Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-02-28
PELTING THE EARTH.
A CONSTANT SHOWER or MeTEoRs
INTO OUR ATMOSPHERE.
some of the Larger Ones which
Reached the Earth Unconsumed-
Fragment OF q Comets TaiI-The
Intense Cold of Space Felt by Man.

tomt VI tn< Larger Onf1 6lch
Reached the Earth Uncon.unea.
Fragment OF q Comets TaiI-rhe
Intense Cold OF Space Felt by Man.
The atmosphere forms an armor
which is almost impenetrable TO the
meteors that are constantly pelting
the earth. About 2.OOO Of these wan
derers In space hit our atmosphere ev-
cry "a hours. Most OF the meteors are
small They come rushing through
space. strike the atmosphere, and the
friction against the molecules OF air
heats them TO a white heat and sets
them ablaze. Sometimes part OF one
may reach the earth; but, as a rule.
they are consumed, and the dust alone.
cosmic dust drops upon the surface.
One Of the earliest known meteors
fell in 204 r. c. in Phrygia. where for
a long time II was worshiped. 1t was
carried 10 Rome and was supposed TO
be a messenger from the gods Livy
describes n shower Of meteOric stones.
The people were greatly alarmed. and
the senators were demoralized and de-
clared a nine days festival to propiti-
ate the gods. There Is at Mecca a
meteorite which fell in COO a. d. and
Is still worshiped by the faithful.
In Chinese literature there Is men
ton Of meteOrs which fell In GA B.
C. The oldest known meteorite which
was seen 10 fan is now on exhibition
at Ensisheim. Alsace, Germany. In
1892 it came crashing down through
the air with a roar that Frustrated the
peasantry with fright II buried II
self deeply in the earth. II weighed
260 pounds and hangs today IN the
parish church.
The Chupaderos meteorite. which
weighed - tons. fell In chihuahua.
Mexico The largest meteorite known
Is the Peary stone. which weighs ap-
proximately 100 tons. The stone OF
Canon Diable weighs at least ten tons
and exploded high In air. the pieces be
ing found all over the surrounding
country. In Italy several instances are
known OF the loss OF life from meteor
ties A peasant was sitting IN his
cabin aud was killed by an iron mass
that crashed through the roof The act
was regarded as a visitation OF divine
anger
The city OF Milan is perhaps the on
" one that has been struck by
meteOrite. \ meteorite OF several
pounds weight fell in the heart OF
that city in the year 1860. on the au-
thority OF Paolo Maria Tezzayo, and
struck a Franciscan monk.
More remarkable are the falls at sea.
That a ship should be struck would
seem an extraordinary chance. yet Z
Swedish ship was so struck. the stone
killing two OF the crew. On Dec I.
1896. the ship Walkamming was sail
ing from New York 10 Bremen when
her officers noticed a brilliant meteos
that appeared 10 be bearing down on
the vessel from southeast 10 north west
II passed with a loud roar and Kissing
sound and plunged into the sea ahead
OF the ship. That II was a meteor of
large size was evident. for few min
utes later the ship was struck by a
tidal wave
Even more remarkable was the ex-
perience Of the British ship Cawdor,
which reached San Francisco Nov. %,
1897. During a severe storm a large
and brilliant meteor was observed
rushing down upon the ship. and with
a roar and filing the air with fumes OF
sulphur ~ IurSt0 DClhtCu TIE OF
the ship and fell into the sea not so
feet from the rail.
One OF the greatest curiosities pos
sessed by man today is a supposed
fragment Of a comet In Mazapil. Mex
leo. The fragment is believed 10 be a
part Of the tail OF Biela's comet. In
1916 something happened In space A
wreck occurred. Biela's comet may
have collided with another comet. In
any case, the comet divided. and many
living observers remember seeing the
two parts gradually separating
Some fatality pursued one part of
the comet, and II met its fate in in
finite space. literally went TO pieces
and became a wreck upon the shore
less sea OF space. A ronomers predict
ed that If the comet itself did not ap-
pear in 1872 it's wreckage would be-
come visible as shooting stars. and
this prediction was realized apparent
ly. as on Nov. 81. 1872. there burst
from the heavens a cloud Of shooting
stars. During the display one piece
dropped upon the earth and was Sc
cured at Mazapil. Mexico. and was de-
ciared to be part OF the great comet
The average meteorite Immediately
after It's fall is intensely hot. but at
least one. which was handled immedi-
ately after falling, still held the in
tense cold OF space. A few men can
say that they have experienced this
A meteorite exploded above Dhurmsa-
la, Kangra and Punjab. India. IN 1860,
and a section was picked up immedi-
ately by some natives. who dropped IL
with expressions Of pain. The explo-
sion had exposed the interior OF the
meteor. which had been chilled by the
intense cold OF space and was so cold
that Its effect was Ike a burn. This
fragment is now to be seen In the Field
museum. Of 1t DR.. harrington, the
curator, said, This is perhaps the on
iy instance known where the cold OF
space has become perceptible to human
senses."-New York Sun.
UnweIcome Suit0r.
well. Miss Grace. time was, time
a h,,x tfx,aa oho N 10 M mara