310 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. XIII. 



Fanington 5 gave the following further account: 



This meteorite has already been made the subject of a brief note and detailed study by Merrill and a note by the 

 present writer. Some additional facts obtained by the writer during a visit to the locality in February, 1906, and by 

 study of specimens seems worthy of record. These observations include accounts of the phenomena of fall obtained 

 from various residents of Modoc, also at Tribune, 40 miles west of Modoc. The accounts at the latter place show a 

 much shorter interval to have intervened between light and sound than at Modoc. This seems conclusive evidence 

 that the meteor exploded over Tribune and traveled about 40 miles before falling. The accounts here given are 

 arranged in the order of the position of the observers going eastward. 



Mr. Raines, the station agent at Tribune, was about to lower a curtain at an east window when he saw the meteor 

 at the north going eastward. Its appearance was that of a ball of fire, resembling an electric light in color and of the 

 size of a "washtub." In a short space of time, probably two or three seconds, it exploded, throwing out sparks and 

 then disappeared, leaving no trail behind it. In about 30 seconds three muffled reports and a continuous roar like 

 thunder were heard. 



Mr. P. W. Grimes, of Tribune, was sitting with his head down, facing west, when a light like that of an electric 

 light attracted his attention. He saw a ball of fire to the north, traveling east. The light lasted two or three seconds, 

 and in about 20 seconds came three muffled reports like those of thunder. 



Mr. Willie Baugh was driving south about 2 miles from Modoc. He saw a light to the west, resembling an electric 

 light, seemingly falling toward him. Then it seemed to describe an upward path and exploded, sparks going in dif- 

 ferent directions like those of a Roman candle. 



Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Curtis, of Modoc, had retired for the night when Mrs. Curtis was awakened by a light so bright 

 that she thought the barn was afire. This light was followed by three reports like thunder and a sound like the wind 

 coming up. She awakened Mr. Curtis, who went to the porch, and then heard sounds like hailstones falling. The 

 fall of each stone was accompanied by slight hissing sounds. Next morning Mr. Curtis found a stone weighing about 

 1 pound in his yard, and others later. 



Mr. and Mrs. Fred Yost, living only a few rods from Mr. Curtis, heard a sound like accentuated thunder, but saw 

 no light nor heard any stones falling. They found several stones about their premises later. 



Mr. Schirmeyer, of Modoc, was indoors. He saw a light at an east window and stepped out on the porch to examine 

 it. Two or three explosions like rifle shots followed, also swishing sounds like the dropping of stones. Rumbling 

 sounds then died away to the west for about five minutes. 



Mr. Irwin, of Modoc, saw a light below a partially lowered curtain. He called to his wife to see what was going 

 on. She got up for a moment and then retired again; and then came soimds which led them to think that a smashup 

 had occurred on the railroad near by. 



Mr. T. D. Marshall was coming up out of his cellar at the time of the fall. His attention was attracted by a bright 

 light in the sky, which was followed by a sound like four beats on a ba3s drum and others like the swish which accom- 

 panies the shooting of a rocket. He then heard stones striking in a number of places about his house. He expected 

 to be able to find a number of these the next morning, but on searching succeeded in discovering only one. 



Mr. McDonald heard sounds like the firing of a machine gun, and a few days later found a small stone about 100 

 feet from his house. 



Mr. J. K. Freed heard sounds like those of a machine gun. 



Inhabitants of Scott, about 4 miles east of the place of fall, generally described the sounds as like those of a wagon 

 traveling over a bridge. 



An account of the occurrence published in the local paper, the Scott County Chronicle, September 8, 1905, six 

 days after the fall, was as follows: 



"Last Saturday night about 10 o'clock a remarkably bright meteor was seen in the heavens west from this city. 

 It was almost as light as day. The explosion occurred in the vicinity of Modoc and was heard clear across the county. 

 T. D. Marshall had a piece of the meteor in town Wednesday which he found near his house, which is black on the 

 outside and gray on the inside, and is heavily charged with metal indicating silver and gold. It is reported that 

 W. E. Curtis and a man named Pence have found pieces that show that the remnants were scattered over several miles 

 of territory. Mr. Marshall says the commotion in his territory was simply terrifying." 



Under Modoc items an account was given in the same paper as follows: 



"Last Saturday night about 9 o'clock a meteor passed over this locality. It was followed by a roar that sounded 

 like thunder. It probably burst, as fragments were heard falling by several persons, and T. D. Marshall and W. E. 

 Curtis each found one. The parts found were dark lead color, almost black, and give a metallic sound when struck. 

 They are checked by small cracks indicating an extremely heated condition while passing through the air. They 

 weigh but a few ounces, yet are prized by the finders as they probably represent part of some planet far away, and 

 have traveled for millions of miles through space before finding a resting place on earth." 



The difference in time of these two accounts is accounted for by the fact that in Modoc, mountain time is used, 

 but in Scott, central time. 



The area over which the meteoric stones were found was 07ie about 7 miles by 2, the longer distance extending 

 east and west. The region is a rolling prairie, rather thinly inhabited. Much of the area has never been plowed. 

 The native sod, or "buffalo sod," as it is often called, proved comparatively impenetrable to the stones which fell 

 upon it. A slight indentation in the sod showed plainly where a stone weighing 7 pounds, found by the writer, had 



