[meteorite-list] Happy Birthday Nininger/Nininger Moment

[AL Mitterling]

Hi Arizona Keith and all,

Since you mentioned Nininger's Birthday thought I would run this 
Nininger Moment through the list. All my best to all!


--AL Mitterling
Mitterling Meteorites

Nininger Moment #26 The Bondoc Philippine Meteorite Recovery Story


One of the largest and best meteorites might have gone undiscovered in 
not for Nininger's effort and that of his friend John A.
Lednicky. Only 2 other Philippine specimens had been found prior to the 
Bondoc find. It started when Nininger and Addie were on their 5 month 
long tour and after the sale of the first part of their collection. 
Nininger had been seeking tektites from south east Asia and visited the 
National Bureau of Mines in 1959. There Nininger found a sample sent in 
as iron ore that was round and badly weathered. The Mass having "stony" 
material attached and testing positive for nickel set Nininger's mind 
into motion. After seeking Permission to hunt the material down he was 
given the name of Senator Tanada of the Filipino Congress who Nininger 
visited. The matter had been transferred to the Senator's Son a lawyer 
who shared the prospect with his friend
Mendoza another lawyer who lived closer to the site a remote jungle far 
down the Bondoc Peninsula.

The two young lawyers contacted two Japanese geologists who sought 
finding an iron mine. The two Japanese geologist
went to check out the possible iron deposit but returned discussed and 
disappointed as it was only something that had fallen
out of the sky and they sought an iron mine. Part of the state of mind 
of the geologists was due to the great effort to reach the
site. Several hours journey by slow train. Then waiting hours for a bus 
that ran on days the roads were passable and dry.
A full days journey 40 miles to a small village. Then from the small 
village by boat down the coast to the mouth of a river.
Down the River as far as the boat could go then trampling on foot ten 
hours through crocodile and snake infested jungle!
Nininger attempted to make the trip himself along with his wife Addie 
with guided help but twisted an ankle before they
were very far along. He then turned for help asking his friend John 
Lednicky who assisted in the hunt.

The process of locating, finding a way to extract, floating the specimen 
to the small village and finally getting it to Nininger
was a three and a half year process. Estimated recovery cost was 
$3750.00. Lednicky hired men who loaded it on to a wooden sled but three 
caribou were unable to move it. Neither was a small bulldozer. A larger 
bulldozer was then used to
bring the specimen to the mouth of the river. A raft was then 
constructed of bamboo to tow the specimen on to Manila. The
effort to float it to Manila was a nightmare with much risk involved. 
While transporting the specimen a typhoon hit the area
and huge waves rocked the raft and meteorite. Two fishing boats with 
motors were hired to help stabilized the cargo. One
sank in the process and four men nearly drowned. Difficulty in hiring a 
truck was the next problem after the storm, as roads
were washed out and dangerous and risked recovery of the specimen. 
Finally a truck was hired from a friend of the men who
were hired to bring the specimen to Manila.

After reaching Manila more red tape and delays plague the shipping of 
the specimen to Nininger. The specimen weighed
Just under one ton (1955 lbs) and was the second largest stony meteorite 
recovered at that time. Upon reaching Nininger's
newly built home in the hills, he placed the meteorite just inside a 
window where his shop was. Nininger studied the specimen's outside 
structure before attempting to cut a slab from it. Nininger invited 
about 60 friends and colleges over before the first slab was taken from 
it for an "opening party". Nininger knew that the specimen was a unique 
one from the original sample and he was very curious as to the internal 
structure. At the party Nininger started the saw which ran for 162 hours 
and cut the first end piece off weighing 120 lbs. Of the distinguished 
guests Carleton Moore was there and carried the first slice back to the 
laboratory at Tempe Arizona for the University of Arizona as a gift from 
Nininger. Nininger stated the real hero as John Lednicky who's 
relentless effort brought about recovery of the specimen at great 
personal time and sacrifice. Only expenses and satisfaction of success 
were his requirements for payment. Nininger later sent him a special 
meteorite gift as an added thank you.


Source: Find A Falling Star By H.H. Nininger

The Nininger Moments are articles or books written originally by Harvey 
Nininger and put into a consolidated form by Al Mitterling. Some of the 
items written in the moments might be old out dated material and the 
reader is advised to keep this in mind.

--AL Mitterling



Arizona Keith wrote:

> Hello List
>
> Just wanted to say
>
> Happy Birthday Harvey Harlow Nininger born on January 17, 1887
> We owe him so much!
>
> Keith V.
> Chandler AZ.