The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-08-12
An Unfortunate Ra,n.maLer.

narpers Weekly:--We have felt from
the beginning that sooner or later tie
Western rain-maker would get into
trouble. It did not seem possible that a
could go about carrying, as it were
thundar-storms in one pocket and long
stesdy rains in another, and not fall into
some sort OF a complication with COM
mon folks who do not have even a heavy
dew in the whole house. Now it appears
that our .apprehensions were reasonable,
since n OF the leading rain-make,s Of
Kansas IL Involved in serious legal diff
culties.
We gather from the dispatches in
the daily newspapers that Mr.. Schermer-
.iorn Montgomery, Of Hankinside, Kansas
is an important and successful producer
OF rain. His speciality seems to he heavy
local showers. and he lays great stress on
the alleged fact that his rain always
comes nights, aud sundays, Sc that tho
hired man, working by the month, shall
not lose any time. Farmers, says Mr..
Montgomery. i'll his advertisement, why
patrOniae the detective and Old-fashiOned
rain-makers, and have your hired man
sitting in the barn half the time lying
about his wealthy father back in Missou-
ri? Come right to Schermerhorn Mont
gomery, the Terror of the Farm Hand.
anil get your rain while Jou sleep. anG,
keep your man humping himself" This
has naturally appealed to the reason of
the Kansas agriculturist, and Montgom-
cry has done q rushing business.
ltappears further that Mr.. Montgomery
has claimed this sunmcr to exercise u
sort OF general supervision over American
Horse County, turning on the rain when
it was needed, and shutting it off when
he thought it had rained enough. In
cidentally, lie says he has been responsible
for the cool northwcsterly winds which
have blown OH the hot days, but he points
out that he never charges for wind. 81
throw in q wind with each rain ordered
explained Mr.. Montgomery. "thc same
way You get a baked potato when you
order a chop. Fogs, frUsts, cloudy days
and aurora borealis extra. Earthquakes
shout be spoken for two days in advance
OF the time needed" One night about
two weeks ago a heavy rain fell in Amer
lean Horse County. 1t poured cats and
dogs from midnight till three O'clock.
Their. it cleared off, aud an hour later the
weary hired man with a wealthy father
in a neighboring state heard his employ
er pounding Oh the stove-pipe as usual to
attract his attention to the fact that it
was time to get up. Two hours after this
NJ. Montgomery started out to collect one
dollar from every farmer in the county
for the rain. He me t with considerable
opposition. 81 low that want no arti-
ticial rain," protested the first farme,
approached. The next one also reckon,
ed it were a material American Hoss
County thunderstorm The third like.
wise demanded proof that the shower Wal
a Montgomery special. Apublic meeting
was finally called at the Patch school,
house, and Montgomery addressed it feel,
ingly. II produced that rain myself
. said he. at came like all of NY rains
in the night, whom our hired man can't
be put to any practical use. l saw The
country needed rain, and l went out last
night while YOU slept AID made it. Con.
seguently to-da,your fills rejoice an(
your grateful cattle low their mellow
thanksgivings from pastures reyivi6e(
and %gladdened by my benefcent rain
A farmer named Jim Butler arose ant
asked Montgomery if he was absolutely
; certain il it was rain. ''EverYdrop ofit,'
answered Montgomery. "Tlci,," return
ed the gilleless Butler, you are respOn
!, sible for the ten acres of my corn wlirl
it washed away. l shall sue you fol
damages" And the sagacious agricul-
turist mounted his mule and rode tt
Harkinside, and began suit for 500.