Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-13
RAIN WIZARD MELBOURNE.
He Claims Credit for Rain He Was
Working on Since Sunday.
Canton Repository, August II.

OUHCOH 1bepOoEOFIf dogust ~
About IL o'clock this morning dense
black clouds showed themselves over
the western horizon. Within half al
hour the sky was darkened and rain fel
steadily and swiftly for over an hour.
1t took many by surprise, as appear
ances this morning indicated anything
but rain. Business men left home with
out umbrellas and were delayed by the
rainfall at the noon hour.
The intense heat of the past few day:
made the rain particularly pleasing
The earth is dry, and had no change in
the weather occurred, physicians feared
much sickness.
SIS this my rain! Why of couse it is
Haven't been working for it almost In.
cessantly since Sunday?"
The above was the reply made by
Rain Wizard Melbourne to a reporter
who inquired the authorship Of the
handsome shower. 81 experienced more
trouble Oh this rain than on any have
yet caused, excepting, of course, the
day my machine broke" continued Mel
bourne. "a number of times
the cloud formations commenced,
aud several times there was
even a sprinkle, but l could not get
thoroughly good rain started until this
morning. have been at the operating
room almost all tue time since Sunday,
working away. Several times thought
success near at hand, but little breeze
would come up and dispense the work Of
hours. But last night was happy.
SqB ct ws see SsSSnSh hg p %S today
the winds could no longer thwart Tue
influences Of the machine. People were
Joking and laughing about it and few
had any idea early this morning OF a
heavy rain before noon. really
have had no complete failures In
the Sunday rains, though on several
occasions the rain fall occurring after
dark has been so light that it was al
most imperceptible by daylight. But
in all cases the claims have in every
case been substantiated by responsible
people. The machine acting sooner OF
later, according to atmospheric condi-
tions, causes much trouble in having
the rain fall at certain hours. II | was
not working to prove my invention a
success could start it going and keep
it up until successful. But having
particular time set must always start
early and frequently the shower Is com
ing ahead Of time. Then have to quit
work for time and to attract the sec,
ond clouds is much more trouble thar
the first, because there are always some
atmospheric changes that influence the
experiment.
There is only one man that Is more
elated at the shower than its alleged
maker, and that is his brother and en-.
thusiastic supporter, William K. Mel
bourne. He asserts most firmly thai
the rain of to-day was caused by arti
fetal influences. When asked II ht
was doing any betting on the recent ex
periments, he said: Eyes, bet Mon
day, but the man backed out and took
down the money during the day. A
number of US were sitting in front oil
the hotel when a boarder said
he would like to bet SO K
SIS that there would be nc
rain. ! took him up and we started Il
put the money in Mr. Byer's hands. Blu
the man backed out, saying he would bet
even money. accepted this and put my
money up. / then went to work and die
not return until night, when supposed
had won my money. But the stake
holder told me the man had called In hi!
money, and declared the bet off before
noon."
"While you are talking about bets
Just say that still am willing to be
500 or less on a rain any day named anC
the money awaits taker at the Hote
Yohe. So far no one has had the sane
to take me up"