[meteorite-list] rare info on bonita springs, fl

[MARK BOSTICK]

If you would like the best source of information on Bonita Springs, you 
should check the Smithsonian files.  I have copied about 700 pages out of 
Henderson files and he is very detailed.  He also likely transcribe his 
conversations with the finder, as that was his norm.  (Paper records were 
very important from the Smithsonian as you never knew who would finish the 
deal and they needed to be able to see the history). Henderson was very 
detailed. Sometimes going as far as what he ate and the cost break down of 
lunch, giving drink and entree prices. This leads me to believe, the weight 
and years given in the Weir article are correct. They do not appear to be 
guesses, but instead taken from some source.

It is hard to say that your source, giving us a third hand story, would 
prove more accurate. Weir's posting, quoting a Newspaper, notes "while 
searching for relics". Like I noted even if he was officially working at the 
time, I think its fair to say that when he found the burial mound, and 
started pulled gold balls out of skeleton mouths, that he had started 
searching for relics.

I pretty much ignored the weight the grandchild provided as it was clear 
they did not know  Just a guess 50 years after.  Henderson would have had to 
submit a report to get his $200 (?)  back. It would be hard to imagine that 
he didn't include the weight in that report. Again, this man was very, very 
detailed.

Also, the price paid for meteorites, unknown ones, at the time was around 
$0.05 a gram.  $200 would be very close to the correct price to pay for a 
90lb. stone and would be a very high price to pay for a 30lb. stone.  
Nininger was retailing stones around $0.10 a gram at this time.

I can show you orver a dozen Henderson letters were he is complaining about 
prices to Nininger. I don't see him upping the ante.

If you are really interested in researching this meteorite, I can try to put 
you in contact with my Smithsonian contact. All of Henderson files are there 
and on record.  You can likely get a folder labled Bonita Springs.  They are 
pretty high in research and copy fees.

Mark