168 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. XIII. 



He also stated that the "mineral" consists of a friable, granular mass of a grayish color in 

 which metallic particles are easily discernible to the naked eye. It is coated externally with a 

 crust of a dark-brown color which shows evident marks of fusion. It is highly magnetic and 

 when thrown into hydrochloric acid sulphureted hydrogen is evolved. 



A brief account of the appearance of the meteorite was given by Sillhnan 2 later, as follows : 



This meteorite stone which we have received presents a decidedly felspathic appearance, and is quite homogeneous 

 except its black crust and the small metallic particles consisting of the protosulphuret of iron and native iron every- 

 where disseminated through its mass. Its specific gravity as ascertained by Mr. Seybert is 3.48. Of all the stones of 

 this sort which have fallen in the United States it resembles the most nearly those of Maryland, from which it differs 

 only in being of a color more nearly approaching to white. 



A later notice by Silliman 3 was given of the circumstances of fall as follows, copying an 

 account from the Nashville Banner: 



This account, although published at the time in the Nashville Banner, has but recently been placed in our hands. 

 As all such notices that are authentic ought to be preserved, it is now inserted in this journal. It is on the authority of 

 the Rev. Hugh Kirkpatrick, who is spoken of as worthy of entire confidence. 



On Wednesday, May 9, about 4 o'clock p. m., the day being as clear as usual, my son and servants were planting 

 corn in the fields when they heard a report similar to that of a cannon, which was continued in the air resembling the 

 firing of cannon or muskets by platoons and the beating of drums as in a battle. Some small clouds with a trail of 

 black smoke made a terrific appearance and from them, without doubt, came a number of stones with a loud whizzing 

 noise which struck the earth with a sound like that of a ponderous body. One of these stones my son heard fall about 

 50 yards from where he was. In its descent to the ground it struck a pawpaw tree of the size of a small handspike and 

 tore it to pieces as lightning would have done; guided by the tree he immediately found the spot and there he found 

 the stone about 8 or 10 inches under the ground; this stone weighed 5.25 pounds. Mr. James Dugge was also present. 

 They stated that the stone was cold, but had the scent of sulphur. 



On the same day and about the same time my son-in-law, Mr. Peter Ketsing, was in a field with his laborers about 

 1 mile distant when a stone fell which weighed 11.5 pounds. This took place near him, his wife, and three other 

 women. A number of respectable men were present when it was found and taken up; it was 12 inches under the 

 ground. I have seen one that fell at Mr. David Garrett's, and part of one that fell at Mr. John Bones's; I have also 

 heard of one more that has been found. These stones are perfectly similar, glazed with a thin, black crust and bear the 

 marks of having been through a body of fire and black smoke. Many gentlemen who have been excited within a few 

 days to come to my home to see them say they never saw such before. 



The editor of the paper says the noise was heard 10 or 12 miles or more. 



I have nothing more to add to the description of this stone already published, except that the innumerable metallic 

 points which are visible through the light gray (almost white) surface of the mass are nearly as brilliant as silver, although 

 they have obviously been rounded by heat. They are attended by an immense number of brilliant, black, vitreous 

 globules which have every appearance of perfect fusion and the entire mass has that harsh, acrid feel which belongs to 

 lavas and trachytic rocks. 



The black crust has evidently been in a state of at least pasty fusion; its roughnesses are rounded and on drawing a 

 file over any of its prominent points bright metallic iron is immediately uncovered. 



There is no account of a fireball attending these meteorites, but as it was full daylight and probably sunshine we 

 can not conclude that there was no fireball. It is more probable that there was one. 



The locality given above is northeast of Nashville. It is in Sumner County, and not 

 Davidson County, in which Nashville is located. On account of the mention of Nashville in the 

 above statement, however, the meteorite has often, though wrongly, been called by that name. 



Von Baumhauer * obtained the following result by analysis (specific gravity = 3.469): 



Groundmass. Crust. 



Si0 2 58.75 60.49 



FeO" 22.70 32.10 



MnO 2.08 



MgO 18. 50 L 48 



CaO 30 



A1 2 3 23 



NiO 2.08 L85 



S ' 1. 80 2. 47 



Sn 10 



K 2 02 



Na^O 35 



106. 91 98. 39 



