The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-03-12
TIE GREAT IOWA METEOR.
Recovery Of Fragment that Fell
Near Homestead.


Professor N. B. Leonard, Of the Chair
of Mathematics and Astronomy, at the
Iowa State University, has had the good
fortune to seoute portion of fragment
of the meteor which fell near Homestead,
Iowa county, on Friday evening, Feb
ruary II. The exact locality of its fall
was the southeast quarter of Section 8, !
Township 1C, Range west. 1t was on
the farm Of Mr.. Sherlock. Some mem
bers Of his family werereturning from
spelling school at the time of the descent
of the meteor, and saw, as they thought,
three or four fragments fall in the di-
reotion OF their house. Those of the
family who remained at home heard this
fragment as it went whizzing by, and
thought that it had passed over the
house. They sought for it the next day
and the day following, but in conse-
quence Of the deep snow did not find it
until Monday, when daughter of Mr..
s. found it about fifty rods northeast of
their house. Prof. Leonard has visited
the spot and noted such items rs were at
tainRble.
The meteor struck upon the snow and
ice just beyond little slough that runs
through their pasture-feld, making a
very slight indention in the ground, and
bounded northeast distance of thirty
feet or more, up slight declivity, and
came to rest upon the snow. 1t Was ap-
parently warm when it fell, for, when
found, it was adherent to tho ice and
snow underneath, 80 that it required a
smart rap to loosen it, Prof l.. enter
tains the suspicion that the place point
, cd out is not the first plaoe of striking,
butthat when the snow goes off he shall
be able to find upon the other side of
the slough q more decided mark or i'm
preston where It first alighted, and from
which it bounded TO the spot first men
toned. This of course, is mere conjec-
ture, but it seems that the impression
made upon the ground where it first
alighted should have been more decid.
q ed.
!; The weight of tho entire fragment
: was pounds 6 ounces, though we are
!. sorry to state that before Professor L.
s could gain possession of it it had beer
: reduced to 8 pounds 8 ounces, to supply
u specimens, not to men Of science, bu
simply toneighbors or curiosity hunters
I, This mutilation of the specimen is great
o ly TO be regretted, and as it is in every
g way probable that with the melting o
: the snow another fragment now burieC
! in the deep snow drifts will be found
IS the hope is entertained that the pres
{ and all who desire the advancement o
of science in this rare and deeply inter
n esting field, will use all their inhuenc
/ to prevent the mutilation of such othe
d fragments as may be found, and to urg
" that preparatory to the dividing up o
Q the meteor among the differentmuseum
n or cabinets of the State, it shall be col
+ lected at one place SO that it may be OK
a. amined and photographed as whole
ie or as nearly so as possible.
1t The specific gravity of the specimen
r appears to be near $50, its structur,
= strong, with some admixture of iron
/ The face of the fragment which formet
N part of the surface of the original bod,
10 is covered with comparatively thicl
black coating, not perfectly smooth
d.: while that face by which the fragmen
BY was joined to the main body is coate
f in like manner, but in less degree.
n The other surface has the pitted aI
d. pesrance characteristics of such bodies.
10 Prof. Leonard has placed sample i
er the hands of Prof. Hierics for chemica
analysis, and hopes soon to be able I
lg announce dehnately as to the numbe
0. and proportion Of the different element
dit contains