On 26 September 1902, exactly 100 years ago today, the people of Charleville tried to make rain.
Stationed around the town were six Stiger Vortex guns, their long, funnel-shaped barrels aimed skywards.
At noon the guns were manned, and at the direction of the Mayor, ten shots were fired from each in quick succession’.
Charleville’s assault on the weather was marshalled by Queensland’s energetic, but irascible meteorologist, Clement Wragge.
[Wragge enters reading from paper]
‘Soon after the firing a few drops of rain fell, and at 2 o’clock a slight shower fell. At the time of firing the guns a strong wind was blowing, which doubtless interfered with the force of the vortices’.
Doubtless…
‘Later – A second experiment with the Stiger Vortex guns was made at half-past four this afternoon, but without any visible results. An accident happened to two of the guns, one stationed at Mr Ormiston’s paddock, and the other at Mr Spence’s residence; each of these guns had a large piece of iron blown out of the sides, making them worthless…’
[Slams down paper, takes up pen]
To the editor, Brisbane Courier, dear sir… Read MoreWragge