Year: 1875

Prof. n. r. Leonard, of the Chair of
Mathematics and Astronomy, at the Iowa
State University, says the Davenport Ga
zette, has had the good fortune to secure
large portion of a fragment of the meteor
winch fell near Homestead, Iowa County,
on Friday evening, February 18th. The
exact locality of its fall was the southeast
quarter OF section 5, township so. range 3
west. 1t was ON the farm of Mr.. Sherlock.
Some members of his family were return
ing from spelling school at the time of
the descent the meteor. and saw, as they
thought, three or four fragments fall in
the direction of their house. Those of the
family who remained at home, heard this
fragment as it went whizzing by, and
thought that it had passed over the house.
They sought for it the next day and the
day Following, but in consequence of the
deep snow did not find it until Monday,
when daughter of Mr.. S. found it about
fifty rods northeast of their house. Prof.
Leonard has visited the spot, and noted
such items as were attainable.


The meteor struck upon the snow and
ice Just beyond little slough that runs
through their pasture-field, making a very
slight indention in the ground, and bound
ed northwest distance of thirty feet or
more, up slight declivity, and came to
rest upon the snow. IL was apparently
warm when it fell, for when found it was
adhcrent to the ice and snow underneath,
so that it required smart rap to loosen
it. Prof. l.. entertains the suspicion that
the place pointed out is not the first place
of striking, but that when the snow goes
off he shall be able to find upon the other
side of the slough more decided mark
INN wv rcf
and from which it bounded to the spot
first mentioned. This, of course, is
mere conjecture, but it seems that the i'm
preston made upon the ground where it
first alighted should have been more de-
cided. The weight of the entire fragment
was seven pounds six ounces, though we
are sorry to state that before Prof. l..
could gain possession of it, it had been re-
duced to lbs 8 OF, to supply specimens,
not to men of science, but simply to neigh
bors or curiosity hunters. This mutila-
ton of the specimen is greatly to be re-
gretted. and as it is every way probable
that with the melting of the snow other
fragments now buried in the deep snow
drifts will be found, the hope is entertain
ed that the press, and all who desire the
advancement of science in this rare and
deeply interested field, will use all their
influence to prevent the mutilation of such
other fragments as may be found, and to
urge that, preparatory to dividing up OF
the meteor among the different museums
or cabinets of the State, it shall all be col
lected at one place, so that it may be ex-
amined and photographed as whole-or
as nearly so as possible.


The specific gravity of the specimen ap-
pears to be near 8 80, its structure strong,
with some admixture of iron. That face OF
the fragment which formed part of the
surface of the original body, is covered
with comparatively thick black coating
not perfectly smooth; while that face by
which the fragment was Joined to the main
body is coated in like manner, but in a
less degree. The outer surface has the
pitted appearance characteristic OF such
bodies.


Professor Leonard has placed a sample
in the hands of Prof. Hinrichs for chemi
cal analysis, and hopes soon to be able tC
announce definitely as to the number anC
proportion of the different elements it con
| tains.