Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-25
THE PREVAILING DROUGHT.
The Driest October ON Record in This
District.
ONLY SIx-HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH OF RAIN.
. FALL THIS MONTH so FAR.

ONL1 SlA-HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH OF RAIN
FALL THIS MONTH so FAR.
A very accurate record of the daily rainfall
or precipitation Is kept at the signal office,
where as small quantity as the one-hun-
dredth part of an inch is measured. Upon in
Quiry there to-day STAR reporter was in
| formed that the present month promises TO be
the drlest October on record for Washington.
Since the organization Of the weather bureau
| OF the signal service, in 1870, no month of
October has such a small percentage of rainfall
according TO the records as October, 1SS6. AS far
as II has gone. The average iall of rain during
that month has been three inches but SO far
but six-hnndredths OF an inch has fallen, in
two small showers. During the night OF Octo-
ber 14th there was a shower lasting about half
an hour, with precipitation OF Two one-hun-
dredtns OF an inch, ana again on the morning
OF the 21st Il slight shower occurred, but the
rainfall measured only four one.nundredths OF
an inch. VI course the record may be easily
broken by Il smart shower before the first of
November, but unless one arrives October,
1856, will ue the driest of OctoUers on record.
Ine largest amount OF rain recorded in tnat
month previously was 1850 inches in 1877,
while the ightest previous fall was ~ in 1874.
THE COUNTRY SUFFERING FOR RAIN.
The country in the neghborhood OF this city
is suffering for rain, but there are no indications
OF a break in the dry spell. Last month was
also very dry here, and the precipitation was
~ incnes below the normal average, which is
All So that the rainiai last mont lii amounted
To only 1.9 inches. The lowest rainfall in that
month on record-iOurteen- n-nundredthS of an
lncl-was i'll 1854, and the highest 1881 in
1876. During the past two mouths there has
i.iien r.i In TINS xcinity less IMAM Two Inches OF
single nlonth OF October, and only half OF that
usual tor september.
THE NORTH CAROLINA SHOWERS FROM CLEAR
SKY.
Presuming that the weather bureau had
solved the mystery, THE STAR man suggested
that Washington follow the example of Char
lotte, n. c., where, according to reports, they
have "a daily shower at exac,ly 3 O'Clock from a
cloudless SKY in the vicinity OF two oak trees.
None OF the signal service officials were, how
ever, able To solve the problem. Notwithstand-
ins the tact that Sergeant Barry, at Charlotte,
had made a report TO Lne office confirming the
reports the phenomenal shower. he did not
attempt to explain 1t, being completely mysti-
fled, and none OF the officials here were disposed
TO o1ter an explanation. They wanted to see it
nrsL before they would ever Ueljeve it. Reports
OI a fall OF rain from clOudleSs sky are Ire
quently received from station observers Tut
none have been attended with the same regu-
larlty aud peculiar circumstances AS the daily
shower at Charlotte. When Sergeant Barry
witnessed the phenomenon II cloudy sky at
first inter!ered with the customary shower, but
he waited until the sun shOne brightly, when
the phenomenal shower put in its appearance.
The rain has tor Its central point two oak trees
in yard in Charlotte, and occasionally il
moistens the earth for nearly a quarter OF an
acre about them. The ram can be seen falling
the twiys and leaves are i9Gnd TO be perfectly
dry. This has been gFfng on, 1t is said,
lOr over three weeks. Sergeant Barrys report,
which has just been received, Was dated OctO-
Der 21st, and on that day he Witnessed The
phenomenon. In the absence of further intor-
nation the weather bureau mere is inclined to
look with suspicion upon the matter, SO
many wonderful things have been reported
which proved either untrue or easily accounted
tor.
REPORTED SHOWER OF SULPHUR.
This morning package containing sulphur
was received at the signal office from a man
down south, who stated that it had fallen from
the sky during a storm and was gathered by
him and sent to Washington tor explanation.
Upon careful examination with q powerful
glass the contents showed unmistakable signs
OF having been broken with a hammer or some
instrument of that kind, leaving the impress
sion tn;lt the sender was better informed as to
its source than he represented.