14 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [OCT. 19, 



a certain farm in southwestern Pennsylvania, and lie also read a 

 letter concerning it from Prof. Tinglcy, of Alleghany College, 

 Meadeville, Pa. 



Saturday, Sept. 26th, 1885, at four o'clock p.m., with the sky 

 unusually clear, a meteor passed over portions of Washington 

 and Alleghany counties, in a southeast direction. The noise 

 which accompanied it was attributed to various causes, as the 

 brightness of the day prevented the meteor from being generally 

 seen. By some persons it was mistaken for a blast or the explo- 

 sion of a boiler. It was also described as a loud roar or a peal of 

 thunder. One observer says that he heard a queer hissing noise 

 quickly followed by a roaring. 



While it is believed that the meteor fell somewhere in that 

 vicinity, no trace of fragments had been discovered or even 

 rumors of the finding of them, although Prof. Tingley had given 

 several days to inquiry and search. 



Prof. W. P. Trowbridge described the recent explosion of 

 Flood Rock, and the means and methods employed. He also 

 gave a brief account of Gen. Newton's apparatus for boring under 

 water for the purpose of blasting. 



Dr. Elliott remarked that the explosive chiefly employed, 

 called " rackarock," was ninety-five per cent as effective as 

 dynamite. It was a mixture of dinitro-benzol and chlorate of 

 potash, which formed a detonating compound. 



Dr. Julien gave a brief description of the phosphorescence of 

 marine animals, in anticipation of an experiment whicii he per- 

 formed after adjournment. 



October 19th, 1885. 



Stated Meeting, 



Vice-President, Dr. 0. P. Hubbard, in the chair. 



Thirty-five persons present. 



Dr. N. L. Britton read an extract from the New York Times, 

 copied from the Worcester (Mass.) Spy of Oct. 14th, relating to 

 the discovery of a human skull near the spot, in Shrewsbury, 



