[meteorite-list] NPA 05-30-1860 New Concord Meteorite, Dear Smithsonian...

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat Jul 23 12:47:10 2005
Message-ID: <BAY104-F390C15C316C49B027AEE57B3C80_at_phx.gbl>

Paper: Banner of Liberty
City: Middletown, New York
Date: Wednesday, May 30, 1860
Page: 1 (of 8)

A Meteoric Shower in Ohio

     The following is a definite and detailed account of this interesting
and startling phenomena:

              HENDREYSBURG, O., May 9, 1860.
     DEAR PROFESSOR: - You will doubtless see in the papers an account of a
shower of meteoric stones that fell on the 1st inst., near the village of
Concord, in Muskingum County, Ohio. Lest you should think it is a hoax, or
at least an incorrect account, I have taken such pains as circumstances
would permit to obtain as near as possible as the facts and circumstances
connected with it.
     The shower took place between 12 and 1 o'clock P.M. The day was
unusually cool for the season of the year, and the sky about two-thirds
overcast with clouds. Simultaneously with the fall of the stones a
tremendous explosion occurred in the atmosphere. To those near by it
resembled a severe clap of thunder in sound, but was accompanied by a
jarring sound, which, together with the noise, was felt and heard at a much
greater distance than the effect of the thunder. It was observed and
remarked as something peculiar by persons fifty miles off. I was at the
time about thirty miles distant, and so extraordinary was the detonation and
jarring sensation that I thought it (although an unknown occurrence in this
region) an earthquake shock; In fact, such was the general opinion of all
who heard it. To those near where the stones fell several distinct reports
were heard - accounts vary from six to twelve; they were in rapid
succession, perhaps not over a second of time between them.
     So strange was the sensation that cattle in the fields ran startled at
it. Four stones were seen to fall and have been recovered, but the
probabilities are that many others fell. Two, which fell within six hundred
yards of each other were seen by a couple of men who were laboring in a
field. Hearing the reports, one of the men looked up and saw a large body
fall into a field close by; the other, looking in another direction, saw
another fall upon a fence. Within about twenty minutes they approached and
dug out the one which had fallen into the field, where it had buried itself
to the depth of about twenty inches in a stiff limestone soil. It was still
so hot that it could scarcely be held in the hands. From the direction in
which it entered the earth its fall appeared to be vertical. Its weight was
fifty-one pounds, and its shape irregular, long, and flattened, but
resembling somewhat the enclosed sketch. It entered the ground point
foremost. The other, which fell upon the fence, weighed forty-two pounds.
In its descent it cut through the rails on the fence and buried itself in
the earth, having a direction apparently from the northeast. About one and
a half miles from where these two stones fell, a young man plowing in a
field heard a strange whizzing sound overhead, and looking up, saw the
clouds in a strange state of commotion. (The same with regard to the
agitation of the clouds was observed by others.) Thinking that he heard
something fall, upon searching he found a stone weighing thirty-six pounds,
which had fallen upon and embedded itself in a decaying log. It was
supposed that it had in its fall a direction from the southeast.
     Near Claysville, about six miles distant, two gentlemen walking out
heard the explosion, and very soon afterward, a stone weighing four pounds
fell near them, striking the ground so obliquely as to ricochet. The
direction of this appeared to be from the north. The four stones above
mentioned were all that were seen to fall; another, however, was found which
had fallen in the woods and lodged in the earth among a thick cluster of
roots surrounding a beech tree. It weighed about thirty pounds, and
appeared to have fallen vertically. All of the stones were irregular in
figure and had the same general appearance, having a blackened, smooth,
vitrified surface. This exterior coating was, however very thin - not
one-fiftieth of an inch in thickness. Within the stones had an ashy color,
and contained fine particles of some shining substance, probably native
nickel. Enclosed I send you a very small specimen which I picked off a
large lump. It was my desire to send you a large piece, or, if possible,
one of the stones entire, but all except the largest one were broken up and
the pieces distributed among persons who, while the marvel lasts, attach to
them great value. The largest one (yet unbroken) is in possession of A. S.
Milholland.

                    Yours truly,
                JNO. O. TIDBALL, Lieut. U.S. Army.
Prof. JOSEPH HENRY, Smithsonian Inst.

(end)

Mark Note: This article refers to the New Concord meteorite. This meteorite
fell in Muskingum county, Ohio on May 1, 1860 at 12:45 p.m. More then
thirty pieces, 227 kg., of this L6 stone chondrite was recovered.
(Reference: Meteorites A to Z: Second Edition).

Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
Wichita, Kansas
http://www.meteoritearticles.com
http://www.kansasmeteoritesociety.com
http://www.imca.cc

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PDF copy of this article, and most I post (and about 1/2 of those on my
website), is available upon e-mail request.

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Received on Sat 23 Jul 2005 12:47:08 PM PDT