THE IRON COUNTY REGISTER — APRIL 12, 1900
From time to time falls of black rain are reported in various parts of the world. The first case recorded was with reference to the fall that occurred at Grahamstown. In Ireland, and surrounding district. It extended over an area of no less than three hundred and sixty square miles. That was in 1888. Since then there have been reported several showers of inky substance, but these have been less pronounced in their sable character.
Other showers of black rain have been recorded in Ireland, one of which was felt over an area of four hundred square miles. No one seems to have microscopically examined the water that fell at Grahamstown, but it was noted that in a suitable vessel, and a black precipitate fell from it. In the later cases referred to the deposit was been carefully examined, was found to consist of microscopic organisms that averaged about the twelve-thousand-five-hundredth part of an inch in length, and which were identified with the same fungoid organisms that are responsible for blight in the plants which they infest, and subsequently for smut, mildew, and rust in wheat and barley. Humidity is known to contribute largely to the copious production of fungi, and during protracted drought the regions affected thereby will remain comparatively bare of fungi, but during the seasons of frequent rainfalls the productions of frequent rainfalls the production of a fungoid vegetation is largely increased.
From— Iron County Register. (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.), 12 April 1900. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
