[meteorite-list] 1860 New Concord NPA, Hammer Stone?

[MARK BOSTICK]

Paper: The Wisconsin Daily Patriot
City: Madison, Wisconsin
Date: Tuesday, May 22, 1860
Page: 1 (of 4)

A Meteoric Shower in Ohio.

     The following is a definite and detailed account of this interesting 
and startling phenomena:

     HENDRYSBURG, 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 a hoax, or at 
least an incorrect account. I have taken such pains as circumstances would 
permit to obtain as near as possible all 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 took place in the atmosphere.  To there 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 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 that, such was the general opinion of all who heard 
it. To those near where the stones fell several distinct reports were heard 
- accounts very 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 started at 
it.  Four stones were seen to fall and have been recovered, but the 
probabilities are that many others fell. Two, which fell within about six 
hundred yards of each others, 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 which fell upon a fence. Within about twenty minutes they 
approached and dug out the one which had fallen on the field, where it had 
buried itself to the depth of about twenty inches in the still 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 north-east. About one and a 
half-miles from where these two stones fell, a young man plowing 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 imbedded itself in a decaying log. - It was supposed that it had 
in its fall a direction from the south-east.
     Near Claysville, about six miles distant, two gentlemen walking out 
heard the explosion, and very soon afterward a stone weighing four lbs. fell 
near them, striking the ground so obliquely as to ricochet. The direction of 
this appeared to be from the north. The four stones about mentioned were all 
there 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 
beach 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 vitrilited 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 substances, 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, of, if possible one of the stones entire, but all 
except the largest one were broken up and the pieces distributed along 
persons who, while the marvel last, attach to them great value. The largest 
one (yet unbroken) is the possession of A. S. Milholland, from who, if 
desirable, you might possibly obtain it for the Smithsonian.
     You could, I presume, obtain further information and probably a 
specimen by writing to Dr. M. McConnell or the Rev. Mr. Seigfred, at 
Concord, Ohio. I write under very unfavorable circumstances, but hope that 
you will be able to decipher it.

Yours truly,
JND, Tidball, Lieut. U.S.A.

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).