Kirk wood.] ^*± [May 2, 



buildings as an upheaval and settling back. If the meteor had not been 

 seen it would have been thought an earthquake shock." 



Iu response to a letter of inquiry, Thomas T. Bates, Esq., editor of the 

 Grand Traverse Herald, has given me the following additional statement : 



"A night watch on our streets, an intelligent, cool-headed man, gives 

 me in substance this : Was on watch ; passing from due west to east ; saw 

 a great light ; turned quickly and saw a ball of fire over my right 

 shoulder ; turned to left and watched it until it disappeared ; when first 

 seen it appeared about as high as ordinary rain clouds ; was on a clown 

 grade close to and apparently over the bay ; came from S. W. and passed 

 to N. E. ; appeared to me larger than full moon ; full moon looks to me to 

 be 18 or 20 inches in diameter ; meteor appeared to pass me, and move out 

 of sight at about the rate of speed a descending rocket has after its explo- 

 sion ; had a good chance to see it plainly ; just after passing me a singular 

 thing occurred ; a ring of fire seemed to peel off the meteor itself, and this 

 followed the ball of fire out of sight, but dropped a little behind it. It was 

 perfectly distinct, and appeared to be hollow, for I could see a dark centre. 

 Every thing was as light as day. I looked at my watch as it disappeared ; 

 it was just 28 minutes after 2 o'clock. I passed on my»beat, and shortly 

 the terrific explosion came. It shook and jarred every thing around. I 

 immediately looked at my watch, and it was 32 minutes after 2. 



" This is his report as it was given the next day, and as it was repeated 

 to me a few days ago. I have no idea that the meteor fell into Carp Lake,* 

 or that even a portion of it fell there. Every thing points to the correct- 

 ness of Mr. Smith's report which I send you. 



"Truly yours, 



"THOS. T. BATES." 



Charlevoix, Charlevoix County, Michigan, Lat. 45° 15' N., Long 8° 12' 

 W. Willard A. Smith, Esq., editor of the Charlevoix Sentinel states that 

 the meteor was seen by several persons at Charlevoix, where it appeared 

 to be at least four times as large as the full moon ; that it burst almost ex- 

 actly over the village, and that parts of it were seen to fall. The ground 

 was covered with deep snow, which was disturbed in several spots by the 

 meteorites, though strangely enough no fragments were found. The 

 meteor before striking the earth lighted up surrounding objects with an in- 

 tensity of brightness surpassing that of sunshine, and its explosion resem- 

 bled the sound of musketry. Its direction was nearly from S. W. to N. E., 

 and the interval was very brief between the explosion and report, f 



Cheboygan, Michigan, Lat. 45° 37' N., Long. 7 3 31' W. Mr. and Mrs. 

 Jacob Walton, of Cheboygan, both saw the meteoric light as it approached 

 from the S. W. It lasted several seconds, and was so bright as to cast a 

 very distinct shadow into the windows from the roof of the porch. From 



* It was reported that a hole through the ice on Carp Lake had been discovered 

 the next day, indicating that the aerolite had probably fallen into the lake, 

 t Condensed from a letter of Mr. Smith to Mr. Bates. 



