The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-01
RAIN IN VAST SHEETS.

o0oWob0 B1eou00
TsiAss-Ths Raiay ossssa n CuSa.
The rainy season has set In In Havana, the
yellow fever 10 sweeping down It's victims. the
Americans who have been wintsring there won't
back weeks ago. and those few Oubans who
have got the means are In New York or on their
why to Europe. Never was rain moro needed
than whom Il began to fall there few days ago.
For months the hot sun had pierced an abso-
lutely clear sky. and the last drop Of moisture
seemed to have dried out OF the earth. vsgeta-
ton was burning up. the trees spread brown
foliage to the hot winds. cattle and sheep
were dying Of thirst. and fortunes on
the plantations hung In the balance be-
tween destruction bv heat and salvation
through rain. Tho first rain on the western end
ofthe island fell In MatanzaA on q Sunday night.
Just ~ al the ladies were giving the last touches
to their lace mantillas. preparatory to going
out to the plaza to hear the military band and
to sec the gentlemen pass and repass. curling
their mustsohios and smoking their sverlsst-
ing cigarettes. Just then down came the rain.
nrst In drops. then In sheets. and then In one
vast cataract. The strangers who we're In the
city had no chance TO see the wonders OF 4
tropical rain storm because It was dark. but the
opportunity came next day. The train In which
the writer had scat was midway between Ma
tanxaa and Havana. The sun WAS blazing down.
and Saiidinss, and the brssss that played Hcross
the cane flelda was an Rggravation. The cars
had pulled up a . station;
splash sounded another iail Of rain: aop SSp.
splash came more gigantic drops and then the
the flood came In u manner most startling to
New Yorker who remembers the one or two
~ tss. Ss a. 81
would not rank a. ssnuine dri.zls 6esids this
som"times has. but With tho roar and GnbroEsn
splash Of. a mill dams .tumbling waters. It all
ram inward until Il" outer limit i 81 vision formed
| a circle smaller than the Bowling Green. There
we're no Intervening :ianting lirss Of raim drora
sheets: ' When the wind arose the Strain OF Of
snd bsn tSSS. f% rssa eSs
two ACCOMMODATING sounds-the rnsh and roar
the air and the sIl.:hins on The ground
tie cars. fios,ed down the railroad cutting. for
a. e fell. and 90 Il rose and deepepea above
Eround until the train stood IN lake into
sd w: 81 sH Tsssd
Yes but I'm afraid It won't be much Of q
the writer inquired.
| on. hut am afraid it won't"
| Up In Sunctu Espiritu. whore I belong. ~
| said another. where mon are scarce and the
land is covered With forests. have seen II rain
s: nss Hsn H
dried UP the Rtreama"
Tho rain lnstsd Just twenty minutes. and
| then tho sunshine shot out from behind the
| clouds. gliding all the dripping foliage and
.srS 0 vss ns snoss'
shower 10 the next half hour and the view
from the car windows rave an insight into the
action which Produced such . tremendous
| rainfall mass Of dense black clouds hung
over the earth. Suddenly something like 9
streamer or banner OF thin black cloud fell e
TsSs1 =. e :acssn a roaE .Se
under surface OF the: big cloud began to tear
Little points protruded from It.. then length.
| ened into long tRtters. then widened. ran to-
Rether. formed another banner. and fell grace
fully to the ground. The big cloud began
TO sink very slowly toward the earth and othel
fol from 1t until in three minutes the earth
and the cloud had come togather. and unQues
tionnb!y the tons OF water that had been sus
pended In the air were rushing down upon thu
ground. Trees. groves and buildings that hat
bssn In plain sight we're nov bidder and 70 q
Fearful shafts Of lightning hurled themselves
In direct lines from the heart Of the cloud dowI
upon the ground. 30 rapidly and spitefnlly tina
the eye could scarcely follow the flashes. Ol
rolled tho train. and a. tts wat sides ware seoi
tn Rega scroes the bay from Havana. the peo
rally raining I" they Inquired. The new new
drop Of rain In months. Now It will rail-
| every afternoon for weeks to come.