The New York herald., 1876-03-21
Statements from Eye-Witnesses of
the Phenomenon.
Appearance and Taste Of the Su-
pernatural Flesh.
NATIVE THEORISTS.
oLYMPIAS SPRINGS, Bath County, Ky.,l


the vicinity OF which place the wonderful carnal
shower is have fallen recently On the day OF
my departure from Louisville had the good fortune
10 meet Captain j. M. Bent OF Mount Sterling, KY,
who is the gentleman that brought TO Louisville the
substance reputed have fallen the clouds tho
sarth and placed it in the hands Of Professor Lawrence
Smith for analysis and also gave the information TO
the agent OF the Associated Press Of that city, upon
which the original statements of the occurrence
made
FROM MOUNT STERLING
We lodged, the first night out from Louisville at
Mount Sterling A heavy rain commenced to tall the
next morning, which interrupted the intended prompt
ness of departure. Frsbe and others inter-
viewed to MI in the time At the rain ceased to
fall, and We took our seat buggy by the side of
Joe. Jordan, Esq "a Mount Sterling merchant, with
whose company and assistance your correspondent
would have been likely to have failed in his mission
We drove the Spencer pike. at the end OF which
took dirt road, which in nrs class bad con-
dition, and tedious route of about twelve miles
through the woods brought US TO 0lympian Springs
We reached destination late in the afternoon and
The evening devoted investigations about the
fall of flesh among several persons whom we found at
the watering place
HISTORICAL
The springs now owned by Harrison Gill, and
owned by Henry Clay. In 1872 this a
recruiting post for the United States army, and many
ofthe old barrack buildings are still standing on the
place. 1t favorite place of resort for people from
Lexington other portions OF the blue grass region
Of Kentucky.
1t rained last night very hard, the streams are all
swollen out of their banks and expect some trouble
return in fording Slate Greek. We have ordered
relay of saddle horses for trip from here the
Crouch farm. The steeds ready, and will close
this part my letter. saddle and ride to
he of the phenomenon and map out the last
chapter OF my narrative Tho Crouch farm is about
Two miles from here in a southwesterly direction.
We stopped few minutes way at the only
habitaton along the between the pacwe started
from and the which we going. This
the home of a humble cripple who makes baskets for
livelihood relies for his his famy's support
the sales of his the summer visitors to
,he springs
We rode up to his door, in which urchin two
we're standing, and sauted him by calling out. ''Good
morning, Mr. Tolliver."
'Good morning, sir Won't you leht?"
''No; am in a little bit of a hurry Have you seen
any of the flesh that raned dc Mr. Crouche's
farm ?"
eyes, sir; have"
''What do you think about it ?"
''well, sir, it is mystery to me-"
''Don't you think that Mrs Crouch is deceivng tho
people about this matter?"
'oh, no, sirl She is too good woman to be guilty
Of anything OF that kind"
Then you believe all that she says about this won
ierful occurrencef"
al do, sirl She would not deceive anybody about
anything"
II am going up to see her about 1t Good morning"
'Goodby sir"
And putting our spurs to the nanks of the steed
were riding reached the Crouch place in about
twenty i've minutes after our Interview with tho
Isolated basket maker
After passing through gate from muddy lane
lsconded h!l at the top of which built tumble
down log stable and crib We rode up to the side
of this structure and let down four bars which adj
mitted into enclosure containing about three
Near the centre OF this plot stands the domcile
Of the Crouch family. The place is surrounded on
every side by mountains and high hills all
part OF the place susceptible of cultivation lies in the
valley between them and seems TO embrace in extent
about eighty acres. After hching we walked around
the house and looked the place. observing
female peeplng at us iron a door hailed her She
then stepped the porch and invited US H.
We entered and asked for Mr. Crouch She
said he in We then requested to see Mrs.
Crouch In very few seconds the madame was in our
presence
We introduced ourselves and stated the object Of
visit in about the following words:-"Mrs Crouch
have been sent here to learn all Of the particulars
the remarkable shower flesh which is reported
to have fallen this place. your presence, few
days ago and hope you will be kind enough TO give
me ull and truthful statement oil all you saw on the
II viii do that sir, chcermllyn
''rhank you. viii begin, then, by asking you few
questions pertaining to the occurrence, anu after
through with inIerrogatores Will ask you TO dictate,
while write down, any statement about the matter
that you may please TO make'
THAT mode of procedure with my approval,
and am ready TO begin II you arcn
IL am quite ready and nave only further TO request
Tou will not state anything that you would not be
willing to substantate by oathn
81 will tell you nothing but the solemn truth"
QUEsTioN-Can you estimate either by weight
measurement the quantity OF flesh that le the other
ANswER-I can't say exactly how much there was;
but think there was not less than hall busheL
QUFsTiON-Did you remain m the yard from the COM
mencement until the ending Of the shower
AEswER-I dad not became alarmed and fed 10
The house.
ouEsrIoS-Did you observe any blood upon the pieces
ANswER-Why, SIR, / never examined any OF Il or
touched u; but Mr. Crouch and the children say
the cnps and fence rails upon which u fell were
stained with something tnat looked like blood
QuEsrIoN-Did It smell different any other
mcatg
ANswER-I did not smell H.
QuEsrIoS-was IL quiyering, did /, show any llgus
" hfe when II lclp
ANswER-l did not notice any
QuEsrioS-How did the event impress you at FIRST
ASswER-l became very nervous aud unusually
QuEsrioN-whero do you think It came fromY
ANswER-fhc Lord only knows. When saw It It
was coming straight and sloplug down.
QUEsrl0N--Are you certain IL ie from the clouds ?
ANswEE-l am not All ] know about il Is that II
came from some place above my head
QUEsuoN-Wnat became OF the ncsh after II had
faicuf
ANswER--Wel, II fell between eleven aud twelve
O'Clock and lay upon the ground until late In the
noon When my husband and son, who away az
The time, returned Mr.. Crouch was told all about H.
He then went out and picked up great many pieces
and heard that before that time tho hogs chickens
cat and dog had been eating Of II freely and seemed 70
like u we'll
QuEsroS-Have you thought much about the occur. 4
renee, and have you any theory OF your own AS TO the
origin or import OF tho evcntY
ANswKR-I have thought or II a hcap and II "a tho i
greatest mystery TO me in the world
QUEsTI0N--Have any other newspaper correspondents
besides myself visited you get your statement about
this AFFAIR."