The Rainmaker Called Wragge

[thestoryteller]

THE RAINMAKER CALLED "WRAGGE."

At Crohamhurst Observat'ry one Clement Wragge esquire,
a meteorologist of note, did willingly aspire,
to render his assistance to the Queensland Government,
whose voters were in grip of drought and rather discontent.

This plague of nineteen hundred and two was raging o'er the land
when Wragge, who had been overseas, now claimed he'd heard first hand
how grape growers in Italy fired guns into a storm,
in hope the hail would be dispelled and condensation form.

Herr Stiger who was German-Swiss designed this vortex gun
and Wragge felt rather confident this new phenomenon
could play a part to paralyse the long-prevailing drought,
if only Queensland's government were willing to help out.

The western town of Charleville showed int'rest in the scheme
and soon the local Aldermen had banded as a team
to ascertain from Mr Wragge the possibility
of testing out the vortex guns in their vicinity.

Conjecture was that Charleville was suitable indeed,
which saw a motion fin'lly passed and Aldermen agreed
to buy a batt'ry of six guns with funds they hoped to raise
provided Wragge's known expertise would guide them through this phase.

The Minister, John Leahy, then promised to provide
free transport of the vortex guns and also would confide
with Government to seek request that should Wragge too be sought
to travel west to give advice; then certainly he ought.

The guns were wrought iron, riveted, and conical in shape,
allowing for the mortar blast to make a grand escape.
Some thirteen feet six inches long this cannon did extend,
two feet three inches 'cross the mouth; nine inches at its end.

A plate fixed to three iron legs secured the gun in place
and stood some twenty inches high above a wooden base.
The Brisbane firm of Harvey built the guns for eight pound each,
while powder was provided free by Philp for each gun's breech.

Each had been christened with a name, an individual tag,
like Stiger, Philp and Leahy and Suschnig, Harvey, Wragge.
Though in the bush the drought pressed on and folk were tiring fast
and if the rains delayed much more they simply wouldn't last.

Reaction to the enterprise by folk out in the west
had dwindled to mixed sentiments and therefore would attest
to queries made in articles placed in the local rag,
requesting where subscriptions went. Where were the guns and Wragge?
Then finally the guns arrived and kegs of powder too
and rumour had it Wragge would come within a week or two.
September saw Professor Wragge arrive in Charleville
prepared to share with folk out there his expertise and skill.

Wragge sensed a certain lethargy when he arrived in town
and thought the Mayor discourteous and felt somewhat let down.
Though sev'ral townsfolk and the Mayor, who'd helped to raise the funds,
escorted Wragge in search of sites where he could fire the guns.

T. Meadow's, Ormston's, Billington's and Birstow's would be swell,
while Spencer's and the Rifle Range were jotted down as well.
Wragge's lecture at the Albert Hall did not attract the Mayor
or many other folk it seemed, which Wragge thought quite unfair.

Offended by their lethargy Wragge had refused to stay,
though helped erect the vortex guns, then set off on his way.
He left a letter for the Mayor, which stated his disgust,
insisting his discourteousness belied his public trust.

The firing of the vortex guns did not induce the rain,
but desperate to break the drought the townsfolk tried again.
The blasts blew holes in two guns sides on that September day
and still the rains eluded them much to the folks dismay.

The townsfolk blamed Professor Wragge, who left them on a limb,
while Wragge blamed failure to comply to guidelines set by him.
It seems Herr Stiger wrote to Wragge, when he was told the tale,
berating him as he'd designed the guns to dispel hail.

Since then the droughts have come and gone, the floods and fires of hell,
but towns like good old Charleville have stood up pretty well.
If some bloke claims he can make rain what goes through bushies minds,
is blokes like that are just like things which hang from sheep's behinds.

In nineteen hundred and two, Queensland was in the grip of severe drought when Clement Wragge suggested he could use Stiger Vortex guns to induce rain. The above poem tells the story of what took place. In 1947, some forty five years after the event, one of the guns was retrieved and fired during Charleville's Centenary celebrations and later again when the C.S.I.R.O. were conducting experiments in seeding clouds. Two of the guns survive to this day and can be seen standing in the local park near the visitors centre.

© Merv Webster

From the book Excuse Me! It's the Gidyea!

[Shelley Hansen]

This is a great yarn Merv! I simply love history and am constantly looking for quirky snippets and unforgettable characters that can be turned into poems!

This one is a bottler!

Cheers
Shelley

[thestoryteller]

Hi Shelly.

It was certainly a trying time for folk with the drought in that period and many were desperate.

Two of the guns still stand at Charleville.

I was asked to be part of a documentary and wrote the poem around that time.

Appreciate your sharing it.


Merv.