The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-21
THE FALL OF AN AEROLlTE.
superstitions Regarding Them In Time
pa

One of the largest aerolites ever
known is said to have recently fallen IN
the Caspian sea, at no great distance
from the peninsula of Apsheron. neck
of land which runs into the Caspian and
forms the eastern point of the Caucas-
ian chain. 1t is a peculiar region, sui
phur and other inhammable matter be-
ing mixed up with the soil. 1t is known
as the place of the sacred fame, and it
is from this region the fire worshipers
of Asia drew their superstition.
One is tempted to say that the great
aerolite in its descent revealed natural
preference. 1t sought sympathetic re-
gion, if it did make a mistake in finding
a watery bed. The stone is said to pro-
iect about twelve feet above the surface
of the sea, which at that place is of con-
sidera BILE depth In falling, we are told,
it made tremendous noise and illumi-
mated land and sea for miles around,
throwing out vast clouds of steam when
it reached the water. 1t is natural that
scientists should take an interest in the
phenomenon; and it is reasonable to
conclude that at no distant day we
ton full and satisfactory reports.
In times gone by these meteoric stones
were regarded with superstitlous rever-
ence At Emesa, in Syria, the sun was
worshiped under the form of black
stone, said to have fallen from heaven.
The holy stone-the Kaaba-at Mecca
has a similar history. So has the great
stone of the pyramid of Cholula, in
Mexico. Latterly, however, science has
stripped these objects of much of their
mystery It is now generally admitted
that the stones are of planetary origin,
not of lunar origin, as was at one time
conjectured, and that their luminosity
is the result of the friction occasioned
by their rapid motion through the resist
ing atmosphere. 1t has been calculat-
ed that setting aside the resistance of
air, an initial velocity of eight thousand
feet second, about five or six times
that of cannon ball, would bring the
stones to the earth at a velocity of thirty
five thousand feet second; but Oilers,
one of the greatest authorities on the
general subject, holds that to account for
the actual measured velocity of meteoric
stones the original velocity of projection
must be at least fourteen times greater
than the above.
1t is now well recognized fact that
there are certain seasons in which these
meteoric stones are more liable to make
their appearance than in others They
are, in fact, periodic; and the favorite
months are April, July, August, No
vember, and December.
November has the grandest record,
and the most brilliant displays of which
we have reliable accounts have been
witnessed in November, 1899, 1888 and
1S66-at intervals, it must be observed,
of thirty-four years. According to pre-
diction the next grand display will be
in 1900. These statements and figures,
il is well to bear in mind, apply rather
to what we are in the habit of calling
meteoric showers than to the single
solid mass such as that which has found
its resting place in the waters of the
Caspian.
The stones, large and small, are for
the most part of uniform composition,
consisting principally of silica, mag
nesia and iron, with small quantities of
nickel, sulphur and chromium. Among
the large stones of which we have rec
ord, in addition to those already men
toned as presumably of the same
origin, is the great stone which fell at
Kgospotamic. on the Hellespont, in ACT
b. c., and which was still shown in the
days of Pliny, toward the close of the
first Christian century. 1t is described
as being about the size of wagon. A
ponderous stone fell in Alsace, near the
village of Ensisheim, in 1892, weighing
two hundred and sixty pounds. 1t is
still to be seen in the village church.
An immense mass of this kind is to be
seen in the Imperial museum at St
Petersburg, but the largest known
aerolite hitherto is one which fell in
Brazil. It's estimated weight is four
tee n thousand pounds If report speaks
truth, the presumption now is that the
Brazilian stone will have to take second
place. N. Y. Press