The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-08-01
GIVE SOME RELIEF.
Light Rains Have Effect of Lower
ing the Temperature.

Washington, July 27.-Ihe past "a
hours probably have been the most
favorable to the states of the corn
belt since the existing hot wave be-
gan, nearly 40 days ago. Rains, gem
orally light in amount, have fallen in
western Kansas, western Nebraska,
southwestern Missouri, central Iowa,
Arkansas and little in Oklahoma,
and the prospects seem to be favor
able for a continuation to-day of
more numerous showers in the sec
ton covered by these states and ter
ritories, On Sunday showers are
looked for in northern Illinois and
northern Indiana. Still, there has
been no general rain of which the
crops stand in so much need, and
there are no immediate prospects of
any. On the whole, the weather bu-
reau officials here regard the situa-
ton as somewhat improved. Incl
dental to the rains the temperatures
officially reported Friday were some
what lower than on Thursday. How
ever, they ranged from 90 to 100 in
the corn belt. Conditions will re-
main practically the same in the
drought section during Saturday and
Sunday and the weather will continue
very hot, with the possibility of re-
lief from scattered thunderstorms.
Prayed for Rain.
Omaha, Neb., July 27.-Acting on the
recent proclamation of Gov. Savage,
suggesting that prayer be offered for
rain, nearly all the churches of Omaha
held meetings Friday, praying for
rain. The largest meeting was held
in Rev. Merton Smiths tent, in which
Rev. D. K. Tindall, of Trinity Meth
odist Episcopal church, conducted the
services, which were participated in
by the pastors of the United Presby-
terrain, Christian, Danish Methodist,
Danish Baptist and pastors of other
denominations. Rain services were
also held in Kountze Memorial church,
the Peoples church, st. Andrews, St.
Johns, All Saints and Trinity cathe-
dral.
This city on Friday experienced a
slight relief from the terrible heat, the
thermometer just falling to reach the
century mark for the first time in
nearly two weeks. The highest tenn
perature reached was 99.5 at five p.
M, to which point it experienced a
gradual rise from 70 at six a. M, the
coolest hour since sunrise. Consider
able rain is reported to have fallen to
Of az ~
noon. Men directly interested in
corn expect not more than three
fourths of a crop for the state under
any circumstances.
Lincoln, Neb., July 27-Prayers for
rain were general in Nebraska in
accordance with the governors proc
lamation. In this city many church
congregations united and supplica-
tions were made to the Almighty for
a cessation of the drought. Aside
from dust-laying showers at Pierce,
st. Edward, Plainview and Albion, no
rain is reported in Nebraska There
was a slight drop in temperature, and
for the first time in nine days the
mercury failed to reach 100. The
maximum Friday was 90.
st. Louis Is Thankful.
St. Louis, July 27.-From all indica-
tions suffering st. Louisians witnessed
the beginning of the end of the pres
ent spell of torrid weather Friday.
The day was the coolest experienced
in several weeks, made so by lively
breezes. The maximum temperature
was 81 degrees. Rain appears to be
near at hand for st. Louis, and thun-
derstorms are a possibility within "a
hours, according to the government
weather bureau. Sixteen deaths d.
rectly attributable to the heat were
reported for the "a hours ending at
II o'clock Friday night and eight pros
trations only were recorded Friday.
The story of the hot spell in St.
Louis is told in the following lines:
Duration to date, 90 days; deaths, 215;
prostrations (estimated), 1000; last
day of rain Covering the entire city
of St. Louis), July 3. Highest temper
allure recorded in St. Louis, 1871.
Victims of Heat.
Springfield, ILL.,, July 27.-The mer-
curry in the government Thermometer
Friday registered 81 degrees, but on
the streets the mercury climbed sew
eral degrees higher. Two deaths and
several prostrations resulted. Elisha
Byram, aged 81, of the st. Charles ho-
tel, where he resided for 81 years,