170 REPORT— 1876. 



which evidently consist of olivine, and some which are opaque and finely 

 granular. The meteoric iron has a hackly angular structure, and has the 

 appearance which it would present if reduced to the metallic state in the 

 position which it at present occupies. 



1875, December 27th, 9 p.m. — Kansas. 



I have to thank Mr. Irish, C.E., of Iowa City, for two cuttings from 

 newspapers (the Kansas Chief of December 30th, and the Kansas Even- 

 ing Post of December 29th) recording the fall of a detonating meteor of 

 the above date. It traversed the heavens in a direction from N.W. to S.E., 

 leaving a lurid streak in its wake. The whole heavens were lighted 

 up, and " made all out of doors almost as light as full moonlight." The 

 , meteor was of the usual Avhitish-red colour, and when it exploded the fiery 

 fragments were scattered in all directions. " Perhaps two minutes later, and 

 after all appearance of the meteor had disappeared, the sound of the explo- 

 sion came like the discharge of a heavy cannon ; or rather one loud explosion, 

 immediately followed by a lighter one like an echo. The explosion jarred 

 houses and rattled windows. The size of the meteor and the terrible force 

 of the explosion may be imagined from the fact that the distance M'as so great 

 that it required about two minutes for the sound to reach the earth, and the 

 concussion was so jilainly felt and heard at that distance. The phenomenon 

 was witnessed over a large extent of country." An observer, writing from 

 Fort Leavenworth, states that it appeared to have its origin in the constel- 

 lation Cassiopeia, and its course was due east. llr. Irish states that he has 

 made every effort to secure possession of the meteorites which must have 

 fallen, b\it has been unsuccessful. The time of flight is estimated to have 

 been from 12 to 15 seconds. 



1875, December 27th, 9.20 p.m. — State of Missouri, U.S.A. 



I am indebted to Mr. Irish, C.E., of Iowa City, for an interesting description of 

 this detonating meteor, as well as for a map, on which he has traced its course. 

 The point where it was first seen in the zenith is at Thayer, in Nebraska, 

 near the borders of Kansas, and about 120 miles ^. of the Missoiiri river. It 

 was seen by him at Iowa City first as a small meteor, which rapidly became 

 brighter, and was hidden from view when at an altitude of about 40° by a 

 building ; at this moment it gave out a very brilliant quivering flash of light, 

 which illuminated the whole heavens. It appears from Mr. Irish's map to 

 have been seen over a wide area, from Stillwater in Minnesota on the north, 

 to Bufl'alo in Missouri on the south, and as far west as the shores of Lake 

 Michigan. Near the termination of the flight sounds were heard: over 

 Archer, in Nebraska, a rushing roaring sound, as of a mighty wind, was 

 noticed ; at St. Joseph, in Missouri, the first distinct explosion was remarked, 

 and between that town and Livingstone Co. frequent and very heavy detona- 

 tions occuiTcd. In the last-mentioned district, and at places as far as 60 miles 

 distant, numerous red fragments were seen to fall. He says,"I have had several 

 persons looking for the meteorites where the fall must have taken place ; but 

 the whole district is covered with dense forest, and is mountainous and broken, 

 and the ground was very soft from the long-continued rains preceding the 

 fall, so that no fragments have been found. All the observers of the final 

 explosion agree that the great bulk of the material M'as thrown upward and 

 backward upon the course of the meteor, as the arroAV-pointed dots in 

 my sketch indicate. The luminous appearance continued in sight for 

 15 minutes." 



