New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-07
The Great Iowa Meteor.

Professor N. Il. Leonard, of the chair III
mathematics and astronomy, at the Iowa
State University, has mad the good fortune
to secure portion of q fragment OF the
meteor which fell near Homestead, Iowa
county, on Friday evening. February ~.
The exact locality of its fall was the south
east quarter of section five, township
eighty, range nine west. 1t was on the
farm Of Mr.. Sherlock. Some members of
his family were returning from = spelling
school ut the time of the descent of the
meteor. and saw, as they thought, three or
four fragments fall in the direction of their
house. Those Of the family who remained
whizzing by, and thought that it had
passed over the house. They eought for it
the next day and the day following. but in
consequence OF the deep snow did not find
! it until Monday, when daughter of Mr..
Sherlock found it about fifty rods northeast
of their house. Professor Leonard has
| visited the spot and noted such items as
were attainable.
The meteor struck upon the snow and ice
just beyond little slough that runs
through their pasture, making very slight
indention in the ground, and bounded
northeast, distance Of thirty feet or more,
up slight decIivity, and came to rest upon
the snow. 1t was apparently warm whom
it fell, for, when found, it was adherent to
the ice and snow underneath, SO that it
required smart rap to loosen it. Professor
Leonard entertains the suspicion that the
place pointed out is not the first place of
striking, but that when the snow goes of
he shall be able to find UPON the other side
of the slough a more decided mark or i'm
preston where it first alighted and from
which it bounded to the spot first MEL
toned. This, of course, is mere cOnject~re,
but it seems that the impression made upon
the ground where it first alighted should
have been more decided.
The weight Of the entire fragment was
seven pounds six ounces, though we are
sorry to state that before Professor Leonard
could gain posse ssiOn OF it it had been re-
duced to three pounds eight ounces, to cup
ply specimens, not to men of science, but
simply to neighbours or curiosity hunters.
This mutilating of the specimen is greatly
to be regretted, and as it ia every way prob
able that with the melting of the snO other
fragments now buried in the deep snow
drifts will be found, the hope is entertained
that the press and all who desire the
of science in this rare and
deeply interesting field, will use all their
influence to prevent the mutilation OF such
other fragments as may be found, and to
urge that, preparatory to the dividing up
OF the meteor among the different museums
Or cabinets of the State, it shall be collected
at one place SD that it may be examined
and photographed as q whole-or as nearly
30 as possible.
The specific gravity of the specimen ap-
pears to be near $50, it's structure strong,
with some admixture of iron. The face IF
The fragment which formed a part OF the
surface OF the original body is covered with
! comparatively thick black coating not
perfectly smoothe, while that face by which
he fragment was joined to the main body
9 coated in like manner but IN less degree.
The outer surface has the pitted appearance
Of such bodies.
Professor Leonard has placed a sample in
he hands OF Professor Hierichs for chemical
nalyss. and hopes soon to be able to an
ounce definitely as to the number and
Of the different elements it
obtains.