The Wrangell sentinel., 1927-07-28
FALLING METEOR CAUSES
 A BIG UPHEAVAI
Millions of Tons of Rock Are Torn From Mountain And Thrown Across Valley
 Near Richardson
#XaldeZAlineU

existed as to the nature of the dis turbance which occurred in Craie Basin. about fifteen miles from Val dez. last January. was set at rest last week when John De Hart and Peter Maas visited the scene, and re. turned with a series of photographs thirty in number. taken by Mr A1aas. who is an expert photogra pher. which demonstrate that th' theory of a huge landslide. held by some. is erroneous.
 About two months ago John D. Hart. who resides near 11-Mile, oI the Richardson Highway. reporte that early in January. about seye1 clock in the evening, there occur red a tremendous vibration of tn. atmosphere which shook his cabin The weather was stormy and a dens fog hid everything, and while he sa' no light he was convinced the dis turbance was caused by fallinl meteor which had passed not fal away
 The following day he started search for the supposed meteor, an finally discovered steam or smoke arising from the side of a mountai about four miles away From tn top of the peak. which is the highest in the range. a dark spot, many yards in width and of unknown length, stood out sharply against the surrounding sHowbanks Thi. satisfied Mr. De Hart that meteo of huge size had fallen there. l Believing the heavenly yisito might have considerable value, an. desiring it locate it. MT. DeHar kept his find a secret for some tim during which he made several at. tempts to reach the meteor, but tn steep. snow-covered slopes of the mountain, with the eyer-p present danger of snow slides, prevented hir from reaching his goal.
 The dark spot on the peak is Yisi ble from several spots along tn Richardson Highway. and as its ex tent was concealed by other an6 lower peaks, the theory was ad vaneed by some that the distnrbane was due to a landslide of large di- meusion, of which the scar on the mountain was visible evidence Last weeks visit to the basin b. l Mr. De Hart and Mr. Maas and tn result of their explora ttons leave 10 doubt that a meteor of immens size has fallen there, the scar on the mountain visible from the roaa being but a scratch compared with the havoc wrought by the meteor il it's fall. In the words of Mr Maas, that scar, compared with the whole is as one bucket of water taken iron the bay And the photographs h. took bear out the statement.
 So terrific is the havoc wrough. that words cannot adequately de scribe it. Striking the face of the range about two miles from the spo where it was finally halted by tn rocky peak, and travelling paralle. with it, the visitor from the skies glanced from the range a strip BOG to 400 feet in width-millions upo. millions of tons of rock-and thre1 the debris across the valley for distance of a mile and half and IF the mountains on the opposite sid to a height of a thousand feet Boulders the size of an ordinar, house were hurled across the valley and the debris piled up to a depth in places. of over a hundred feet.
 The stream flowing through tn basin was damned up, forming 2 considerable lake but the water eventually found a new outlet on the opposite side of the valley and the lake drained away.
 The peak where the meteor struc' is badly shattered by the tremendou force, and from the crevices so form ed flow innumerable streams.
 Owing to low-hanging clouds, Mr Maas was unable to obtain pfeturo where the meteor rests, nor was i. possible to climb up to it, because of the constantly falling boulders Occasional momentary lifting of tf clouds, however, gave brief glimpse of the huge tunnel driven into tho face of the peak to an unknown depth, black and forbidding agains the surrounding yerdure.
 Near the foot of the peak, almos directly under the tunnel. is a poo of water of considapo hIa dfn,,,.;