nfAJDeemed
as intense as ever; consequently the null
titude could not return to their homes,
possibly before morning. The situation
was not an altogether comfortable nne,
but the women and children found shelter,
and the masculine element declared that
they could stand snYthing for rcin, At
midnight the storm had increased u such
fearful point that it seemed as If the
food gates Of heaven had been turned
loose. Morning came, but the storm had
not abated. The fire had been extin-
guished, but the outcasts were unable to
return to theiK: homes, - the valley WIS
covered with over two feet OF wafer.
Would 1t ever stop raining! II 50, when ,
Prayers were offered, praying the Divine
Powers 10 stop the deluge. Built stopped
mot, and ct night the water in the valley
was eight feet deep. The next morn
ing the food had inundated numRsSsef
hills. As w.s about TO leap infa Tie
waves 1 awoke, holding in one hand copy
| Of the railroad organ, which I had been
reading when fell asleep. II Contained
an article ON the Espy theory. --0sr. San
Fraaeisco CAsOric's. ,bci4ps 81, Is,
1