366 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. XIII. 



RANCHO DE LA PRESA. 



District of Zenapecuaro, State of Miehoacan, Mexico. 

 Stone. Spherical chondrite (Cc), of Brezina. 

 Found 1899. 



The only mention of this meteorite known to the present writer is that in Ward's * cata- 

 logue, where the locality given above is recorded and the statement made that the meteorite is 

 a stone. The year 1899 is given as that of the fall or find. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



1. 1904: Ward. Catalogue of the Ward-Coonley collection, p. 86. 



RED RIVER. 



Texas. 



Latitude 32° V N., longitude 95° 10' W. 



Here also Cross Timbers, Gibbs meteorite, Louisiana, and Texas. 



Iron. Medium octahedrite (Om) of Brezina. Caillite (type 18), of Meunier. 



Made known 1818. 



Weight, 740 kgs. (1,635 lbs.). 



The first mention of this meteorite was in Brace's Mineralogical Journal, 1 as follows : 



There is at present in this city a mass of iron, which was sent hither a short time since from New Orleans by Mr. 

 G. Johnson, and which from its size and weight has excited considerable attention. Its form is irregular. Its length 

 is 3 feet 4 inches, and its greatest width 2 feet 4.5 inches. It weighs upward of 3,000 pounds. Its surface, which 

 is covered by a blackish crust, is greatly indented, from which it would appear that this mass had been in a soft state. 

 On removing the crust, the iron on exposure to moisture soon becomes oxidated. Specific gravity, 7.400. 



It appears to consist entirely of iron which possesses a high degree of malleability, experiments having been 

 made without detecting nickel or any other metal. This enormous mass of iron is said to have been found near the 

 Red River. We regret that we are unable to say much as to its geognostic situation or origin, whether native, 

 meteoric, or artificial. We hope, however, from the inquiries we have instituted, to have it in our power shortly to 

 lay before our readers some satisfactory information respecting this interesting object. 



In 1824 there was published in the American Journal of Science, under the initials C. H., 

 an account of the meteorite, which included Doctor Bruce's account and " additional facts and 

 remarks drawn from the following sources": 1. A letter from Judge Johnson, of the Supreme 

 Court of the United States; 2. A letter from Mr. William Darby, the well-known geographer; 

 3. A letter from Doctor Sibley, Indian agent at Natchitoches; 4. The manuscript journal of John 

 Maley, an erratic adventurer; and 5. The manuscript journal of Captain Glass and company. 



The account states that the iron had become the property of Colonel Gibbs and had been 

 deposited in the collection of the New York Historical Society, and continues as follows: 



In the year 1808, while Capt. Anthony Glass was trading among the Pawnee and Hietan Nations, he was informed 

 concerning a curious mineral which had been discovered on the territory of the Hietans by one of the Pawnees. The 

 mineral could not have been discovered long antecedent to that time, as Captain Glass saw the Indian who claimed 

 the honor of its discovery. Captain Glass and several of his party went, in company with some Hietans and Pawnees, 

 and saw the mass in situ. He does not mention whether the natives entertained any particular opinions respecting 

 its origin; they, however, regarded it with much veneration, and ascribed to it singular powers in the cure of diseases. 

 They informed him that they knew of two other smaller pieces, the one about 30 and the other about 50 miles distant. 



This intelligence, announced on the return of Captain Glass, excited no little curiosity; and confident hopes pre- 

 vailed that the mineral would prove to be platina, or something else of much value. 



In 1810, two rival parties were made up for the purpose of obtaining this metal — one at Natchitoches, consisting 

 of George Schamp, who had been with Captain Glass, and nine associates; the other at Nacogdoches, consisting of 

 John Davis, who also had been with Captain Glass, and eight or ten associates. 



The Nacogdoches party first arrived at the place of destination; but, having in their hurry to anticipate the rival 

 party, made no preparations for carrying away the metal, they hid it under a flat stone and went away to procure 

 wheels and draft horses. 



The Natchitoches party arrived a few days afterwards, and after searching several days succeeded in finding their 

 object. Being provided with tools, they made a truck wagon, to which they harnessed six horses, and set off with their 

 prize toward the Red River. They crossed the Brassos without much difficulty; but a straggling party of Indians 

 having one night stolen all their horses, they were detained until two of their party could go to Natchitoches for more 

 horses. On arriving at the Red River, some of their party went down in a boat with the iron, while others took the 

 horses down by land. From Natchitoches the metal was taken down the Red River and Mississippi to New Orleans, 

 whence it was shipped to New York. 



