The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-19
GOVERNMENT RAIN MAKING.
STRENUOUS EFFORTS At Ell PdSO TO
HIRING DOWN SHOWERS.
Bombnrdment or tho SKY From Mount
Frnnkiin-Jobn T. Eiiis's Scouting Trip
in u RnllOon, md His PcrIlons descent.

Bombardment or tho SKY From Mouut
FranEiin-Jobu Il. Eiiis's Scouting Trip
in IL Balloon, and His Pcriious Descent.
Ell PAso, Sept. 1s.-There was tremendous
excitement in FL Paso yesterday afternoon
md evening, and for n while everybody here
thought that Mr.. John r. Ellis. the chief rnin
maker OF the Government sxpedition during
Gen. Dryenforths absence. was lost
Mr. Ellis made q balloon ascension at Az
o'clock from the water works on tho edge OF
the town. lIo went up 5000 feet to ascertain
tho meteorological conditions OF the upper air
currents preparatory to trying to make them
send down rain to.dny.
Ie took observations every 50U feet. md
remained up for about an hour His balloon
meantime had drilted across \ mountain
ridge md 1t came down in a rocky ravino In
which cactus and Spanish dagger grew In u
thcket
A party OF about twenty horsemen started
out to find tho balloon md Mr.. Ellis. but after
search Of throe hours they were unsucccss-
iu'. Meantime, the news that no was lost In
the mountains had reached the city. md II re-
llef party was ut once made UP. A detail
OF soldiers from Fort Bliss started out
with Major Hinton. the commander OF
the post. ard DR.. Appel. the post surgeon.
They were mounted and took an ambulance
with them. Fifty citizene also Joined in the
search.
THE Sun correspondent was on a rescuing
expedition on his own account. and Mt about
81 o'clock he found Mr.. Ellis 81 the entrance
to very rugged ravino eight miles from town.
The lost traveller wnB clanibsring over the
rocks and cactus and whistling merry mir.
He said that his ascension had been very sue.
cessful. but he would have preferred coming
down in a pleasantor SPOT. He had left his
balloon In the rsvinc. and 1t will be brought to
town later. Mr. Ellis and THH Sun man
met big rescuing party about three miles
iron town own, and RECEIVED r".,s,nS welcome n
Ellis made during his ascent wa. In regard to
the effect produced bv, ,9ckarork powder and
and dynnm n,s, In .wo;NGouhr ,s sh"tsss
S;soS tcs ip RsS AND md'n three miles los aNsS
He fe!t the conclusions from the explosions.
on "P4 w. Sy sssGna T.. biz s0 s s ybpssn
sIons h had rssshea them, The hishe.t hnmil-
inent men from Mexico: New Mexico Arisona,
ss"s nfr Sdsy
ara ssHcursion train I hjye been run IT, the city
Scientific exreriment., The people however.
say it bents circus all out,
begun BY Nj Ellis and his rssociaies Shortly
alter 10 O'Clock this morning. Mr.. Jennings
was first on the scone and his explosives were
soon popping on the top OF Mount Franklin.
Then the mortars were trained and the
2l-pound bombs were sent whizzing heaven.
ward To- explode $40 feet abovs. As .oon as
tho hydrogen apparatus could be got ready
the nliing OF one OF the stock balloons was be-.
gun in readiness for an ascension before l
o'clock.
At about o'clock the sky along the eastern
horizon began to pile high with clouds.
BY o'clock lightning was playing all
around the horizon. Far away rain could DO
sscn coming down in several places. but not .
d. op has fallen here;
snys tha ike Ssors
and the bnromsier. which early this
morning Registered exceedingly high even for
this country. Is slowly but surely falling.