Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-19
FIRING FOR RAIN,
Great Interest Manifested In the Expert.
mcnts mt IL Paso.

mcnts at IL Paso.
FL PAso. Tex, Sept. 19.-The governor of
Chihuahue and many prominent men from
Mexico. New Mexico Arizona. Colorado and
all over Texas came here to see the rain
experiments yesterday. The cay was made
sort of general holiday. The active work
Of sky bombardment was begun early in the
morning and continued until late in the after
noon. At about O'Clock the sky along the
eastern horizon began to pile high with clouds,
and by o'clock lightning was playing ali
around tho horizon and far away rain could be
seen coming down i'll several places. but not
drop fell here. At pm. however. it looked
as If 1t would rain before morning. The barom-
eter. which early In the morning registered ex-
ceedingly high, was then slowly but surely
falling.
THIS RAISMAKER WAS LUcKrER.
CHICAGO, Sept. 19.-Lester Kabris wealthy
catteman Of Cheyenne. Wyo., now in this city,
talked to a reporter OF tho recent rainmsking
experiments Of Frank Melbourn at that place.
Il was present during Melbourn's
experiments recently at Cheyenne" said
he, land the results were certainly start
ling. Ex-Goy. Baxter of Wyoming,
Perry Oregon, large ranch owner, and Presi-
dent Malchrist of the Melrose National Bank
were also prcaent during the performance of
tho Ohio man. They were skeptical when they
came on the ground, in tue Cheyenne suburbs,
carry on his communication with the
clouds. The experiments were made
from the loft OF barn out on an open space
400 yards from farm house. There was hearty
laugh from the people when Melbourn came
out of the barn attired in nothing but pair Of
trousers and flannel shirt, and said:
Ladies and gentlemen, We will have shower
at II o'clock This was at Q o'clock, and he
added You will not laugh so hard ut noon.
You will DO wishing for umbrellas about that
time
'.Melbourn then disappeared inside the barn
and opened little trap door no had tempo
rsrily arranged in the roof. The crowd looked
at the clear sky and pronounced Mel
bourn fraud. At 1045 there was
not cloud visible, and the indications
for rain were as far off as ever. The
weather bureau for that district had predicted
continued fair weather. Slowly, about ii
O'Clock, the clouds began to creep up over the
horizon. They came from both the east and
west and met directly above us. At IL o'clock
it began to drizzle and at 1890 the rain was
coming down steadily. The rain general
around Cheyenne.
AT o'clock or fifteen minutes before that
hour the rain bad ceased, the clouds had dis
appeared and the sun was shining as brightly
as it was at . o clock.
'.Melbourn came:out. His face was flushed
and the clothing on him was wringing wet with
perspiration. He said to ex-Gov. Baxter: Gov
ernor; l will give you another shower at
'.Melbourn disappeared and soon after
O'Clock the clouds put in an appearance the
same as before and the rain began to fall. 1t
came down quite hard and at o'clock. when it
ceased, there were mud and little pools of water
in every direction. At 4:30 the sky again
rs clear ever and for the second time Mel
bourn put III an appearance and said: The
next shower will be ut o'clock
For heavens sake call him off. or he will
drown us out said a man who had witnessed
the remarkable performances of the Ohio man.
Governor Baxter did call him off, He in
formed Mr.. Melbourn that he and his associ-
ates were thoroughly satisfied with the expert
ments."