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

[MARK BOSTICK]

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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