New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-07
HUNTING FOR AUTHORITIES.
PROFESSOR WARD GATHERS SOME FAMOUS
SPECIMENS

From The Rochester Herald.
Professor Henry A. Ward president Of Wards
Natural Science establishment has just re-
turned from a Ions trip abroad. where he has
been engaged in the unique and unusual pur-
suit of hunting for meteorites He Is spending
a few days in Rochester. devoting time TO ciassi-
flying and arranging his newly acquired speci-
mems.
81 went abroad" said the professor in response
to an inquiry. entirely in the interest or my
private collection of meteorites. a COLLECTION
which / am hoping to build out that 1t will
at least rank among the finest ten collections
in the world. The meteorites | was after were
in the hands Of royal museums. universities and
schools Of mines. all under government super
vision. The only way in which 1t was possible
for me to get the desired specimens was to ex-
change from my own collection gathered III
America. Australia and Japan | wanted some
OF theirs: they wanted some Of mine. And so
/ went.
my route lay through England. France, Ger
many Austria Hungary, Bohemia, Holland and
Switzerland: then on to Scandinavia, Copen-
hagen, Christiania. Norway, across to STOCK
holm. Sweden. Finland. then to ST. Petersburg
and the Baltic provinces and down to MOSCOW.
In all those places | made exchanges, giving
them my specimens and getting theirs; fighting
out all the terms and details of the bargain
which sometimes very tiresome and mo-
notonous business. Some OF the meteorites OBJ
tanned are very valuable, however. worth as
high as two three and four and even five times
their weight in gold
After / got through with Northern Russia
went south into Asia Minor.
Il visited the capital OF Persia. Teheran spent
two weeks there, and saw the missionaries: the
palace of the Shah and other interesting things
| even got inside the palace.
Did you see the Shah himself? interposed
the interviewer.
Yes. | obtained an audience Of him"
Did you find him an approachable sort OF
fellow"
Not very. He seemed to have a very mag
nifed Of his own Importance and the UNI
desirability of conversing with ordinary mortals.
.iaIly hric
went for, piece Of his meteor. called the vera
min, after the place where it was found II IS
one of class few in number and Is therefore
desirable, and. more than that. it is now owned
by but two persons in the world. The Shah
has the largest part Of it. got only piece
off the end. My specimen weighs nearly two
pounds. however. Come into the next room and
/ will show it to you
The scientist led the way and the scribe fol-
lowed From case which evidently had Just
been opened Professor Ward took out dull
looking chunk Of meteorte which he poised in
his hand
There it is" said he. land would not ex-
change it for a lump OF gold of the same size
ard weight" And the newspaper mans mental
ejaculation was: And it weighs nearly two
pounds!"
IF ever a man went on a wild goose chase
said Professor Ward "it was when went into
Persia to get piece Of the Shah's meteorite
But / got it," and the venerable scientists eyes
sparkled as he said 1t.
His Journey was entirely successful. probably
His collection Of meteorites has been greatly
augmented until it Is now one of the finest four
collections in America. and as Professor Ward
himself phrased it, "the end IL not yet
In addition to the portion of the Shah's mete-
orite which Is perhaps the most precious SOU
venir OF the journey. Professor Ward has
brought back home with him piece of the
famous Ensisheim meteorite, which fell in the
upper Rhine Valley about the time Columbus
sighted land in the New World the exact date
being November 26. 1892, This meteorite is one
t,oa tod
valuable in the world.
Professor Ward carried camera. but he
brings with him several photographs Of his visit
to the Shah's palace in Teheran, one showing
the scientist with his saw actually at work upon
the precious stone, assisted by a turbaned at
tendant of the palace, a peculiar group in the
centre OF the magnificent salon. and another
showing the meteorite upon it's accustomed
place. before the saw took off the end Of 1t.
TOUCH IN TELEGRAPHY