The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1904-11-17
CANNON BRING RAIN
HEAVY DowNPoUR OFTEN THE
RESULT OF BATTLE.
The Fact Has Been Noted In Many
Of the Worlds Historic Con-
Aicts-Notable In
stances.

stances.
Ever since hostilities in the Tar east
have reached the stage where the great
guns and heavy ordnance play lead
ing part In the game, the Information
that the operations OF the Russian anu
japanese armies have practically come
to a standstill owing to the heavy
rainfaIls" and almost impossible ROADS
In consequence thereof, is making its
temperance in the daily papers al
short intervals Almost every d1spatcn
from the seat of war bearing news
of this character ascribes this heavy
downpour" to the prevailing rainy
season." and predicts that at Its close
the campaign will be continued with
renewed vigor.
The war and navy departments at
Washington are close observers OF
events at the front, and among other
points which attract their particular
attention is that of the weather con-
ditions accompanying the operations
of the two forces, states the Chicago
Chronicle. Official records show that
almost every important action since
gun, cannon and mortar have become
factors in warfare was accompanied
or followed by thunderstorms or heavy
rainfalls; that, in fact. the continuous
discharge of firearms and heavy ord
nance was the direct cause OF this nat
ural phenomenon, and that the time
or season of the year had no. or at
tn M 0fnNo
experiments and observations estab-
lished the fact that heavy lombard
ments have transformed dry seasons
into veritable seas Of rain and mud. "
The battle of Buena Vista, Mexico.
according to records In the war de-
partment, took place on February u
and %, 1847. This was in the dry
season in that country: there had been
no rain for several months before the
battle and there was none for several
months after. Three showers, how
ever, followed he first days engage
ment, two of which we're specially re-
markable. On the ed, about one or
two hours after the severe cannonad-
ing that took place between eight and
ten q. m, there was a most violent
rainfall for some ten or fifteen min
utes. Again in the afternoon, at about
the same interval after another period
of heavy cannonading, another violent
shower of rain fell.
The fact before mentioned, that no
rain had fallen for months before the
battle, and that none fell for months
after at that place, is almost proof
positive not only that the cannonading
caused the rain, but that cannonading
will bring rain at a time when the
atmospheric conditions are apparent
ly in the highest degree unfavorable
to the production of that phenomenon
through the ordinary operations OF ma
ture.
The battle Of Palo Alto, Mexico, on
May 8. 1886, also fought in the dry
season. was also followed by rain.
The battle or siege Of Monterey was
fought September 81 to %, 1886. which.
like the dates before mentioned, was
in the dry season. The morning of the
2.st was bright and beautiful. but
"soon after the storming of the two
forts, Federation and Soldado, vio-
lent storm came up" and to its ''un-
broken peltings" Gen. Worth and the
second division were exposed through
out the night.
The battle Of Contreas was fought
on August 10, 1847, at a season when
rains were very infreQuent. 1.-THE bat
tie ragged furiously, and for more than
three hours the entire force was IN
der a heavy fire. Night at length put
an end to the conflict. and cold rain
soon afterward began to fall in tor
rents" The battle of Churubusco was
fought the next day. which was bright
and clear. The day after it rained
heavily. The battle of Molino del
Rey, fought on September 8, 1847, was
also followed In the afternoon and
evening by a hard rain, as was the
fought on September IL. 1847.
In the civil war the occurrence Of the
phenomenon under discussion was fire.
Quent. The battle of Big Bethel may
be mentioned as an early instance
This battle, fought in eastern Virgins
on June 10, 1861, was soon followed
by a copious rain. Incessant rains at.
tended Gen. McClellan's campaign IL
western Virginia in July, 1861. Hit
troops had four separate engagements
on four days, and before the close OF
each violent rains fell" The battle
of Rich Mountain, fought on July 10
was one of these, and was followed by
one or two rainy days.
The following engagements, which
took place in that part of the coun
try later in the same year, were also
each followed quickly by rain: Bat,
tie of Carnifax Ferry, August 10, 1861;
battle of Cheat Mountain, September
Is and IA, 1861; battle of Green Brier
October 3, 1861; battle of Alleghan,
Summit, December IL, 1861. None o.
these is classed as great battles, bu
the firing was apparently sufficient tt
bring rain. The first battle of Bull
Run was fought on July II, 1861. Tn,
day was bright and clear all through
but the next day was one of drenchin,
rain.
No Germs at North Pole.
1