, 1860-07-20
A MeleOric Shower in Ohio

The following is q definite and detailed
account of this Interesting and startling
phenomenon:
HENDREYsBURG, O., May 0, 1850.
DEAR PRoFEssoR:-Yo will doubtless Sc
in the papers an account Of shower d
meteoric stones that fell on the lst inst,
near the village of Concord, in Mnskingum
county, Ohio. Lest you should think n
hoax, or at least an incorrect account |
have takA 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 l2hnd
l o'clock p NJ 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
tremendous explosion occurred in the at
mosphere. 10 those near by it resembed
severe clap Of thunder 10 sound, but was
accompanied by jarring sound, which, To-
gether with the noise, was felt and heard
at much greater distance than the effect
Of thunder. 1t was observed and remark
ed as something peculiar by persons Fly
miles off was at the time about thirty
miles distant, and so extraordinary was the
detonation and jarring sensation that !
thought it (although an unknown occur
renee 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-accouuts vary from six to twelvei
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 il. -Four stones
were seen to fall and have been recovered,
but the probabilities are that many Others
fell. Two, which fell within about six hun
dred yards Of each other, were seen bys
couple Of men who were laboring in fed.
Hearing the reports, one Of the men looked
up and saw large body fall into q fsld
close by; the other, looking in another d.
rection, saw another which fell upon ienoa
Within about twenty minutes they af
preached aud dug out the one which bad
fallen in the field, where it had buried itssh
to the depth of about twenty inches 10
stiff limestone soil. 1t was still SO hot thai
it could scarcely be held in the hands,
From the direction in which il entered the
earth its fall appeared TO be vertical lr
weight was tifty-one pounds, and It's shape
irregular, long, and 1attened, bat resemhr
ling somewhat the inclOsed sketch. II en-
tered the ground point foremost. The 9TH
err which fell upon the fence, weighed forty
two pounds. In its descent it cut through
the rails on the fence and buried itself n
the earth, having a direction apparently
from the northeast. About one and han
miles from where these two stones fell.
young man plowing in field, hearoA
ssrange whizzing sound overhead, and looL
ing up, saw the clouds in a strange stateW
commotion (The same with regard to tne
agitation of the clouds was observed "
others.) Thinking that be heard something
fall, upon searching, he found sto1s
weighing thrty-six pounds, which had ials
en- upon and embedded itself in decayeSS
log. 1t was supposed that it had in I's'aA
direction from the southeast.
Near Claysvlle, about six miles disIAns
tive gentlemen walking out, heard the eA
plosiOn, and very soon afterward a sto1s
weighing four pounds fell near them sH'