The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-11-04
cHARLorqE,s QUEER PHENOMENA
Rain Failing Every Day at the Same hour
from Clear Skies.

Charlotte has sensation of the most
puzzling character, and one which will
prove an interesting subject for study by
the scientists and the learned men of the
land. It is a tree, or rather pair Of
trees 10 the vicinity of which regularly
each day at 8 o'clock shower of rain
falls The phenomenon was yesterday
witnessed by crowd of at least 250 citi
zens, before whose gaze The rain fell for
the space of two hours.
The locality of this strange occurrence
is at the corner of Ninth and D streets.
Three weeks ago it was reported that
every day at three o'clock shower of
rain would fall at that spot. but most OF
our citizens thought it subject for the
che. tnut bell. During the last few days,
however, they have begun to look at the
matter in different light. There is no
joke about it, but the rain really does fall,
as indicated above, and it can be witness
ed any day after three o'clock in the
afternoon.
An Observer reporter, anxious to test
the truthfulness Of the report, yesterday
visited the spot and found crowd of at
least 250 people already assembled, wait
ing for the rain to commence. The
skies were perfectly clear, the sun was
shining brightly, and everything in the
vicinity was dry and dusty from the pro
longed drought. On reaching the place
where the people were assembled, the
reporter inquired for the spot on which
il was said that the rainfall was to be seen,
and was pointed to two scrubby oak trees
growing in yard at the corner of Ninth
and D streets. There was nothing unu.
sual about the appearance of the trees,
save that they we're not very we'll filled
with leaves. At half past three O'Clock
the expectant multitude was rewarded by
the appearance of the rain. 1t began
coming down between the two trees in a
kind Of a mist which gradually increased
until it was a gentle, but undoubtedly q
genuine rain fall. Though the rain was
falling before the eyes of all present, no
one could tell from whence it came. 1t
could be seen coming down from a point
above the tops Of the trees, and continued
falling until 5 o'clock, and that was all
that could be realized. Every individual
present could see it plainly. An UNI
brella held under the falling water was
quickly made dripping wet. Handler.
chiefs spread on the ground were also
made wet. One lady placed gossamer
at the foot of the tree, and when she
took it up it contained a tablespoonful of
water. The water is icy cold. Among
those present yesterday and who can
testify to the truthfulness of what is
above recorded, were Mr.. James A. Barry,
sergeant in charge of the signal station
in this city; Mr.. D. P. Hutchinson, and
a large number of young lady pupils Of
the Charlotte female institute in charge
of Mrs. Atkinson, in addition to number
prominent citizens. Mr.. Barry was 80
Impressed with what he witnessed that he
reported the occurrence to the chief sig.
nal station at Washington. The plat of
ground covered by the rainfall is about
ton feet square. This wonderful occur
renee has been going on daily for four
weeks past, as the residents of that yicin-
ity can testify.
While the rain was falling yesterday
Mr.. Hutchinson climbed up one of the
trees to make an investigation, but failed
to unrayel the mystery. The leaves and
twigs were perfectly dry, and while he
was in the top of the tree he could see
the rain coming down from above him.
These are the facts, and the wise men
can now take the case.
a similar phenomenon is reported in
Cheraw Charlotte Observer.