[meteorite-list] NPA 02-19-1948 Exploding Meteor Felt in Kansas (Norton County)

[MARK BOSTICK]

Paper: Holland Evening Sentinel
City: Holland, Michigan
Date: Thursday, February 19, 1948
Page: 5

     Exploding Meteor Felt in Kansas

     Norton, Kan., Feb. 19 (UP) - Authorities said today they believe a 
terrific explosion high in the sky over Kansas last night was caused by a 
meteor which blew up when it entered the earth's atmosphere.
     Concussion from the blast broke windows, rocked buildings and terrified 
residents over a wide section of Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
     The meteor left a smudge of bluish-white smoke extending across a wide 
segment of the sky just before it exploded about 5:01 p.m.
     No one appeared to have seen the actual explosion. There was no flash.
     The explosion terrified thousands of people across the three-state 
area.  Many believed their houses had been hit by trucks.  Dozens of windows 
were shattered.
     M. R. Krehbiel, editor of the weekly Norton County News said the meteor 
apparently exploded over the town of Noreatur, Kans, 16 miles west of here.  
Be estimating the angle from the earth to the point of explosion, he decided 
that the meteor blew up about 30 to 35 miles above the earth.
     "It was just about the most exciting thing that happened around here in 
a long time." he said.

(end)

Mark Bostick
Wichita, Kansas
www.meteoritearticles.com