The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-06-07
ARRIVED In TIME
GLORIOUS RAINFALL LAST NIGHT
WHICH FILLS ALL WITH HOPE.
1t was No Messly, Half-Toned, Disjointed
Affair, But Grand, Glorious, Pictur-
esque and SouI-Cheering soaker Which
was Laden With Blessings for All
and Gives All Nature a Brilliant Aspect
This Morning-It WAS Needed and Came
asa Godsend to AlI-Grsnd Result of
Such Rain.

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One of the most wonderful rain and
lightning storms ever seen in Wichita
set in at midnight last night.
At s o'clock or a little after an inky
bank of clouds gradually enlarged over
the northern horizon. If they appear
ed in the south they would portend a
cyclone and very few people would go
to bed without fears OF a disaster
When the rain bank ascended the
heavens about twenty degrees it be-
gan to separate on the eastern side un-
til is formed three separate banks
through the opening Of which could be
seen most beautiful electric display.
The western end of the cloud bank
which was solid looked like the nose
Of a plowshare.
The bank at the height Of thirty de-
grees or thereabouts dissolved before q
high current OF wind until it covered
the entire sky at which time a down
pour Of rain set IN that mas been un-
equalled this season. In less than
three minutes the street in front of the
Eagle Office was covered by three inches
of water and the manholes were entire
ly inadequate to carry away the water.
1t equalled what is commonly known
as cloud burst and a little more wind
might cause a tornado. S IL was the
storm was enough 10 drive terror into
the hearts of those VINO were up and
awake that hour.
The rain was the blessing, but the
lightning was the beauty Of the event.
1t did not come in streaks and forks as
lightning usually comes, but it quiy-
cred all over the heavens simultane-
ously. a great many pretty lightning
storms have been seen from the Eagle
office but none of them has equalled
the one Of last night as illustrativ Of the
wonderous power of God. 1t trembled
in the clouds and shook the earth. Ev-
cry slate in the roof Of the government
building could be counted at any mo-
ment for an hour. The thunder cracks
were not sharp but on the contrary
they rolled iazily through space and
made buildings and glass tremble and
vibrate. II was grand at all times and
awful some times.
Many bright happy Sunday mornings
have dawned upon Wichita, but this
morning there seems 10 be greater
cause for tbankfulness TO Him who
doth all things we'll than upon any
Sunday morning for many months. All
day yesterday there was a general
alarm felt by farmers and others as to
the great need Of rain For several
days the corn had begun to roll badly
throughout the heat of the day; distress
ing winds blew almost continuously;
potatoes were being cut short; oats was
whithering; rains were passing around,
and when many went to bed last night
1t was with anything but a hopeful feel
ing and in fact many were suffering
from that disagreeable destroyer of hui
man happiness-borrowed trouble.
What a difference this morning All
nature seems brighter, the birds sing
sweeter, the grass and trees are green
and the man who cannot feel welding IN
his soul today a new inspiration is GER
tainly suffering from a diSordered liver.
All this was caused by the magnifi-
cent rain that fell about midnight last
night. 1t was grand; it was glorious