Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-09-18
THE AUTUMNAL EQUINOX.
Its Approach Signalled by the Usual
Storms Of Wind, Rain aud Snow, Ac.
cOrding to Locality.

unctual TO time the equlnOctlal
storm which never fails has given us
a drenching rain, and in the hills and
mountains, in proportion to the eleva-
ton, fair showing of snow. Upon
the coasts the equinoctial storms which
are due about the Goth of September
and Goth Of March, each year, are
looked forward to with great anxiety.
Upon the Atlantic seaboard and ocean
the number of wrecks and consequent
loss of life and property is often so
great as to cause general sorrow. In
the Western States crops are ruined
ana buildings destroyed by the
severity Of the gales. In Texas the
violent commotion caused by this
semi-annual great storm is frequently
heralded by sudden change Of many
degrees Of temperature-cven to the
freezing of people and hundreds Of
head of cattle, and the State is swept
by tornadoes from the north. Upon
the Pacific coast the equinoctial storm
Is felt from Alaska to Patagonia, and
though generally passing off in heavy
rains, is often accompanied by gales
Of wind which, in all exposed ports
as at Valparaiso, where the harbor is
exposed to the north-cause great dis
aster, many vessels having been totally
wrecked on the shores of bay in one
day or night.
1t is decidedly unwelcome vista
ton everywhere, but in the noun
tains Of Idaho it is not as severe, by
any means, and usually does its worst
in drenching the dusty roads, renew
ing the volume of water in our rivers,
and treating the hardy prospector to Il
few inches of snow in the mountains,
as spur to his operations, and to re-
mind him of the approach of winter
The storm began Friday night at
Haley, and continued most of the
night. On Saturday, a lull was ex-
pericnccd in the rain until toward
Sunday morning, when it started again
and continued all day Sunday, accom-
panied on Sunday afternoon by light
ming and thunder. During the time
that the wind did not blow snow fell
with the rain and whitened the groul.d
in Haley and covered all the hill
tops. The temperature fell many de-
grees, and made fires necessary all
day Sunday and to the present time.
The rain and snow ceased this morn
ing, but heavy clouds are still over.
head and prospects are good for more
to come.
Looking up and down the river,
over the mountains which are white
with snow, the sight is not an espec-
tally cheerful one. In the towns
everybody is busy, actuated by com.
mon impulse in putting up stoves,
thinking, lining, and papering houses
and trying to keep their habitations
warm. Stoves are Icing sold by the
dozen, also lining and wall papers in
quantities, and it is fortunate that the
cold change came as warning that
when winter does arrive to stay it will
not find our community unprepared.
The birds are gradually going south,
and there are many recent arrivals
from New Mexico, Arizona and Cali
fornia who would follow their exam
pie if they could. There was sud-
den exhibit of old umbrellas, old
overshocs and overeoats. The provi-
dent citizen has on his old ulster to-
day, while the improvident are dis
cussing the storm around hot stoves
and fear to risk going about in their
summer clothes. Winter has not come
vet. There will be a late fall and
about three months of good weather
yet. But it is well to be prepared.
The equinox will be passed by the
end of this week, and it is therefore
unlikely that this blustery weather
will continue for more than few days
longer. About this time the days and
nights should be of equal length in all
parts of the world.