The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-14
GOLD FROM THE SKY.
The Fall OF Aerolites That Are Said to
Contain That Metal.

The Fall OF Aerolites That Are Said to
Contain That Metal.
aberdeen Is. d. Dispatch to Minneapolis
Tribune.
An aerolite weighing forty-four pounds
fell on the form OF Lawrence Freeman -,
near Bath, late yesterday afternoon. The
advent of the stone was heralded
by several sharp explosions, which were
heard distance OF fifteen miles
or more. Each defamation gave forth q
metallic sort Of ring, and was 80 peculiar
and extraordinary as to attract instant
comment. Some thought a violent storm
was about to break, Others thai an engine
boiler had burst in the vicinity.
The mystery was not cleared up
man arrived in town with a
blsckened mass Of stone and iron which ne
himself saw fall aud dug from the ground
In a pasture near which he and his father
and hired help were stacking grain The
aerolite entered the hardened soil of the
prairie to depth Of two feet, and although
not removed for several hours after falling,
was so hot that 1t could be handled only
with heavy gloves.
1t is misshapen mass Of stone and iron,
and very heavy for its bulk. The exterior
Is bleckened and worn smooth by heat aud
rapid descent TO earth, but Its appearance
nevertheless, indicates that 1t Ia but frag-
mont OF a large body Several explosions
were distinctly heard, and it is argued that
| other pieces undoubtedly fell IN this vicinity.
A critical examination and test show that
the meteor Is composed largely of iron with
with distinct tracing of gold and nickel.
Wherever Clipped the stone has the app
pearancs Of granite. The stone was fol
lowed in its fall by heavy cloud of dust
| and vapor. Il was distinctly seen while in
the air by young freeman.
From the Aornin0 Oreoonfdn
| A Boise City dispatch says: On the night OF
Aug. 20 the upper end OF Bruneau valley,
Owyhes county, was made as light as day,
as the fiery glow of a large meteor shot
earshward out of the south western heavens
Jack Ronald, a prospector. who witnessed
the flight Of the aeroltte, said 10 appeared as
large as an ordinary box car and that as
| IL started downward It emitted alternately
deep red and a dazzling white light He
could hear hummlng noise as the
heavenly firebrand dropped through the
air, and ocoasionally there was sound as
of the distant explosion of small fire.
crackers. He saw the meteor pass down
behind the dark,outline of high hill about
two miles away, and q few seconds later he
heard sharp and resonant explosion
Within the next few minutes Ronald saw
six small serolites shoot through space, but
he could not tell whether any of them struck
the earth. After the fall of the big meteor
the air was charged with electricity, which
so affected Ronald's horses that they became
sick, staggered and fell down vomiting and
snorting. Next morning Ronald made a
search for the aerolite, but he
was unable to find trace Of it
Another man who witnessed the phenom-
enon was Orley Adams, placer miner On
Tuesday he, too, commenced a search for
the fiery visitor, and after few hours his
search was rewarded by the discovery of q
meteoric stone weighing probably about 400
pounds, which had struck q sand bank on
| the margin OF creek, whence it ricochetted
ninety feet to a bluff OF clay, where ID
| lodged. Adams, after considerable effort,
Clipped off piece Of the stone, and now
has 1t In his possession In this city. It has
the appearance of half melted iron ore. but
Adams declares that an assayer assured
him that the stone lie rich in gold. Adams,
who 10 reputable man, says
! he is sure he has found the
aerolite that was seen by Ronald and him
self. He declares that he was not over
| 1000 yards distant from the meteor when
1t struck the earth, and that he felt the heal
and the electric atmosphere which surs
rounded the incandesceut bolt. When he
arose next morning and started 10 search
for the fallen star, as he termed 1t, be
stumps and powders besprinkled with fine
sand, and correctly conjeoturing that the
meteor must have landed In or near the
creek he proceeded to the stream and soon
discovered what he sought. He will haul
the stone to the railroad and ship 1t to DEN
yer, being un willing TO part with it for
scientific purposes. He thinks the meteor
which 10 heavy, is more than half gold.