davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06
THE FIRST RAIN-MAKER.
Howard Fielding Describes a Pred
ecessor of Dyrenforth.
How Luther II. Martin, OF Fog Harbor,
Me-. Acquired u Reputation which
tho Average Man Would 30
Glad to Get Rid or
lCoPYR1cur. 1871

1t will be remembered that the res
ervoirs of New York city recently ran
low, SO that many people who had not
used water to any extent in forty years
wrote letters to the newspapers COM
planning of waste on the part of their
neighbors. At that time Gen. Dyrcn-
forth, who was accused of having COM
mittcd several thunder showers in
Texas, was requested to take his theory
and 50, 900 worth of dynamite and en-
plodc them in the Croton valley. Before
Gen. Dyrenforth could figure up the
cost of shower for New York the rain
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06

settled into his accustomed place on the
end Of the counter.
Don't see no sign of it," replied
Farmer Stevens, mournfully, and the
remainder of the company sadly shook
their heads.
"S'prise We any if it rained O. Triday2"
inquired Luther.
'Twon't," replied Stevens. laconical-
ly.
Winds been off shore ten days run
nin'," said the grocer. ""Tain't goin' to
shift till n change o moon"
II tell we it'll rain day arter termor-
rer." said Luther; AN it'll be me an
not the moon that'll make it."
Conversation became animated, for
the farmers had plenty of curiosity, even
If they didn't have any confidence in
rattle-brained notions, Luther gave
them just enough information to stir
up their interest without revealing his
plan, which was to blow up his she'd
full OF explosives in one tremendous ap-
peal TO Jupiter Pluvius.
Thursday was nervous day for
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06
THE ROANOKE TIMES SATURDAY, FEBRUARY g, 1892

Luther. lie had decided to make his
experiment carly Friday morning, and
he feared that the weather might show
some sign of a change, and thus detract
from his glory. But it didn't The sun
dropped down out of n cloudless sky on
Thursday evening. The weather proph-
cts of the grocery store were unani-
nous in the opinion that the morrow
would be fair.
Luther awolse late i'll the night with
a chill in his bones. The hand which
he raised to his face was damp. The
air was thick with fog. The wind had
backed round to the east in the night,
and the drought was ended
Luther was bitterly disappointed. He
had waited long for this opportunity,
and ut last he had let it get away from
him. He resolved to have his explo-
sion anyhow, and then claim the credit
for the rain which he saw was certain
to come. In fact, some drops were al
ready falling. He CROPPED his way into
the house; found his slow match; lit n
lantern, and then sailed forth to the
pasture. Everything was ready in the
little shed. Luther adjusted his match,
fired it hastily and fled. In his excite
ment he ran the wrong way, and when
he stopped he was in the middle of a
piece of woods which adioined his pas
ture. He waited there an hour in fear
full suspense, but the explosion did not
oc2ur. BY this time it was raining
smartly; and when at last he had found
his way home he was drcnchcd to the
skin.
When the dismal day broke he arose
from uneasy slumbcrs and made his
way cautiously to the shed. lie
found his slow match sodden with
rain, which had evidently found
its way through the roof in
time to prevent an explosion. On the
whole, Luther was rather glad of it.
The rain had come anyhow, according
to his prediction, and he had saved his
gunpowder for another occasion. 1t
was pouring by this time, and the roof
of the shed was leaking like Il sieve.
He spent the remainder of the forenoon
in transferring his explosives to the
barn, where they would have chance
of protection from the downpour Then
he strolled down to the village store,
protected by his old bingham umbrella.
Luther's reception went beyond his
SApSCbdtlOHS. llC wis nd1lcU as the
only genuine rain-maker, and all the
other big medicine men, were de-
clared to be base limitations.
1t rained all that day and the next
On Sunday it came down in sheets, and
by Monday all that region had more
rain than it knew what to do with On
Tuesday the opinion became general
that Luther had ovcrdone it. There
was no sign of 4 change on Wednesday,
and Luther had by this time become
distinctly unpopular. His barn had be-
gun TO leak, and for safety he had
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06
The jeff Davis Rifles.

The JEFF Davis Rifles had a business
meeting Thursday night, Capt. Griffin
in the chair After reports of the re-
gular committees Mr.. A c. SPOTS was
elected first lieutenant and Frank A.
Lovelock second lieutenant, and com.
mittee was appointed by tho chair to
notify them of their unanimous election.
Mr.. SPOTS is graduate of the Vir-
ginia Military Institute, and Mr.. Love-
lock was for some time q cadet OF the
Loudon Rifle Brigade and later served
respectively as first sergeant. second
lieutenant and first lieutenant of COM
pany Fl, Third Regiment Virginia Volun.
teerS.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06

fell gratis upon the just and the unjust,
and, while the allowance to the latter
was not liberal, we were able to get
along on it for a couple of weeks.
This is so much like the experience of
the original rain-maller that l am
moved to tell his story. His claims
have hitherto been entirely overlooked
Gen. Dyrenforth has been elected to the
dubious honor.
AS a matter of fact, however, the first
man in the business was Luther R. Mar
tin, of Fog Harbor, Me. His theory
was founded in strictly scientific man
ner upon the observation of phenomena
He noticed that it always raincd on the
Fourth of July, and that the downpour
invariably began shortly after the rev
dictionary cannon had exploded, wound
ing n large number of patriotic citizens
The rain never came before the eXplo-
sion; it always waited till that was
over and the procession had moved out
to the cemetery, where there was no
shelter but the tomb.
Rejecting on these facts, Luther came
to the conclusion that sufficiently
good imitation of Fourth of July was
all that was necessary to break up
dry spell. Fog Harbor and the ada
cent farm lands had suffered from
drought in 81 and again in 40, and
Luther calculated in April of '67 that it
was likely to be n dry spring unless his
experiment interviewed. He had talked
freely of his theory with his neighbors
Most of them said it was worthless
nonsense; a few thought it was wicked,
and the remainder claimed to have in
vented it themselves. For Fog Harbor
was good deal like the world in gen
eral.
Meanwhile, Luther was preparing for
his experiment. He secretly purchased
lot of blasting powder, and such high
explosives as were known in those early
days.
He stored these threatening COM
pounds in an old shed on his farm.
was boy at the time, and I remember
how my curiosity was excited by dis
covering these mysterious boxes in
their hiding place. also recall try
ing to break them open with big stone,
but luck was against me then as now,
and they did not explode.
1t was the third week in a very dry
June that Luther went down to the
grocery store one evening loaded with
great and important prophecy. He
was going to make it rain. He hung
out the storm signal with all the conf
dence of a new man in modern
weather bureau who has hit the mark
three days in succession and thinks he
can do it forever.
"rhink we're likely to have rain afore
long?" he asked with chuclsle as be
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06

NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WEATHER
moved his explosives into the cellar of
his house. On Thursday the cellar be-
gan to be flooded in common with al
most all the others in town. and Luther
moved his powder into the sitting-room.
While he was about it his wife discov-
cred the nature of the substance to
which she was giving shelter and she
declined to live in the house with it.
She took the two children and went
home to her mother. Then Luther got
scared himself and followed her
In the middle of the next week it was
still raining, and dcputation Of the
townspeople called upon Luther and
asked him what he proposed to do about
it. He replied by denying all RESPONSE
6ility and by frankly confcssing that
his influence with the clerk of the
weather was not what it seemed. No
body believed him.
Several days later some boys crept
into Luthcr's deserted house and had
great fun there playing that they were
Indians, pirates and other characters
which furnish the examples of youth
In the course of their innocent gambols
they started n fire in the sitting-room
which fortunately smoldered till they
had left the house and then crept lid to
The boxes of explosives. Imme dately
thereafter Luthcr's house entirely dis
appeared from the landscape. Some
bricks from the chimney fell aboard a
schooner ten miles out to sea, but moth:
ing more was ever seen of the building.
Within an hour after this event the
wind came around by the southland
and before midnight the sky was clear.
In view of these facts, protest that
Luther r. Martin can claim whatever
is due to the inventor Of the modern
rain4making process, and that he knows
more about it than anybody else in the
country. If any newspaper wants q
valuable interview on the subject it
may send q man to Fog Harbor, but
should not advise sending a man whose
loss would make u serious vacancy in
the staff. HOWARD FIELDING.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06
a Wicked Boy.

sect through your breakfast quick,
sonny, you will be late to school," said
a Harlem mother to her hopeful.
''Pm not going to school until get q
dime"
II won't give you any dime"
"Wel, then, I'll just keep on eating.
7 will see for once If can't cure you of
your obstinacy," replied the hopeful.
taking fresh batter cake.-Texas
Siftings.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06
MISUNDERSTANDING

Brother Jack asked Virginia
Cooper to marry me and she said there
was too great discrepancy in our
ages.
Sister-How old is Virginia?
( Brother Jack-Twenty- three.
Sister-And you're nineteen. So Just
wait two years and you'll both be
twenty one.--Judge.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06
Mother Satisaad

Mothcr-I'd Just like to know who
this young man is you have engaged
yourself to.
Daughter-Oh, he comes of splendid
family.
docs his family object to the
match?"
Yes"
"Thcn I'guess he's all right. IN. Y.
Weekly.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06
Well. Hardly.

Ethel-After marriage we two shall
be one. shan't we. George?
George = Theoretically; though
doubt if they will make out the board
bill that way.-N. Y. Sun.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06
Ono Way of P,oposlnr.

She-Would you like to be light
house keeper?
HeANo, would you?
Shc-Yes.
He--Name the date-Judge.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06
Camden Iron Works.

ALABAMA STREET, SALEM, VA.
Manufactures Ornamental and Archi-
tectural Castings. Iron Fencing, Crest
Ing, Iron Fronts, Miners Cars, etc.
Full line of hardware at store, corner
Main and Colorado streets.
jan26-lyr o. d. Oakley, Propr
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06
Broken Vows.

Mr. opcntop-I can't eat this pie OF
yours, Maria II would be suicide.
Mrs Opentop ttearfully)-And yet.
before we were married. you said you
would die for msl-Pnck
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06
A Caao of Doad Give Away.

" First Csizen-Old Johnson's daughter
WAS married in church to-day.
Second Citizen-Did the old man give
her away.
First Citizen--I hardly think l.c did.
I was told that his son-in-law has just
paid up the mortgage on his house.
brakes Magazine.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06

"a wealthy Georgia farmer has had
bad luck in his matrimonial ventures.
About twenty years ago he was en-.
Gagged to the daughter Of a neighbor.
The day before the date set for the
wedding the girl decided she did not
wish to marry and the engagement was
broken. -Four or five years ago he mar
ried the daughter of his old flame. aud
recently She eloped with the farmers
hired man
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06

N. RENscH. proprietor If the Roanoke
dressed Beef Company, buys only Vir-
GINA stock. "Patronize Home Indus
tries" is his motto. He butchers stock
daily, and his patrons are never served
with anything but fresh meats.
A. L. JAMESON Sc Co., coal and feed
dealers. All kinds of feed Office at
junction of Norfolk avenue and Camp
nell street. Telephone No. los.
THE celebrated Stock piano, the
best known in the South, never fails to
give satisfaction. Write the Smith
Music Co. for catal?gnes and prices
Ivy '. II. Sr, c.rk Best, II is the
hnust tobacco made.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06
PROGRESSION OVAL.
q go. L. COLGATE,

A DDICKS 81 WERNWAG. ELEC-
"A tricians and machinists, 2Os Com.
merce street. Estimates given on ali
KINDS OF electrical work. Machinery
repaired. Work guaranteed. noy7-1vr.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06

BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS.
+. j. AMWEG, Commercial Bank Building.
FRANK X. MAY, 105 Jefferson st., p y. Box 9.
It. G. OAKLEY, Builder and Contractor. All
kinds OF building done, either wood, brick or
stone. Fine stores and residences and large
storage houses speciality.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06

SEWING MACHINES.
NEW HOME, j. A. CAMPBELL, Agent, so7
Henry street.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06

STEAM LAUNDRIES.
DIXIE, Franklin and Second sts, tel. 1877.
ROANOKE, 1873 Kirk ave. g. W., tel. 116,
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06

COAL, WOOD. LIME AND CEMENT.
j. c. F. BELL Il CO., 2i9 Salem ave. 6. W.; to-. 49,
NOTTINGHAM ~ uALLET Sawed stove and
kindling wood) z Commerce street.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06

COMMISSION MERCHANTS.
b. +: ALLEN, Commerce at. (wholcsalc dealer
In fruit and produce) phone 100.
o. i. EVANS & SON, 210 salem ave. (wholesalc
fruit and produce dcalcrs), Tel. 121.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06

BOOTS, SHOES, TRUNKS. ETC.
1. BAChRACH, 81 Salem ave.
j. w. WONDERS ~ CO., 106 Commerce street
BRICK AND TILE WORKS.
The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-06

Prices a. low ~ The loves.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-02-20
RAISING QUAIL.

In the fourth cage Is lonely and dis
the yard ars two cocks and a hen with
three cocks. The latter are . remark
able brood. They were hltchcd, with
five others, on the Ssa Of Jllg, which is
nearly one month ahead OF the breeding
season. The defuuct ones were killed by
the incemeut weather or s1mo other
cause common to infant quail, but the
Survivors remain perfectly healthy.
When the next brood is born, the
chicks loose i'll the yard, together with
the parent birds, will be slutup t. make
room for the newcomers. Owing TO the
extreme pugnacity of the COCKS it is i'm
possible TO let more than one pair loose
1t time, or the lives Of th5 birds would
be endangered. The pairing OFF of two
cocks with one heo, although rare, is &C.
casinuan found The two male birds
who champion this li.tIe mother heu live
in peace aud harmony, and both work
together at making the nests aud take
UEeir turn i'll sitting Oh the eggs
The principal food which Mr.. Radolph
gives t. his pets is grain; grasshcppers
also form part G! their dietary. But the
secret by which he mau4g. 5 20 raise the
young Mr.. Rudolph refuses to- reveal.
He says that it is something natural to
til birds il Wild life, but beyond that
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-02-20
Waiting for Dinner.

\ Methodist minister, who is now stat,
toned here, while relating some remiu
sciences Of his early days in the ministry
said:
One day while travelling between
stations l SO timed myself as to arrive al
good brothers. il the country about
dinner time. pitched my horse and
went in. Brother II. vas absent from
home and the wife and daughters
appeared glad to see nee We chatted
pleasantly Tor half an hour or more.
was very hungry and was sure dinner
was being prepared, as the girls had
dropped out OF the room one b., one, So |
tarried, but was very uneasy and thought
the lady of the house was becoming so
Finally she excused herself aud went
out of the room foc i mD nelt. \ small
boy, who had been running in and out
of the room since my arrival, entered,
and said:
Come here, my little man, and as he
came towards me | asked:
How soon will you have diuuer here?
Just as soon as you 60, was the ready
answer.
vent WashjngtoH star.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-02-20

for Infants and Children.

Castoria cures Collie, Constipation.
Sour Stomach, Diarrhuea EructatioH,
Kills Worms, gives sleep, and promotes ii
GeStiOn,
Without injurious medication.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-02-20
HOW HE STARTED

lie gradually acquired few other
birds, which paired of ald commenced
to lay and hatch eggs during the SAM
mer. The small ones were successfully
Matched out, but died very shortly after.
Mr.. Rudolph determined to discover the
cause of their early demise, and, known
ing it must be lack of proper food, de
termined to watch the habits of the old
or BIRDS and experiment upon them with
varieties of grain AID insect food.
In spite of the amusement OF his
possible. Mr. Rudolph set 10 work in
earnest to raise quail, and, aftcr numer-
Gus failures, was able, in his second year
to successfully hatch and raise brood
OF quail. He had hit upon the right
method of feeding them. and the y0uag
birds were as strong and healthy as il
born under natural conditions. Since
then he reckous that 65 pei cent. of his
young birds have been successful lily
brought to maturity. As statistics show
that hardly so per cent. OF wild game
birds attain their full size, OWING 10 the
number of their natural foes, such as
hawks aud vermin, this is au extremely
good record.
Ia a small yard, scarcely twenty feet
square, Mr.. Rudolph keeps his pets
The ipclosnre is shut in on three sides
by wooden fence, and on the fourth by
the rear wall Of the house. Around The
borders are beds OF geranium aud small
shrubs. In the center is patch Of gras S
with tall plant in tho middle. On one
side OF the lot aIe the cages, in which
three brace are pared of il separate
2oopS
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-02-20

| war a sufferer from catarrh for If
teen years, with distressing pain over my
eyes. | used Ely,s Cream Balm with
gratifying results Am app rertly cured
L. c. Warren, Ruthland, Vt.
| suffered from q severe cold in my.
head for months and could get no relief
Was advised to use Ely's Cream Balm.
1t has worked like magic in its cure. 1
am free from my cold after using the
Balm one week, and believe it is the
best remedy known-Samuel J. Harris,
Wholesale Grocer, 1I9 Front St, New
York
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-02-20
QUAIL IN CAPTIVITY.


Young Birds Hatchod and RAISED III
Philadelphia.
1t is a fact well known TO natnralists
that animals are much caiScr to tame
than birds. That IS to say, nlammalia
are more tit to undergo the cnnIi5ions OF
captivity than the winged and leathercd
tribes. The result is that the habits Of
many OF the most common and interest.
ing BIRDS are practically unknown The
reason is that the bird requires more
freedom aud air than four footed crea-
tunes.
Among IL birds which are rarely seen
in captivity, although the species is OK
tremely common, is tue quail the opu
lar American Bob White Although
frequent attem = have been N 4de to rails
them as other poultry, they have
generally been unsuccessful. Game pre-
servers have kept quail under the most
favorable conditions, and have induced
the wary birds to lay eggs and to hatch
their young, but they can do 10 more.
" hCii oiSS hAtCi:titi J.lS CIiCAS ii1 nc
conclusion, therefore, has been reached
that the feeding OF quail is :oe property
unders t0cd.
These facts being generally iecogn,z q d
it may be matter OF surprise to many 80
learn that a Philadelphian has for Tie
past three years GeGD succsssiul in hatch
irg out and raising quail. Most men
have their hobbies. arI the rearing ci
quail is Mr.. Harry Rudolph's pet amuse-
ment l. is such an original hobby that
it may well be asked how lie acquired
such an idea. Mr.. Rudolph is thor
ough sportsman, AID to quote his own
words, would rather gun than eat. P"
Quail and pheasanl shooting are lis de.
light and he coDfesses that be alway d
had fancy for the game little Bob
White. About three years ago he was
given brace of live quail while gun
ming at Newkirk station, in New jersey.
These were the nucleus OF his present
stock. He brought them to his home
and fitted up cage for them in his little
back lot.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-02-20

" For several years I have recommended
year CaStor!a, and shall always continue -
do 50 rs il has invariably produced beneficial
results"
EDWIN +. PARDgE. NJ D.,
"Tho Winthrop, 145tn Street and 7rh Ave,
New York City.
The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-02-20

"The use of 'Castoria is so universal and
its merits so well known that it seems "a work
of supererogation to endorse It. Few are The
intelligent families who do not keep C4storia
within easy reach
CARLOS MARTYR. D. d.
New York City.
Late Pastor BIoominglale Reformed Church
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-27
THROUGH WINTRY GALES
Fierce Storms and Intense Cold
Reported by Incoming Ships.
GOOD SHIP IN THE HURRICANE.
seamen Go Down to Watery Grave on
the Coast of spain-The weehawken
Buffeted About for Ten Days-story Of
Suffering.

NEW YORK, Dec 27-In-coming steam
chips report fierce storms and bitter cold
weather at sea. Every vessel that came
into port yesterday was mass OF ice from
water line to masthead. Several steam
ships had deckwork smashed and MEM
bers OF the crews were frost bitten.
The steamship Laurestina, from Bre-
man, had her deck and side covered with
ice two feet thick in places, while huge
icicles hung from her yards. All three OF
the ships compasses froze in their alcohol
baths and the captain was obliged to
make his course by the stars.
The Prins Mauritz, from Venezuelan
ports met, the hurricane OF Dec. oath. A
high cross sea broke over the vessel and
masses of water were frozen by the In
tense cold until the ship was a floating
mass of ice. The deck ratings were
broken and the rigging damaged.
The steamship Archimedes, from 81:
Lucia, was covered with icicles. Several
OF the crew had hands and feet frozen.
The City of Berlin also met the hurri-
cane. She was over eleven days making
the passage.
The steamship Croft came in six days
late from Leith.
The Strathleven, which started from
this port Sunday for China, put brck to
readiust her cargo of case oil.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-27

cRANT-AU AU-TIN-In Johnston. Dec. "a, NJ
the residence OF the brides parents by the heo;
Providence ana LIZZIE NJ. B. AUSTIN, OF john