100 years ago: At last, rain: Heat wave of 25 days finally broken

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Aug. 18, 1913:

“The rain, hail and wind storm of late Saturday afternoon broke a drouth and heat wave that had prevailed in this county for twenty-five days. It was the first bit of moisture that had fallen here since July 23 when a precipitation of one-half inch was recorded…. It was a real rain which fell here on Saturday evening, measuring two and one-half inches according to the University observatory. This rain brought much relief to the suffering humanity, it put new life into the people of the dried up and withered district and while it is too late to do much good to crops the terrible oppressiveness has passed away temporarily at least, and perhaps for the summer…. The rain began to fall about five o’clock. The clouds gathered very suddenly and before anyone had realized that a storm was gathering the water began to fall in sheets, such as made the heart jump with gladness and caused persons to stand and gaze out of windows in amazement. Immediately there was a drop in temperature, a wind sprang up and a little later hail stones began to fall. For a time a miniature storm raged, but the damage done was very slight. Several trees were broken off and a few windows were broken…. When the rain first began to fall persons on the street seemed in no hurry to get to a place of shelter, literally they welcomed the rain with open arms. It was what they had been waiting for so long and they simply stayed out on the street to enjoy it to the limit. No one seemed to dread a ducking…. The rain is too late to save the corn crop, it has been lost for some time, in fact most of the farmers of the country have cut their corn and stored it in silos for winter feeding. It was their only chance to get anything out of the corp at all. But there is a possibility that some of the very late corn will be benefited and make ears yet.”

“The barn of W. H. Davis living on the old Pollock farm, north of the brick plant, was struck by lightning in the storm on Saturday night. Mr. Davis was by himself and the flames so quickly consumed the building that he was unable to do anything. The barn was a total loss and in it were a team of mules, a horse, harness and implements. Fifty tons of hay were also consumed. The building and contents were a heavy loss and the friends of Mr. Davis will be glad to know that it was insured with the R. M. Morrison agency so that he will have partial relief from the severe loss.”

“The children of C. B. Harmon have a bantam hen which has been laying every day. Yesterday they found two eggs out in the sun which had laid there so long that they were chipped and before the day was over two pretty bantam chickens had been hatched. The power of the sun had been the mother that hatched the chickens.”

“Tommy Smith, alias ‘Cornbread’ Tommy, was all ready to leave the city jail yesterday afternoon when the officers arrived and rudely interfered with his plans. Tommy had removed a section of the west side of the building and would have left in a few minutes. But while he was packing up his trunk officer Smith appeared on the scene and Tommy was placed in a cell where the temptation to leave would not be so great. Smith is serving a sentence for striking a boy, his sister’s child.”