[meteorite-list] NPA 05-23-1860 New Concord Meteorite, shower of Tuesday last

[MARK BOSTICK]

Paper: Banner Of Liberty
City: Middletown, New York
Date: Wednesday, May 23, 1860
Page: 8 (of 8)

     The great meteoric shower of Tuesday last appears to have extended over 
the greater part of Ohio.  In New Concord, four stones weighing from 40 to 
60 pounds each, fell near the track of the Central Ohio Railroad, burying 
themselves in the ground to the depth of about two feet.  At Claysville 
stones of the same quality, but in great quantities fell.  Near 
McConnellsville several boys observed a huge stone descend to the earth, 
which they averred looked like a red ball, leaving a line of smoke in its 
wake.  A gentleman walking in his field near New Concord, heard a terrific 
crash like thunder, which lasted half a minute, and then plainly saw a large 
body descending through the air in an oblique direction, with a velocity 
apparently much greater than it could have attained by its own momentum.  
Going to the spot where it touched the ground he found a rock weighing over 
50 pounds imbedded in the earth a depth of two feet.  The stones were found 
over 50 miles apart, and are all alike, being fragmentary, as if just 
broken, of bright gray color inside, with a dark metallic surface, very 
compact and heavy.  The noise of the explosion was heard over four or five 
counties.  In some places being taken for thunder, in others shaking the 
ground like an earthquake, and at New Concord causing such a violent 
concussion that the houses were heavily jarred and many of the doors burst 
open, considerably frightening the people.  The course of the meteoric 
fragments was from northwest to southeast.  So unusual a meteoric shower 
will attract much attention and investigation among men of science.

(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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