Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-06-12
METEORIC STONES


NAsHyInbE, May 49, An occurrence .oot
place in this vicinity the 9ih inst. which de-
serves to be publicly noticed. Some large stones
tell with immense velocity in Sumner county
about IL miles from Nashville, and sank into IN q
earth with great force. One of them, weighing
between 1--WE and six pounds, fell npon The farm Of
the Rev. Mr. kirkpatrick. respectable gentle
man, whose son was in the fed at the time and
saw 1t as IL descended with loud noise through
the sir On striking the ground il pIodue ed a
great concussion, and sank several inches beneath
the surface of The earth The other, which de
scended about the same time. fell upon hard
grass LOT, and buried itself 10 or IL inches in the
ground. il is said TO weigh about II los. The
noise, resembling that of thunder or distant can
non, was distinctly heard 10 or IL miles from fIe
spot where the stones fell, and by some, probably
at still greater distance. We presume the stones
will be brought 10 Nashville, and submitted 10 an
analysis In order TO ascertain the peculiar nature
OF their composition.
hkJs Since writing the above, Mr. Peter Ker.
ring, gentleman of high respeciabiIity and nm
douo'ed Yeracity, has called upon with the fol-
lowing communication from his father in law the
Kev. Hugh l<rRpatrice, which confirms, substan,s
TALLY, the statement given above with some aIdI-
tlonal details.
TO the Editor cF tAs National Basner.
VIII now give you statement, as correct sa
within my power, respecting Phenome non W hicts
has taken place in my neiehbourhood. In doing
this, will coh6ne myself to facts and snbm Il
them to philosophers TO explain.
On Wedne sday, The 9th inst, about 4 o'cloclS
M, the day being clear as usual my SON ana
servants were planting corn in the field they
heard, suddenly, report similar 10 a cannon.
which was continued in the air, resembling that Of
batile the firing of cannon, nr' muske,, by MA
toons, and the beating of drums Some email clouds
made terrific appearance with a trail of black
SMOKE from which came (no doubl) number of
stones, with lond @hizzfng noise, which struck
the earth like that of ponderous body One of these
stones my son heard fall about SO yards from where
ne was. In its descent 10 the ground, il struck a
pawpaw tree, about the size of a small handspike
AMI tore II to pieces like lightning, by which
means he Immediately found the spot, and there
saw the stone about or 10 inches under ground.
which weighed five pounds and a quarter: MIR
James Digger was present They state that the
stone was cold, but had the scent OF sulphur GIN
the same day, and about the same time nv son In
law, Mr. Peter Ketring, with his hands, was in a
held, about one mile distant, when a stone fell
which weighed eleven pounds and a half This
took place near him, his wife, and three other woN
men, a number of respectable men were pr essen.
when IL was found and aiken up; it was IL inches
under ground. have seen that fell at MIR
David Gapet's, on Station camp, and part of one
that fell at Mr.. John Bones. / have also heard
OF one more that has been found These slonea
are perfectly similar, glazed with a thin black
crust, and bear the marks Of having parsed through
body OF fire and black smoke Many gentlemen
have been excited within few days 10 come 10
my house and see them, and say they meyer saw
such before. AT the request of some per, lemen
took them to GalIatin MONDAY last, which
was the FIRST day OF our county court, where they
were shown publicly design to send The larges,
of Them to Nashville in a few days
Yours, respectfully,
HUGH KIREzp ATRICK
y creek
We have seen and examined the stone picked
up by Mr.. Kirkpatrick. Ii is of a very singular
character, and shah receive more particular dt.
scription hereafter.