Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-01-07
PEARY'S METEORITE.
WEIGHS NINETY TONS AND is THE
LARGEST IN THE WORLD.

The Arctic Explorer Brought u all the
Way from Greenland-It is Intrinsically
Worth $40, 900, as 1t is Composed of the
Highest Grade Nickel steel.
Lieut.. r. E. Pearys steam bark
Hope on her return from Greenland,
was Immediately lowed to the Brook
| Ign Navy Yard where the Cape York
meteorite was taken from her hold.
! On board the ship when she reached
/ New York were the entire party that
made the trip, with the exception of
Mr.. and Mrs. Hugh Lee, who spent
/ their honeymoon in Greenland and
/ Prof. Robert Stein, of Washington.
Albert Operti, the artist; ]. o. Fig
gins, the taXidermist; DR.. f. SOhm,
and Mathew Henson, Peary's all
around" man. Most important of the
party to the crowd of curious callers
were the six Eskimos, members of the
Arctic Highlanders, the most northern
tribe Of their race. NOoktah. the son
of the Chief Koolootoonah of Netuluni,
who in 1853 plotted to murder DR..
| Hayes and his party, is the head of the
little band brought by Peary from the
north. Nooktah is feet inches in
height. With Nooktah are his wife.
Ahtungahnaksaah his 10 year-old
daughter, Ahweah; Kessuh, young
man who is a leader of his tribe his
9-year-old son, Meesney, and a com
rade, Weestakupsi.
The centre of interest was, of course,
the ninety-ton meteorite, the largest
in the world, which could be easily
seen from the deck, although it lies in
the lower hold. 1t is of such size,
however, that it rises nearly to the
level of the main deck. In appear
ance it does not differ from black
granite, and it needs a close inspection
to see its metallic consistency. Lieut..
Peary, who was on board the Hope, is
enthusiastic over his scientific treas
ure, and talked at length on the diff
ferent meteorites which have been
found and are now in museums. The
Cape York meteorite is intrinsically
worth at least $4,000, as it is COM
posed of the highest grade nickel steel
such as is used in armOr plate. Sir
John Ross heard of the meteorite on
his trip to Cape York in 1918. and it
has been known to Arctic explorers
for years, but was not discovered until
found by Lieut.. Peary four years ago.
The meteOroliter coming from sim
gle meteor said Lieut.. Peary. ARE
probably coherent before entering the
air. and i'm close company The pee
si5tance Of the air and he consequent
heating OF the body ale sufficient TO
break the meteor into fragments.
Fragments Of meteor which fell in
indiana I'm 1861 We're picked up three
or four miles apart and Wcta found to
fir oro anothar Tna r,l.el,,tds t,o,,
.desrvil inc 81 1ory rit.,i.. o.fit s1or+
the sun. like any come hav are on
.tirelv tryfs.Iir ri... 81. n'sf.,.I. rf
less than 100 inila. from, the o3rrb tbov
.enter ai. dense euouah Id resist their
motion and create H.lt Blt for the
faction of the air in r.estfug and do
sroyine the mc,eroids we should he
intolerahly Delted win tbam II is
estimated that ever, d1v millions of
meteo.oids come within 600 miles of
1.-THE ealth's centre.
"This paftiruiar sDaciman which tbe
Hone has In her hold like most others
Of It's Kind. is composed chiefly of iron
with "a percentaee of nickel nrobablv
some cobalt. and maybe d trace of CON
per and tin. 1t is. in fact q mass nf
nickel steel. As matter of fact the
idea of using nickel steel for armor
was obtained by its inventor from oh
serNation of the extreme loneliness of
meteorites. But. of course. even if il
were practicable to cut up this great
meteorite, it would not be done. as its
value would to a great extent he de-
III lhe Wofld 10 compare with 1t IN size.
90 not WOnQef tndt the ignorant