[meteorite-list] NPA 05-07-1939 Big Meteorite Exhibited Here

[MARK BOSTICK]

Paper: The Oakland Tribune
City: Oakland, California
Date: Sunday, May 7, 1939
Page: 4 (of 84)

Big Meteorite Exhibited Here

Thousands See Relic From Another World At Zoological Garden

     Thousands of Oakland people saw their first meteorite yesterday at the 
Alameda County Zoological Gardens at the first showing of the Goose Lake 
meteorite, and more were expected to see it today at Chabot Observatory.
     Not since it left the heavens, probably a thousand years ago, has the 
heavy object traveled so much as in the past four days.
     Taken Wednesday from the Modoc County lava bed where it was found, the 
meteorite was brought here by truck, to be shown in Oakland and at Treasure 
Island before going to its permanent home at the Smithsonian Institute.
     Unusual interest has been shown in the meteorite since first discovery 
was announced a week ago.  Crowds gathered to look at it as Professor Earle 
G. Linsley directed its removal from Modoc County through Alturas to 
Oakland.

FINEST ON COAST

     Dr. Linsley, director of Chabot Observatory and an authority on 
meteorites, said this is probably the finest specimen ever found on the 
Pacific Coast.  He prepared to go into the same region of Northeast 
California and Western Nevada in search of others reported to have been 
seen.
     Although hardly larger than an ordinary office desk, the Goose Lake 
meteorite, so named for the geographical marker near which it was found, 
weighs 2573 pounds.  It is composed principally of iron, although the metal 
is of a different nature than that found on earth.
     Many person, skeptical that it is a heavenly body, and thinking it is 
nothing more than a mere boulder, have been convinced when hearing a hammer 
strike against it.  Because of the high iron content, the meteorite gives 
off a sound similar to that made by striking a hammer on an anvil.

AT CHABOT TODAY

     It is to be shown at Chabot today because of the work done by Dr. 
Linsley in conjunction with the Oakland public schools and Mills College to 
bring it here.  Tomorrow it will be taken for exhibition to the City Hall 
and then to Treasure Island.
     Federal authorities, to whom the meteorite must go because it was found 
in a National park, gave permission for it showing before they claim it for 
Smithsonian.
     The cost of going into the rugged mountain area, a mile and a half 
below the Oregon border, to identify the find and bring it out was partially 
defrayed by scientists of the University of California at Los Angeles.  Two 
of them, Dr. F. C. Leonard of the U.C.L.A. department of astronomy and Dr. 
H. O. Webb of the geological department, accompanied Dr. Linsley and his 
party into Modoc County this week to return the meteorite.
     Also in the group were Dr. and Mrs. H. H. Nininger of Denver, and C. A. 
Replogle, Oakland civil engineer, who aided in the hauling and trucking of 
the find.  The meteorite originally was located by three Oakland deer 
hunters, Joe Secco, Ira Iverson and Clarence A. Schmidt, who told Dr. 
Linsley of the discovery.
     Schmidt once had heard lectures on heavenly bodies by Dr. Linsely and 
recognized the object as a meteorite.

(end)


Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
Wichita, Kansas
http://www.meteoritearticles.com
http://www.kansasmeteoritesociety.com
http://www.imca.cc

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PDF copy of this article, and most I post, and about 3/4 of those on my 
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The NPA in the subject line, stands for Newspaper Article. The old list 
server allowed us a search feature the current does not, so I guess this is 
more for quick reference and shortening the subject line now.