The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-07-18
PRAYING FOR RAIN.
Supphcations Go Up from Great
Meeting in Omaha.

Omaha, Neb., July 17.LRey. f. Mer-
ton Smith, the noted English evan
gelist, who is conducting revival serv-
ices In the cities of the west, on Tues
day night led congregation Of sew
eral thousand people in prayers for
a bounteous rain, which will prevent
business humiliation in the corn
belt. An immense tent was erected
at Twenty-frst and Spencer streets,
in a small park located in the heart
of the residence district, and in this
were seated hundreds of members of
the congregations of the city. About
the tent, the side walls of which were
raised, was massed a crowd of citi-
zens of all classes and all religious
faiths, partaking in the exercises and
lifting their voices in unison in re-
peating the solemn, powerful inyoca-
ton spoken by the. eminent divine.
So impressive were the services and
so deeply supplicating were the
prayers that a general expression of
belief was heard that the invocation
would be answered with a downpour
in time to save the crops aud pre-
vent disaster
Drought Not Yet Broken.
Topeka, Kan, July 17.--While rain
has fallen during the past "a hours
in various parts of Kansas, the
drought is not yet broken and little
benefit has been experienced by the
crops. The rains have been small To-
ros, hng
been to cool the atmosphere and
freshen vegetation to a certain eX-
tent. Tuesday was a moderately cool
day. The refreshing breeze from the
south made the weather more bear
able than any during the past month,
Two places in the state report tenn
perature of 107, but the average was
about 80. Reports of blighted crops
continue to come in. A hopeful tone
pervades most of, the reports, how
ever, and the determination is gener-
ally expressed to make the best of
the situation. In the eastern di-
vision of the state crops are suffering
more than in any other. The damage
done in the central part is less Sc
we're, while in the western part the
conditions are the most favorable.
The corn crop is not the only thing
at stake. To obtain water for stock
and for fire protection is a much
studied problem, and one that will
not be solved until the coming of the
rain. Previous estimates of half a
crop of corn this year will still hold
good in case more rain comes within
the present week. Late apples have
been hurt but little, while peaches
are damaged more, and small fruits
failed almost entirely. Apples and
peaches are falling from the trees on
account of lack Of moisture.
No Changeli in Nebraska.
Lincoln, Neb., July IA fall of two
degrees in temperature. in; the alb
sence of rain, brought little relief to
heat sufferers Tuesday and put an
other nail in the coffin Of the corn
crop, part. of which is now severely
damaged The maximum temPera-
ture Tuesday was 1902. George
Kleutsch. a prominent young man,
died partly as a result of sunstroke.
Rain reports are more general. There
was a heavy fall at Holdrege and
lighter. rains at Hastings. Grand
Island, Kenesaw and Harvard. The |
storm is moving eastward.
Damage by Hail.
Muskogee, I. r., July IA severe
bailstorm three miles north of Mus
kogee killed some stock and COM
pieteIy destroyed crops for consid
cradle distance over stretch mile |
wide. Heavy rains fell over the Creek
and Cherokee nations, generally saw