Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-19
MADE IT POUR.
Successful Efforts of the Gov
ernment Rainmakers.
HALF AN INCH ON THE LEVEL.
Early in the Night Full Moon Sails the
sky, but Before Morning Il Heavy
Rain Falis-Cattlemen and
Farmers Rejoicing.

Special 10 the Gazette.
CAMP EDWARDS, NEAR SAN DIEGO, DIT
VAL COUNTY, Tex, Oct. 1S.-The govern
ment rain makers are the heroes of the
hour here. The experiment which began
yesterday evening and continued during
the night was entirely successful.
At 4 o'clock this morning rain fell in tor
rents in the camp and soaked the men TO
the skin. Never before were men so glad
10 get a wetting. They yelled and hur-
rahed and danced fandangoes in the mud.
The people Of San Diego and of the sur
rounding country are aStonished at the
result When they went to bed at
midnight the moon was shining in
a cloudiess sky and there was no
sign of rain anywhere. At 4 o'clock they
were awakened by the pattering of the rain
on the roofs. In few minutes it
CAME DOWN IN TORRENTS.
The rain countined for nearly
an hour When it ceased, the
pluviometer showed that half an inch
had fallen at this place. kilograms re-
ceiveu this morning from stations along the
line of the Mexican International rail
road state thai the rain extended
about forty miles to the north
east, los miles to the west
and thirty miles to the southwest 1t did
not rain either TO the west or south at 4
greater distance than ten or fifteen miles.
The water this morning is standing III pools
all over the ranches and the cattlemen are
delighted. They estimate that the rain is
worth 10 them in round figures at least
half ii million dollars 1t is also worth
much to the cotton growers. As the entire
cost of the experiment was about $500
they regard it as
A ONE OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS
they could possibly have made. The
scientific value of the success can
not be estimated of course but
il will undoubtedly lead to
many more tests OF the conclusion theory.
Already offers are being made to the rain
makers to go TO Mexico and experiment
there. The bombardment began early
at evening and until nearly mid
night there was continual
roar from the dynamite and rock-a-rock
batteries The full moon was sailing 4
cloudleSs sky, and the hundreds of people
who had come TO the camp We're satisfied
that the experiment would be Il fiat failure.
They said that it was beautiful imitation
of a battle, but that rain would
follow from such 4 sky was
absurd and impossible. Many offered to
bet baskets of champagne that no rain
would come and some of the rainmakers
took up the bets
As QUICKLY As THEY WERE OFFERED.
The heavy smoke from the bat
teries drifted off 10 the Northwest
and the balloons also sailed off in that direc-
ton before they eXploed. The prychrOm-
eter Showed Us per cent of humidity just
before the firing began. and at T.
O'Clock it showed % per cent.
The barometer was high and
rising during the early part of the evening,
but fell rapidly about > O'Clock At mid
night the continuous firing ceased and five
minute guns took its place. Mr.. Ellis, who
was i'll charge, and Mr.. George CASTER,
the aereonaut, sent up the balloons
at intervals Of about forty
minutes apart. They ran to
Z height of about half Il mile before eX-
p!oding. The explosions were heard at
points fifty miles and more away. Lieut.
Allen Dyer was in command OF the batter
les ana they were worked by the soldiers
from the Twentythird infantry. The men
DID SPLENDID WORK
and added 10 the high esteem which they
have won here by their conduct through
out. At about 80 a. N. q balloon was sent
up. The ar at the time was very still.
The balloon went straight into the air. then
drifted TO the northwest. then came
directly south. then >.vent off east and
1t the time it exploded was travelling west
ii u rapid rate Mr.. CASTER. who has been
making ascensions for many Years. said he
had never seen balloon act in that way
and that the disturbance in the upper
currents must lave been tremendous.
1t was 3 O'Clock when the storm first
showed above the horizon to the northwest.
the direction to which the wind had been
blowing during the heavy firing. The
clouds came up rapidly. aEi one could see
them gather size and density as
they approached the zenith and drifted
across the moon. A small cloud would APP
pear suddenly in
CLEAR PART OF THE SKY
and in five minutes it would spread ont
At 4 few minutes to o'clock
The sky above was full of heavy clouds.
out not Il drop of rain had
fallen. A balloon was sent up and ex-
)loded right in the cloud and the motor bat
cry began shooting butts in rapid success
,ion. In two minutes after the balloon ex-
)loded the rain came down, and in three
minutes more it was falling in sheets and
little rivuiets were running through |
he camp. At sunrise dry mortimer came.
md in 4 short time the storm clouds had |
been blown to shreds.
Mr.. Ellis is highly pleased at
he results of the experiment, and !,
everyone here agrees that the storm |
vas wholly due to the firing. |
The old residents say that heretofore all |
he local storms have come from the east |
md that one from the northwest has here |
Ofore been unheard OF. !
PIanyew, Hale County, Tex s.aszsst