The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-08-26
A Remarkable Eroltte.
FALL OF MsrEoREo MASS IN oHEArHAM COUNTY,
s g. -, TENNESSEE.
The NashyiIle Press of the Mst inst. says:

The Nashville Press of the 21st inst. says:
Yesterday strange and terrible natural
phenomenon occurred in Cheatham County,
about nineteen miles from the city, on the line
Of the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad.
About one o'clock, while the men employed on
the plantation Of Joshua Fulgham We're going
into field to pluck fodder, the sun being hid
den behind the clouds at the time, and gene;
raj gloom perysding the SKY, they were much
frightened and confused BY the apparent OPEN
ing Of the clouds, judging from the description
OF the phenomenon, not more than five or slx
degrees north Of the zenith. They judged the
cloud to be about three-quarters OF mile
high: The strange sight attracted their notice.
A brilliant whitish red glare oyerspread an i'm
mense mass OF black clouds, on the centre OF
which appeared a funnel-ike aperture about
four or five feet in diameter, the sides of which
presented the appearance or ragged names
darling like fiery tongues, and 1hcking andiap-
ping at q large white-h0t object passing with
inconceivable rapidity down through the aper-
ture.
When it left the macs Of cloud it did not ap-
appear to fall in perpendicular direction, but
sloped at an inclination Of some ten or fifteen
degrees from plumb line, and grew more in
tensely bright as it approached the earth. 1t
swept down like q bright angelof death and
destruction: it struck the earth with O. sound
like q sudden terrific clap Of thunder, and
to their foundations; great numoers OF trees
on their rocky sides fell, aud continued falling
for several minutes afterward, making noises
like the prolonged reverberations Of the thun-
der among rocky cliffs. Several gentleman Of
philosophical turn Of mind we're strongly Of
the opinion that it was an erolite brought into
q state OF fusion by coming down through the
atmosphere, but had not been completely burn
cd before touching the earth. There was
strong odor, about the plsce, such as may be
found in Blasting furnaces, and the passage OF
the @orolite was marked by light yellowish
sort Of smoke. Very fine PARTICLES ofeome sort OF
oxide continued to fan ali over the:country for
several hours. The men were about four hum
dred yards from the place where the fiery mis-
sive from the sky struck, and were afraid to go
and examine the place for several hours after
ward. They took courage, however, ana DC
ing Joined by numbers OF the people Lying IN
the surrounding neighborhood, they proceeded
to the place, and found that it had struck upon
q fat ledge OF rocks in o wagon way leading
from farm house to the public road. The
fragments Of stone were thrown around for
several rods mali directions; The ledge, which
is said to be three feet thick, without any
seams, was disturbed for a distance OF about
soil, which was spread IN thin layers all over it,
looked as if passed through sieve. At the
point where the strange body came In contact
with the rock there appeared to be no Storm
at al, but q very fine, white, foury sort OF
paste, which was quite hot, aud steam as
cended out of the hole in which it had buried
itself, which Was too hot to approach. It?is
the intention Of the people to organize work
ing party to quarry out what remains OF the
body, which is undoubtedly metal, as soon as
the temperature OF the 70 ks will admit.