Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-16
THE EVENING STAR.
IN. M.,eoric shower In Ohio


We are under obligations to Prot. Henry, Of
the Smithsonian institution, for the following
more definite and detailed account than has be-
fore been published Of this interesting and start.
ling phenomenon:
HEsuREYsBuRs, O., May o, 1860.
DEAR Professor You will doubtless see In
the papers an account Of shower of meteoric
stones that fell the LIST inst near the village OF
Concord, In MHskingum county, Ohio. Lest you
should think il hoax. or at least an incorrect ac
count, have taken such pains as circumstances
would permit to obtain as near as possiDie all tne
facts and circumstances connected Win IL
The shower took place between II and IL O'CLOCK
D. 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 occurred in the at
mosphere. To those near by il resem bled 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 dis
lance than the effect Of thunder. IL was observed
and remarked something peculiar by persons
fifty miles off. I was at the time about thirty
miles distant, and extraordinary was the deto-
nation and jarring sensation that thought u tai
though an unknown occurrence in this region)
an earthquake shock; in fact, such was the gen.
eral opinion of all who heard IL. To those near
where the stones fell several distinct reports were
heard-accounts vary from six to twelve; they
were in rapid succession, perhaps not over a sec
ond of time between them.
So strange was the sensation that cattle In the
fall and have been recovered, but the PROBABLE
titles are that many others fell. Two. which fell
withinsabout six hundred yards Of each other,
were seen by couple of men who were laboring
In field Hearing the reports, one of the men
looked up and saw 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 in the field, where
ii had buried itself to the depth of about twenty
inches in a stiff limestone soil 1t was still s.
hot that Ii could scarcely be held In the hands
From the direction in which IL entered the earth
It's fall appeared to be vertical. Its weight was
ffty-one pounds, and its shape irregular long
and tattened, but resembling somewhat the en-
closed sketch 1t entered the ground point fore
most. The other, which fell upon the fence
weighed forty-two pounds. In its descent IL cut
through the rails Of the fence and buried itself in
the earth, having direction apparently from
the northeast. About one and a half miles from
where these two stones fell, a young man plough.
Ing in a field heard a strange w6izzing sound
overhead, and, looking up, saw the clouds in
strange state Of eommotion: (The same with
regard to the agitation Of the clouds was OBJ
served by oihers.J Thinking that he heard some
thing fall, upon searching he found a stone
weighing thirty-six pounds, which had fallen
upon aad embedded itself In a decayed loo. II
was supposed that It had in it's fall a direction
from the southeast.
Near ClaysyilIe, about six miles distant two
gentlemen walking out heard the explosion and
very soon afterwards a stone weighing four
pounds fell near them, striking the ground so
obliquelY to ricochet The direction of this
appeared to be from the north. The four stones
aforementioned were all that were seen to fall;
another, however, was found which had fallen in
the woods and lodged in the earth among thick
cluster OF roots surrounding beech tree It
weighed about thirty pounds, and appeared 70
nave fallen vertically. All OF the stones were IT.
regular in figure and had the same general ap-
Pearance, having blackened, smooth, vitrified
surface This exterior coating was, however
very thin-not over one-fftieth of an inch in
thickness. Within the stones had an ashy color
and contained fine particles Of some sh ming SUBJ
stance, probably native nickel. Enclosed send
you very small specimen which | picked off
large lump. IL was my desire to send Won a
large piece, or, If possible one of the stones en-
tire but all except the largest one were broken np
and the pieces distributed among persons who
while the marvel lasts, attach to them grea, value
ne largest one (yet unbroken) is in possession of
y. > Milholland, from whom, il desirable Won
might possibly obtain il for the Smithsonian
You could, presume, obtain further inforrna-
ton and probably specimen by writing to DIR.
VI. Mcdonnell or Rev. Mr.. Seigfred at Concord
OHIO. write under very unfavorahle circum
stances, but hope that you will be able to deci-
pherit. Yours truly.
JNo. c. TIpBALL, Lieut. IT, s Army
Prof JOSEPH HENRY, Smithsonian Institution