The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-10-24
SINGULAR SHOWERS.
Authentic Accounts Of Fish, Flesh
and Frog Storms.
Rain Of Rats, Red, Black and Orange
SaOw and Other Eccentricities of
Dame Nature Some Inn
ported Stories.

The very singular phenomenon fa-
miliarly known as the ''rain of frogs"
has been ridiculed and contradicted by
some scientists. but there is abundant
proof that such occurrences are by no
means rare. One of the earliest mar
ratives Of this kind is that commune
Gated to the French Academy by Prof.
Pontus in 1904, in which he gives an
account Of a shower of frogs near
Toulouse, and states that he himself
saw numerous young frogs ON the
clOaks OF two gentlemen who were
caught in the shower on the road.
When the diligence in which he was
travelling arrived at the place where
the storm burst, the roads and fields
we're observed to be absolutely full of
irogs. In some places they appeared
to be three or four deep, and the horses
hoofs killed thousands during the pas
sage Of the vehicle through the spot.
An instance of a no less curious frog
shower in our own country is related
By writer in the Overland Monthly,
who says that in the year 1864 he was
With number of other tourists travel
ing IN Arizona at least twenty miles
from any stream or pond. The day
being exceedingly sultry, a halt was
made for rest of an hour or two,
when suddenly dense black cloud
made its appearance. which soon begun
e discharge copious rain. Nearly
every person in the party wore a
proad-brimmed felt hat, which proved
great protection against the rain, as
lhey had already been against the sun.
ne attention of the travellers was
soon arrested by vigorous pelting of
something which seemed like hail
stones upon their sombreros. but
which, greatly to their surprise
proved to be species of dimin-
atve frogs. In less than two minutes
ae grass was fairly alive with these
issle creatures. They were all of one
slze' about quarter of an inch long,
very lively. and apparently in the best
condition. Their fall had evidently
oeen broken by the elastic, springy
aisare OF the grass. Abiding to the
sneory advanced by some scientists,
mai IN such cases the frogs must of
necessity have arisen from the ground,
sae writer says: lit is not probable
snas several hundred thousand, per-
maps millions, of frogs had suddenly
oeen hatehed into life by the rain. or,
shey had, that, in their infantile
gee they jumped five feet, eleven
suenes from the earth to the top of our
asaas merely to show how the game of
a prog should be played. They came
..on ABOVE, in company with the rain,
a''1 enls TACT was made clear by hold
IS out the hand and seeing them fall
stOa y, as well as finding them upon
our hat rims.
70 Judge from a number of instances
olssea IN Chambers Book of Davs.,
! would seem that the cause of fish
salls u the old country, at least, out
~ ssalaoer those of frogs in a considera-
ses. uegree. On the I4th of April.
-, 80 MAJOR Mackenzie, of Rossshire,
~uaie Walking in field on his farm,
o.s. great portion of the ground
ssrea With herring-fry, three to four
es r n length, fresh and entire.
IS spos was all of three miles from
vss.., .area of Dingwell. About two
Asss,s ~ sA.ef' N the Island OF Islay, in
rsis .s ,ssaire, after day of very heavy
- sne inhabitants were surprised to
~ ~atge number of fresh behring's
'sssa over their aelds. Mora e. J.