Page 85 - James Rodger Fleming - Fixing the sky

Beginning on the evening of August 17, a massive barrage of aerial and
ground explosions echoed throughout the night. At dawn, the skies were clear,
but twelve hours later rain began to fall in the area. Dyrenforth took immedi-
ate credit for this, even though the ranch received only a trace amount of rain.
About a week later, on August 25, a day after the weather observer, Curtis, had
departed, Dyrenforth declared the weather “settled and dry,” this according
to the opinion of the ranch hands. The team set off a barrage of explosions all
day, ending at eleven o’clock that night with Dyrenforth commenting that the
“atmosphere at that time [was] very clear, and as dry as I have ever observed it.”
But seemingly, the concussions had done their job, for “at about 3 o’clock on the
following morning, August 26, I was awakened by violent thunder, which was
accompanied by vivid lightning, and a heavy rainstorm was seen to the north—
that is, in the direction toward which the surface wind had steadily blown during
the firing, and hence the direction in which the shocks of the explosions were
chiefly carried.” 38
Professor Alexander McFarlane of the University of Texas had a different
perspective: “The trial of Friday, August 25, was a crucial test, and resulted not
only in demonstrating what every person who has any sound knowledge of
physics knows, that it is impossible to produce rain by making a great noise, but
also that even the explosion of a twelve-foot balloon inside a black rain cloud
39
does not bring down a shower.” Dyrenforth left the next day for Washington
with an inconclusive set of results, but clearly thinking and claiming that he had
made a difference. He instructed his expedition, under the direction of John T.
Ellis, to carry on in El Paso at the invitation of the mayor, as long as expenses
were paid.
In need of munitions, Ellis contracted with the Consolidated Fireworks
Company of North America in New York City for six dozen bombshell salutes,
each weighing 21 pounds. He also bought 2,000 cubic feet of oxygen and 1,000
pounds of dynamite. The city of El Paso paid the $477 bill for equipment and
shipping. The team conducted experiments in September about 1.5 miles north
of the city center, on a ridge about 5,700 feet above sea level.
on September 18, a team of twenty-three artillerists fired at the sky all day
long, in what one observer called “a beautiful imitation of a battle.” Many promi-
nent witnesses were in attendance for the event, including the mayor, the local
weather bureau observer, curious citizens, and dignitaries from Mexico. They
assembled on the ridgeline with their buggies and parasols to watch Ellis inflate
his hydrogen balloon and ascend into the heavens (figure 2.1). Most brought
their lunches and were treated to an all-day fireworks display. Witnesses reported
seeing clouds and lightning flashes downwind at sunset (not at all unusual in this

68 | rain makerS