[meteorite-list] 1860 New Concord NPA, early account

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 17:15:35 -0600
Message-ID: <BAY111-F14FB55D053C27E9EE5F046B3AC0_at_phx.gbl>

Paper: Janesville Daily Gazette
City: Janesville, Wisconsin
Date: Tuesday Evening, May 8, 1860
Page: 3 (of 8)

     AN EARTHQUAKE IN EASTERN OHIO - The Columbus Fact of Thursday evening,
says:
     On Tuesday last the counties of Guernsey, Belmont and Harrison, in
eastern Ohio, were visited by an earthquake, more serious than any preceding
one which there is any record in this section of the country.
     The earthquake lasted for about thirty minutes (or seconds?) producing
the most intense excitement among the inhabitants, and striking terror to
the heart of all who happened to be within its range. At Cambridge,
Barnesville and other points, the citizens assembled together in the
streets, and prayed for a safe deliverance from the destined face which
seemed impending.
      Probably the most singular feature of the event, long to be remembered
by those who saw and felt it, was the falling of what is supposed to be
meteoric stones in various portions of that locality. Four large stones,
weighing from forty to sixty pounds each fell on or near the track of the
Central Ohio Railroad, near Concord, burying themselves in the ground two
feet, while at Claysville, south-east of Cambridge, and other portions of
the country, stones of the same quality, but in greater quantities, fell to
the earth.
     The Cambridge Jeffersonian of Friday makes the following mention of the
matter:
     No little excitement has arisen from the report that the rumbling sound
which alarmed the delicate nerves of so many of our fair sex, on Tuesday
last, was caused by the falling of a shower of stones, coming in an oblique
direction toward the south-east.
     The specimens that we have seen are angular, of light-gray color
internally, and of dark metallic on the outside. They are very compact and
heavy.

(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).
Received on Wed 24 Jan 2007 06:15:35 PM PST