SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 305 



ther information on the subject, examined every stone 

 which we observed as having been held in veneration by 

 the Indians, but in no case have we been able to detect any 

 meteoric appearance in them. 



ef this post, from the store to my own quarters, I was startled by a 

 brilliant light in the atmosphere, and looking «ip, saw a meteor passing 

 in a direction nearly from north-west to south-east, and as well as I 

 could judge at an angle of about fifty degrees with the horizon ; it ap- 

 peared of uncommon magnitude, and passed so near me that I distinct- 

 ly heard its sound, which resembled that of a signal rocket ; in its de- 

 scent my view of it was intercepted by the Commissary's store, but I 

 heard it strike the ground, when it sounded like a spent shell, though 

 much louder. I went immediately to the sentinel at the corner of the 

 store, and asked him if he had seen any thing extraordinary ; he re- 

 plied that a large ball of fire had passed very near him and struck in 

 the public gaMen which borders the river St. Peter ; he appeared 

 much agitated ; after requesting him to mark the spot where it fell, I 

 proceeded to the other sentinels, whose accounts, as far as their sta- 

 tions allowed them to judge, agreed with liis. The next morning I 

 went early to the spot where the meteoric stone was supposed to have 

 fallen, but could not find it ; the ground is alluvial and much broken 

 into holes or hollows. I continued my search until the breakfast hour; 

 but my ordinaiy avocations called off my attention, and I did not look 

 for it again ; which I have since regretted, as I think it might have 

 been found by going to a greater depth in search of it. The evening 

 was uncommonly fine, and the concurring testimony of all the persons 

 who saw it, with my own observation, I presume, will be sufficient evi- 

 dence that it was no illusion. 



" I have communicated this incident, as the question whether me- 

 teoric stones do or do not fall from the atmosphere lias recently ex- 

 cited much interest, and it may be deemed in some measure of im- 

 portance in support of the affirmative proposition. 

 " Respectfully, 



" I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



" J. SNELLING, 



" Wm. H. Keating, Esq. Col. U. S. Army. 



" Extract from Dr. Purcell's meteorological register, Sept. 20, 1822. 

 Thermometer at 7 A. M. 54° ; at 2 P. M. 70° ; at 9 P. M. 56°. Wind 

 X. W. weather clear — hght fresh wind." 



Vol. I. 39 



