[meteorite-list] NPA, 09-10-1905 Willamette Meteorite on Display at Exposition

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Aug 18 11:33:22 2004
Message-ID: <BAY4-F12MIMwlpz1i8N0000bdb8_at_hotmail.com>

Paper: Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
City: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Date: September 10, 1905

BIGGEST OF METEORITES

HUGE CELESTIAL VISITOR SHOWN AT PORTLAND'S EXPOSITION

Found in Woods of Oregon - Mysterious Mass of Metal Weighs From 18 to 20
Tons and Has an Interesting History Connected With it.

      A visitor fro Mars or some other distant region or planet has just
arrived at the Lewis and Clark exposition. This massive meteorite of many
tons' weight is the biggest shooting that has ever been found in the western
hemisphere and perhaps the heaviest meteorite ever found in any land. It
has not yet been weighed, but its weight has been estimated at about 18 or
20 tons. Twelve of the most powerful horses in Portland were required to
haul this mysterious mass of metal from the steamer to the exposition
grounds where a special platform has been erected for its reception, and a
government official took charge of it as of some valuable prize.
     An interesting story is associated with this great shooting star. It
is the only substance from some other world that has ever been the subject
of litigation. The man who found it claimed it by right of discovery and
the owner of the land upon which it fell claimed it rights accruing from
ownership.
     The meteorite was found in the woods of Clackamas county, Oregon, in
the autumn of 1902, about two miles from Oregon City, and 15 miles from the
exposition site. The region immediately surrounding the spot where this
strange visitor struck the earth is a serious of rough and rugged foothills
near the Tualitan river this great iron mass fell. How long ago no man can
conjecture. It may have been centuries since some shooting star passed from
its own sphere to the earth. Here it lay for years in this wild region of
primeval forests of pine and birch. When found it was partially covered by
a carpet of accumulated vegetable debris.

Kent Discovery Secret

     One day a prospector found what he at first supposed to be iron ore.
Investigation proved it to be a meteorite of huge dimensions and enormous
weigh. For months the discovery was kept a secret, while the discoverer
endeavored to secure possession of the land. Failing in this after numerous
efforts, he moved the meteorite to his own land, nearly a mile distant. The
task of moving such a weight was most difficult and required several months
or toil. Special trucks has to be constructed for the occasion, the
greatest secrecy being observed at all times. Perseverance finally triumphed
and the massive meteorite was at the owner's door. The cloak of secrecy was
then removed and people from far and near journeyed to the spot where the
mysterious celestial wonder lay.
     The owners of the land from which the meteorite had been removed
claimed the prize which had fallen upon their land and began litigation to
gain possession of it. The finder claimed that this meteorite, being but a
shooting star which dropped from an unknown world, should not properly be
considered a part of the land or its products. The people owning the land
upon which the meteorite was found claimed it as a mineral property,
possession of which goes with the land. The courts found for the land
owners and established a precedent that whatever falls from the stars, the
moon or any other distant sphere, whose occupants are not on visiting terms
with the people of this earth , becomes a part of the heriditaments of the
lands upon which it may fall. No syndicate from any of the planets having
put in a claim for the meteorite, it is now recognized as the property of
the owners of the land upon which it was found.

An Abbreviated Cone.

     This great meteorite is in the form of an abbreviated cone, having its
base on two sides so prolongated as to produce an oval, whose long diameter
is one-third greater than its transverse diameter. There are no angular
outlines to the mass as a whole, all, whether in vertical or horizontal
section, is bounded by broad curves. When found partially buried in this
ground, the base of the meteorite was uppermost and it is likely that in its
long trip through space it held this position or doubtless the rapidity of
its flight gave it the conical shape.
     In the lower half of this great cone are a number of round bore-holes,
irregular as to position and more generally near the bottom or base of the
meteorite. these holes are nearly circular and well defined. They are one
to four inches in depth and three to eight inches in diameter at the at the
outside. Another feature of this remarkable meteorite consists in the deep
furrows or channels cutting into the lower cone area. There furrows extend
vertically tot he lower edge or base of the mass, whose border they break
with deep channeling.
     This great mass of molten iron, once a bright shooting star darting
through space, has been named the Willamette, in honor of the river near
which it found a resting place. It’s dimensions are: Extreme length, 10
feet1 4 inches; breadth across base, 7 feet; extreme vertical height from
base to summit of dome, 4 feet; total circumference of base, 25 feet and 4
inches.

(end)

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Received on Wed 18 Aug 2004 11:33:18 AM PDT