METEORITES OF NORTH AMERICA. 61 



bright, indeed, was it at Strafford, Vermont, a locality nearly 100 miles north of the probable point of explosion, that 

 its distance was estimated as not exceeding a half mile from the point of observation. 



A single fragment only of the meteor is positively known to have fallen. This was found in Bethlehem, Albany 

 County, New York, and at a point about 10 miles west of Albany. The circumstances connected with the phenomenon 

 related by the person who noticed it are as follows: 



While standing in the inclosure adjoining his house, his attention and that of his family was attracted by a loud 

 sound, overhead, which somewhat resembled thunder; and a few minutes after a stone struck the southeast side of a 

 wagon house, and bounding off, rolled into the grass. A dog lying in the doorway started up and ran to the place 

 where the stone fell. When picked up immediately after, it was found to be quite warm, and possessed of considerable 

 sulphurous odor. The fragment in question was small, about the size of a pigeon's egg, and irregularly shaped. Nearly 

 three-fourths of its superficies was covered with a black, nonhistrous, evidently fused crust, while the remainder pre- 

 sented the appearance of a fresh fracture, and was of a light-gray color, and of a granular or semicrystalline texture. 

 Its composition was apparently siliceous and not metallic. This specimen was bought by the regents of the University 

 of the State of New York, and is now deposited in the State cabinet at Albany. Other fragments are reported to have 

 fallen in the vicinity of the Hudson, but careful inquiry has thus far failed to discover them. 



From the above facts it seems evident that the meteor of August 11 was of immense size, probably of tons weight, and 

 that it exploded violently at no great distance above the surface of the earth. It is also an interesting subject of specu- 

 lation as to what became of the other fragments, and also of what the smoke so abundantly developed during its course 

 was composed. 



The first description of the stone was given by Shepard 2 , as follows: 



The only stone found from the great explosion heard over a large district of northwestern Massachusetts, and ex- 

 tending into the State of New York as far as 10 miles west of the cities of Albany and Troy, was the little fragment, 

 less in size than a pigeon's egg, of which an outline is here subjoined. 



I am indebted to David A. Wells, Esq., the editor of the American 'Scientific Annual, for several interesting par- 

 ticulars concerning its discovery and properties. He was good enough to visit, at my request, the residence of Mr. 

 Garritt Vanderpool (situated 7 miles from Albany and 1 mile west of Bethlehem Church), where the stone fell, and 

 to ascertain on the spot the facts respecting its descent. Mr. Vanderpool was at work near his house, and heard the 

 explosion in common with other members of his family. About two minutes after, as it appeared to him, a stone, coming 

 in an oblique course, struck the side of a wagon house, glanced off, hit a log upon the ground, bounded again, and 

 rolled into the grass. A dog lying in the doorway of the wagon house sprang up, darted out and seized it, but dropped 

 it immediately, probably on account of its warmth and sulphurous smell. Mr. Wells had two opportunities of inspecting 

 the stone before it was sold to the State Cabinet at Albany. It was far from being entire when first picked up, no doubt 

 having been broken by its contact with the house. On the second inspection, he noticed that one corner had been 

 broken away, and other portions much marred through the use of knife blades upon its surface by the curious, who, 

 in this rude way, had been led to investigate its peculiarities. About "one-half of it, however," he observes, "is covered 

 with the peculiar dark colored crust of meteorites, and has a burnt appearance. This is so well marked that it at once 

 establishes its identity as a meteoric stone. The other sides presenting the appearance originally bright and of a fresh 

 fracture were clear, but are now soiled from handling. The color is a light steel-gray, with metallic, particles inter- 

 spersed. The structure is granular." 



Through the recommendation of His Excellency, Governor Morgan to the officers having in charge the State 

 Cabinet, a small fragment of the stone, including a portion of the crust, was most obligingly transmitted to me by Mr. 

 Wool worth, accompanied by the following note: 



"Albany, Nov. 11, 1S59. 

 Prof. Charles U. Shepard. 



Dear Sir: I am directed by Governor Morgan, as chairman of the committee of the regents of the University on 

 the State Cabinet of Natural History, to send you the inclosed portion of the aerolite lately found near this city. The 

 committee had hopes of finding other parts of the stone than the one first discovered, but have not been successful. 

 They regret they can not send you more, but could not do so without destroying the specimen they possess. Hoping 

 it may be sufficient for your purposes, I am, very truly, yours, &c, 



J. B. Woolworth, Sec'y, &c." 



I am likewise much indebted to Henry A. Homes, Esq., the State librarian, for his good offices in facilitating 

 my early acquisition of the specimen which enables me to compare it with those I possess from other localities. 



The crust of the Bethlehem stone is very peculiar. It is double the thickness of any in my collection, equaling 

 that of thick pasteboard. It is perfectly black, and very open in its texture. The outer surface is rough, being nowhere 

 perfectly fused, but only semi vitrified. Without being fragile or carbonaceous, it nevertheless resembles in color, 

 luster, and porousness, certain surfaces of mineral charcoal. The interior of the stone is equally peculiar, being loosely 

 granular, the particles being uniform in character, small, highly crystalline, and nearly transparent. They possess 

 a brilliant luster, a very light gray or greenish white color. They resemble volcanic peridote more than any species 

 of the augitic or feldspar family. Nickelic iron, of a bright white color, in delicate filaments and semicrystalline 

 grains, is thickly diffused through the mass; and these grains, as well as those of the peridotic mineral, are flecked 

 with brilliant points of pyrrhotine (FeS). The specific gravity is 3.56. In general color and effect to the eye, it ap- 

 proaches nearest to the Klein-Wenden stone (September 16, 1843); but it differs from this in being larger grained, 

 and looser in its texture. 



