Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-03
The Rain Experinenters Make
a Final Test---A Success.
SEVEN BALLOONS SENT UP.
Sky as Clear as Could be With Every lndica-
ton Of Continued Fair Weather.
Four Hours After the EIperimenters
Cease Their Racket, Heavy Rain
fall-The Next Trial VIII be
Made at FL Paso.
Snecial to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette
MIDLAND, MIDLAND COUNTY. Tx, Aug.
26.-To-day was the grand final Of tie
operations at this point of Uncle jerry
RUsk'S sky stOrmers, and fitting victory
was achieved by the scientists in their
efforts to shake water from the burning
winds OF the LlanO LstacalO, enc Of the dry
grounds OF fair America
General Dyrenforth and his party have
met with 4 number of obstacles in their
work in this region which appeared well
nigh insurmOuntable. but with patient and
Untiriug energy they have overcome every
diMculty. The most powerful and relentless
enemy which the party has had 10 encounter
has been the fierce wind which constantly
sweeps over tine plains of Western Texas.
The force of the gale Oh the balloons is
very great and in several cases has torn
the captive balloons from their fasteniEgs or
rent the strong mcshes of the netting
as if they We're cobweb fabric. Shelters
had to be built both for the balsons and for
the oxygen furnace. The oxygen apparatus
used IS probably
TIE LARGEST EVER CONSTRUCTED
and manufactures the gas on i scale never
before attempted. The seclUsiou Of the
ranch from supplys has also made this work
exceedingly difficult No difficulties
We're encountered in the explosions on the
ground, however, and these were carried
RackarOck powder and dynamite having
been fired in the last few DAYS. Explosives
were also fired from kites. The eXplo-
sions were made over space of
several square miles. For three
weeks an intermittent series of
experiments have been carried on and not
in a single instance has rain failed to fall
within ten or twelve hours after the ex-
ploSiOnS. Your correspondent has been on
the ground constantly, and therefore IS
COGNIZANT or ALL THE PACTS.
The series was brought to a climax yes
terGay when seven balloons containing Sev-
eral thousand feet of hydrogen gas were
sent up ana exploded at heights varying
from 1000 to 10000 feet. At shutdown the
batteries on the ground began their work
and at 1890 p. III. u constant cannon
aiding was carried on under d sky
of perfect ciearness lit by countless stars
of brillIancy seldom seen IN the North
The barometer promised fair
and the hygrometer stood be
tween dry and very dr.. The
cowboys and rauchmen. who are expert
useless to hope for rain for d
week under such conditions as existed
VI things seemed combined to Withstand
the terrific onslaught on the storms Of the
sky.
At II p. m. Gen. Dyrenforth Withdrew
ms forces and all retired Tor the night.
sleep. however, was soon Interrupted, for
1T a. n. the first return fire flashed from
the heavens when the rain-makers were
reused by
A CRASHING PEAL OF THUNDER
and the rain was soon beatin. on the roof
Al sun rise a magnificent. double rain bow
archad the heavens and the downfall of
rain did not cease till o'clock Il. IA.
a number of heavy charges of dynamite
were then made, and after every one the
drops again poured down till at last the
clouds were entirely expanded, and there
was nothing left from which to shake the
water
The cattlemen arc tubilant over the'suc-
ress of the experiments. and scores u in
vltations are daily pouring in from various
localities asking for further operations in
their vicinity.
Gen. Drycnforth leaves for Washington
to-Gay for two weeks absence, leaving the
expedition in charge of Gir. John T. Ellis.
The next operation VIII be mate in FL Paso
aud thence the party goes to Western Kan
sas. Your correspondent viii accompany
the expedition.