John Vonderlin: 1897: Praying for Rain
Story by John Vonderlin
Email John: benloudman@sbcglobal.net
Hi June,
This page from “The San Francisco Call,” with the wonderful drawing and the headline announcing “Churches Praying For Rain in California” was published on November 27th, 1897. There are Presbyterian, Episcopal, Catholic, Hebrew, Congregationalist and even Chinese prayers. The first block of text explained:
“The church denominations of California are fervently praying for rain. An annual substantial drenching means millions of dollars to the farmers, miners and merchants of the State. The drought of last year was a hard blow to the agricultural and mineral industries. Hundreds of big mines were shut down along the Sierra foothills and the crops and cattle of the grangers never suffered so much. Some weather prophets are already on record with the declaration that last year’s drought will be repeated this year. Certain kinds of witch hazel augurs point to this conclusion, and many hunters of game are of this opinion on account of the “dry winter” actions of plants and wild birds. Should they be right in their prognostications there will be great suffering in the agricultural and mineral districts. Other prophets believe that the holidays will usher in the welcome rainstorms. Since the prayers began in the churches the State has received several showers, but not a storm of any consequence.”
Well, it would seem the “Rain Gods” were displeased, and the witch hazel augurs and game hunters were right, as according to a reference to a “Santa Cruz Sentinel” article of December 16th, 1898, made in a Pescadero-Butano Watershed N.O.A.A. document:
Well, it would seem the “Rain Gods” were displeased, and the witch hazel augurs and game hunters were right, as according to a reference to a “Santa Cruz Sentinel” article of December 16th, 1898, made in a Pescadero-Butano Watershed N.O.A.A. document:
“During the drought of 1897-1898, Pescadero Creek did not have sufficient rainfall to breach the sandbar, though there was enough rain to cause flooding of the adjacent farmlands following a healthy rain during December 1898. Pescadero farmers raised an estimated $200 to drill a tunnel through the point on the south side of the beach, hoping that the hole would offer an outlet to the creek and prevent further flooding. The tunnel provided limited success and eventually plugged up with sand.”
I guess that answers the question of when and why the “Hole in The Wall” was created. One might say it was due to an “Act of God.” Enjoy.John
