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A Nininger Moment 4

Two nights before the Nininger party reached Mexico City while trying to
set up camp, several unfriendly characters approached them. They managed
to catch their interest with an article of little importance and swiftly
packed up and
drove on. They were in bandit country but continued on long after dark
looking for some sort of shelter they might stay
at. They finally arrived at a hacienda but had to pass through four
gates to gain access to the main house. A little while
later police came and question them in regards to a murder that had
taken place at a neighboring hacienda. After
answering the questions the police left and they were left to finish
their late evening  meal and sleep in the court until the
next morning.

After arriving in Mexico City the first place they went to visit was the
Institute of Geology. Nininger knew no one there and
had no I.D. of introduction but asked to see someone who might know
something of meteorites. They were introduced to a
Dr. Mullerried a German geologist who was a great field investigator in
Mexico. He explained to  Mullerried he had read some accounts of iron
meteorites being found in quantities at certain locations in Mexico and
asked for help on finding the spot. The Dr. said they would talk of it
later and then showed Nininger to the National Museum where many
meteorites were located. At the museum many of the meteorites were
mislabeled or even unlabeled. Nininger offered his services of putting
the pieces back into order and trying to identify some of the unlabeled
specimens. The mislabeling and lost labeling was the result of many
revolutions in Mexico. He and Alex also spent time cutting and etching a
number of specimens to further identify them. He has also brought trade
specimens with him so that trades could be arranged for the excess
museum pieces.

One of Nininger's aims was to visit the spot where so many iron
meteorites had been found and so after a few days approached Mullerried
again to try to find out more about the Xiqupilco village near Toluca.
Ninginger knew that a Dr.
Jose Aguilera had told him that a total of twenty two tons of material
had been shipped from that area. Two mineral dealers Foote and Ward had
collected most of the material prior to 1906. He also knew that a visit
there might yield him with many meteorite specimens he could trade later
for others. Mullerried cautioned him that it would be somewhat dangerous
but would try to make arrangements. The village of Xiqupilco was some 30
miles distant from Mexico City but rugged mountains laid in between.
Nininger and Dr. Mullerried would take a train to Toluca and then
another train to Ixtlahuaca and hire other transportation from that
point. Nininger cashed a travelers check in Mexico City for fifty
dollars into pesos in order to have
some cash to negotiate with. Alex remained behind as he was ill and
resting at the time.


Source: Find A Falling Star     by H.H. Nininger

--AL




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