The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-05-17

company, and by the Iress oil Baltimore.
The Meteoric Stone, OF Aerolite.
TIE falling Of stones from the regions
above, to the earth at all, is held by many
to be fabulous The truth however of
such occurrences, is as well authenticated
as any other historical fact. They have
been precipitated at various parts Of the
globe, and have been witnessed by thou
sands of credible persons. have seen
myself within the past ten days, several
specimens Of tie Meteolic stone, in the
institute at Washington City
and also at Baltimore, with their history
attached. For particular accounts of these
strange visitors, see Dicks Works, and
Blake's Encyclopedia of Useful knowl-
edge
Various theories are entertained, as to
their origin, or from whence they come.
They are generally supposed 10 he project.
ed from the moon, rsome Of the planets or
sa elite 3 that move round or with the earth,
by volcanic eruption. but this is hypothctic-
al. Another theory is, that they are the
result Of the play of chemical alIinities, of
materials floating within the earth's a.
mosphere. This is probably the most
plausible; but the suhject is in darkness
One thing only is known certainly, and
that is, that their approach to the earth is
hcralded by flame Of FIRE, and loud re-.
ports, as Of cannon, the result doubtless of
the explosion of burning body: but as
to the regions where these bodies are
formed, or the chemical aGinihes which
cause their combustion, nothing is known.
This kind of phenomena is frequently
witnessed; and there arc few who have not
seen them. They are usually called mete-
ors, or shooting stars. Sometimes they
appear as fine shooting sparks; at other
times they are like rolling barrels of liq-
uid fire, and seem to end in explosion
Often, when not very remote, the noise is
compared 10 the discharge Of musketry or
cannon. Their apparent sizo, and the
sounds issued upon explosion, may be al.
together owing TO their approximation, or
remotcness from us, The precipitation OF
fragments Of rocks TO the earth, which al
ways occurs after ono Of these explosions
is very remarkable circumstance con.
nected with their history, and awaits fur.
ther calculation.
The stones, upon inspection, are found
to possess great weight, on account o
containing metallic substances. Il @ col
or is dark brown; and upon being broken
presents traces of crystalized metal. A
chcmical analysis shows as oomponen
parts. silica, oxide Of iron, magnesia, sui
phur, lime and oxide OF nickle. The
decent through the atmosphere is accom-
panied by ,ecthing sound, as OF hot irol
passing through water; and when fonnt
soon, arc more or less hot, and give ou
a sulphurous smell. Whether this hea
is The consequence Of the inllamablc con
dtion of tho meter from which they wer
projected by explosion, or whether tn
heat is acquired by the rapid passage o
the body through the atmosphere, canno
be, as yet, determined both hypoLheSi
have advocates.
OF the occurrence Of this kind aludc
to our last issue, as having been witness
cd near Cambridge, in Gurnsey county
We have obtained entirely reliable teslmo
ny. The report was near the middle q
tho day, and is said to have been heard a
far cast as Btllairc, and as far west a
Newark. The tract over which the stone
fell, was about ten miles in length, an
two in width. A great number of stone
have been found, varying in size from on
pound to fifty pounds. When slnkin,
tho earth. they buried themselves from
few inches to u few feet, according l.
their weight. The course was from south
west to northeast. They entered the grouu,
in an oblique or slanting direction, but no
all in the same direction; which prove
that the force that projected them wa
from a centre, acting in different dircc
lions, and rather contravenes the idea G
their boiog thrown off from other planets
and forced beyond their attraction, int
that of the earth. Tho northeast limit o
, the tract, was near Point Pleasant il
Garnsoy county, and the southwest limi
was near New Concord in Muskingun
county,
We shall probably have, shortly, som
scientific examinations Of this subiec
which, il We see, VIC shall give our read
ors the benefit Of.
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GoDEy ION JvNR is received. This trul,
and deservcdly popular magazine, need
no other accommodation, than to say tha
It 10 out We will say however, that tn
present number is fully up to any fvrme