Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-08-15
BRILLIANT PHENOMENON.
a Planning Body Comes Down
from Heaven at Midday.

Yesterday q strange snd terrible natu-
raj phenomenon occurred in Cheatham
county, about nineteen miles from the
city, on the line of the Nashville and
North western Railroad. About O'CLOCK,
while the men employed on the planta.
ton Of Joshua Ful9hsm were going into
a field to pluck fodder, the sun being
hidden behind clouds at the time, and a
general gloom pervadiDg the sky, they
were much frightened and confused by
the apparent opening of the clouds,
Judging from the description of the phe-
numenOn, not more than five or six de-
grees north of the zenith. They judge
the cloud to be about three quarters Of
mile high. The strange sight attracted
their notice. A brilliant whitish red
glare overspread an immense mass of
black clouds, in the center Of which ap-
peared funDei-llke aperture about four
or five feet in diameter, the sides OF
which presented the appearance of
ragged flames daTting ike fiery tongues,
and licking and Topping at 3 large white
hot object passing with Uncomfortable
rapidly dOTu through the aperture
When il left the mass Of cloud it did not
appear 10 fall in perpendicular direC-
tim, bat sloped at an inclination of some
ten or fifteen degrees from q plumb line,
and grew more intensely bright as il ap
preached the earth. ItsYept down Ike
a bright angel Of death and destruction :;
it struck the earth with sound like u
sudden, terrific clap of thunder, and
seemed to make the surrounding bills
culver TO their foundations; great num-
bers Of trees on their rocky sides fell, and
continued falling for several minutes
afterwards, making noises like the pro-
lOnged reveTberatiOns of the thunder
among rocky cliffs.
The men were about four hundred
yards from the place where the fiery
missive from the sky struck, and were
afraid 20 go and examine the place for
several hours afterwards. ThEy took CouT-
age, however, and being joined by num-
bers OF the people living IN the surround
ing neigh bOThO0d, they proceeded 10 the
place, and fOgnd that 1t mad struck upon
a fiat ledge Of rocks liz a wagon way lead
ing from farm house to the public ROAD.
The Fragments of stone were thrown
around for several rods in all directions
the ledge, which is said to be three feet
thick, without any seams, was disturbed
for a distance of about fifty feet, split and
torn up in fragments; the soil, which
was spread in thin layers all over il, look
ed as if passed through sieve. At the
point where the strange body came in
contact with the rCck, there appeared to
be no storm at all, but a very fine, white,
fiowery sort Of paste, which was quite hot,
and a steam assembled out Of the hole in
which it had buried itself which was too
hot TO approach.
Several gentlemen of a philosophical
turn OF mind were strongly of the opin-
ion that 1t was an RJOlite brought into
a state diffusion by coming down through
The atmosphere, but had not been com
pletely burned before touching the
EARTH
There was a strong Odor about the
place, such IS may be found in blasting
furnaces, and the passage Of the ecOlite
Was marked by light, yellowish sort OF
smoke. Very fac particles OF some sort
Of oxide continued to fall all over the
country for several hours.
1t is the intention OF the people 10 or
ganizs a working party to quarry out
what remains Of the body, which is IN
doubtedly metal, as soon as the temper
ature of the rocks will admit.
As yet it seems to be premature to en-
ter on any speculation relative to the
nature of the strange phenomenon.
Moreover, the scientific men Of the city
are already Interested ia the matter, and
no doubt there will be a thorough dag
aositi Of the strange case.