The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1883-08-16
SINGULAR PHENOMENON.
Alleged Rain Yesterday Morning

shone upon their eastern windows,
that useful luminary did not make its
As the hours went by,
and six, seven, eight and nine o'clock
arrived, the continued non-appear-
ance Of the sun caused the greatest
surprise. So used have we of As
toria become to cloudless skies by day,
radiant with glittering stars by night,
that the general gloom was the gen
eral topic of remark.
Upon observation II was found that
though the sun had evidently risen,
vet there was layer of moisture
some distance above the earth, so
thick that its rays could not penetrate
it. Careful observation proved that
this unusual vapor was growing in
thickness and density, and that as il
increased IN volume it took a darker
hue. Men who had lived where rain
used occasionally TO fall said it re-
them of the appearance that
the sky used to present just before a
shower, and even ventured the opin-
ion that there was going to be what
they called "a shower" Their pre-
dictions were received with "wild in
credulity," though we cannot see why,
for in those countries where rain is
said TO fall, it Is evident that some
such appearance must be noticed in
the sky rs was seen here yesterday
morning. However, be that as it may,
it is certain that this great mass of
dark vapor which seemed to come
from Youngs river, or perhaps the
Nehalem, moved up and soon was SO
directly over the city that the sky
seemed TO come down At the same dis
tance from every side.
1t was also observed that small drops
of water which had evidently con.
densed above were dropping on the
streets, the roofs, and whatever else
animate or insnimate that happened
to be ont of doors. One individual,
who was about to take a walk, motto
ing this returned, and sailed forth
with an umbrella, opened and held
d irectly over his head and at a right
angle with the horizon, but he was SC
jeered at by those who witnessed the
unusual spectacle that he closed his
umbrella and disappeared.
By this time the attention Of those
who refused to believe that the appar-
ent rain was only phantom of the
imagination, was directed to the side
walks and streets which had assumed
a hue that is caused only by the
prompt and steady application OF
moisture. 1t was now evident to the
most incredulous that it was indeed
raining in Astoria, and after our citi-
zens had recovered from the first
shock of surprise that the singular
phenomenon naturally produced, a
deputatIon proceeded to the top Of
Main street hill, having with them a
piece of ordnance, and having got all
things in readiness, fired a salute OF
five guns. This occurred at twenty
minutes past nine yesterday morning.
The report of these guns at once Gre
ated the impression that it was thun-
der, and every one, without regard tc
age, sex, or former condition of servi.
tude expressed themselves in term:
evincing the greatest surprise. One
party who has been haunting the
county Jail for the last two weeks wai
seen to strike his breast and heard tC
say something about mercy" and "a
conscience, and it is with the utmost
difficulty that Sheriff Twombly in
duced him to be quiet and not give
himself away in such unseeml,
manner.
At twenty-five minutes to ten, i
was plain to the dullest comprehensive
that rain was really falling. Sailor
on the ships in the stream, to whom
such sight as rain is probably no
uncommon, refused to take any specia
notice of the phenomenon, and KEEP
steadily at work, but the general ces
sation of all occupation and the uni
versal interest evinced by nearl,
everyone else showed with what won
der the phenomenon was regarded
For fully twenty-six (or as some asser
twenty-seven minutes the drops fel
continuously, and when shortly afte
ten o'clock the cloud or mass of vapo
we spoke of rolled by and the SUI
shone ont once more, his rays fel
upon 4 much surprised community
1t is probable that papers published a
other points will have information
concerning this unusual occurrence
and should there be any thing add
tioUal 10 what is here noted we shal
publish it in the interests Of science
Snch phenomena as are here describe,
are as rare as they are wosderful
though from the way the mist starte,
in at nightfall it would seem that tn
hearts of our citizens are gladdene'
this morning by an abundance @
l