Arizona citizen., 1876-04-01
The rucson MeteorItes.

January lj, we quoted and commented upon an interesting account, found in The Washington Chronicle, of s meteoric specimen discovered in 1857 in Tucson, by Dr. B. J. D. Irwin, ot the United States Army, and now st West Point. and which, after persistent and persevering energy, the doctor finally succeeded in getting to tho Smithsonian Institution in Washing ton In making inquiries in town 1T regard to this meteorite, we were posi- lively informed, by reliable parties of some unpleasant circumstances con- nected with the manner of obtaining & meteoric fragment at the indenticsl time of the stated discovery and for wsrding of Dr. Irwin's specimen. Never having heard of but one, and naturally supposing that all the ac- counts referred to one and the same specimen, in 8 separate article in THE CITIZEN issue referred to, we publish ed and commented upon the unpless- ant features connected with 8 meteoric specimen found here and taken away between 1857 and 1863.
 These articles having come to the at- tention of the Secretary of the Smith sonian Institution, he has made inquiry, and ascertsins that there were, and perhaps are, two Tucson meteoric Rich monds in the field, and that in attach ing our unfsvorsble comments to the meteorite found by Dr. Irwin we were in reality referring to sn entirely different specimen, one forwarded in 1862 or 3, to San Francisco, by Gen. ersl J. Fl. Carleton. And so in at tsching our unfsvorable comments to the specimen found and forwarded by Dr. Irwin. we were doing that gentle men gross injustice. We deeply re- gret this. Our disposition at the time and always is to be prejudiced in favor of those who endeavor to make men better or wiser or happier. If Dr. Irwin has any revengeful feelings against us, they might to be sssuaged in knowing that the supreme gratifi- cation to us of learning that Tucson has produced two noted meteoric spec linens, instead of only one, is nearly spoiled by learning that we have done him an injustice. Below we give Sec retary Henry's letter on the subject.
 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, Feb. g.
 ED. CITIZEN: This institution has received your paper in which you re- fer to the Arizona meteorite, obtained by Dr. Irwin. In reply we beg leave to say that there is apparently, some mIsspprehension in regard to this sub iect, end that your remarks apply to 0 second meteorite, also obtained in Tucson, sent some years ago by Gen. eral James H. Carleton as a present to the city of San Francisco. It was this specimen which had the anvil shape, and which we understand was used for that purpose in Tucson. An additional reason for referring your article to the San Francisco meteorite, is found in the statement you make ss to the specimen weighing four or five hundreds pounds, and being about four feet long and foot thick, with a smooth and flat surface on one end, answering as the anvil.
 The Smithsonian meteorite is shaped like large signet ring, is without any surface that could have served as an anvil, and indeed without any in- dicstions of its having been used for such a purpose, and its weight is be- tween fourteen and fifteen hundred pounds.
 Very truly yours,
 JOsEpU HFNRy Sacratarv