Williams news., 1921-07-01
THE OROUTH OF 1904 ;.
 VS. THAT IF 1921

SAAOoN NC%J o4 -IA1O0>
 hoping for rain, great -aterest
 centers on the weathe- Old
 timers compare the shortage of
 water on the ranges this season
 with that of 1904, but all admit |
 that the drouth of 1904 was
 far more severe. There is
 popular fallacy to the effect
 that 1904 was but one year of
 a seven years drouth. The ed
 ;tor of the News has chased
 down host of tales about those
 days and now feels able to
 present an authentic story of
 that "seven years drouth.'' ,
 We are indebted to Dr. Mel | ick for a good deal of our infor-
 nation. Dr. Melick was then
 engaged in the cattle business
 and was in a position to know
 just how long the drouth lasted
 and how acute 1t became.
 The idea of the "seven year term of the drouth can probab- ly be traced in part to the old Indian custom of keeping on hand seven years supply of beans and corn in anticipation of seven lean years. Whether they were ever called upon to use up the seven years supply before another crop was secur- ed cannot be determined accu- rately but the Indians endeav- ored always to be ready for that seven years drouth. In the Bible we read of a seven years drouth in Egypt. It is interest ing to note that a seven year term should be prepared for in both cases. No doubt the Indian custom and the Bible story have something to do with leaving the impression among people that Coconino saw a sev- en year drouth from 1901 to 1907.
 By looking over old files of the News and by talking with men who were engaged in the cattle business during the years 901 to 1907, we find that there was no foundation for the myth of seven years of drouth. There was however a severe droutiz in the year 1904.
 No moisture of any conSe- 1uence fell during the fall of 1903 nor during the winter of l9O3-O4. Our last winter and spring were wet as compared with that season. No rain fell turing 1904 until the 21st of July. On that day a light show 1T fell and daily showers fol- owed gradually increasing in intensity until the 18th when he heavens opened and the cal "gulley washer" descend d and cleansed the landscape
 The days before the cloud urst were indeed narrowing nes for the stockmen. The ange was so dry that there was O feed and cattle and sheep rcre both famishing and starv- lg. Many stockmen lost heav- V. The Saginaw dams went ry, the Cauffman dam, located lst below the present munich al reservoir, went dry, and radically every water hole III e country was OIS- iCso~E law in those days, as at pres nt, had a large number Of bar ,ls of water placed at conven- mt points about the yard for re protection. So compelling ecame the thirst of tn range attie that wild steers from the untains-steers as wild as ger, tcc wild ever to Dc caught
 roundup burst from GOV and descended upon the arrels. Drawn by the smell of ater, they were conscious of 1t one desire and thas was to lench that awful thirst. The lrd men tried with stones ,ards, yells and whatnot, to i've them away but to no -ail. They could not be in lced to leave while a sip of ater remained in the barrels. the water tanks at the Santa tracks, the cattle would ach up and drink the little ater that leaked out. catching in the air. At night the town 'eets were filled with bawllng tile drawn by the smell of tier in the houses. So many (Continued on last page)