616 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XL VI. No. 1199 



Dr. Charles T. P. Fennel, for fifteen years 

 state chemist in Ohio, and later professor of 

 chemistry in the Cincinnati College of Phar- 

 macy, has heen appointed to the chair of 

 materia medica at the University of Cincin- 

 nati to fill the vacancy created by the death of 

 Dr. Julius Eiohberg. 



DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE 



A TEXAS METEOR 



On October 1, at about 10:30 p. m., an un- 

 usually bright meteor appeared over the cen- 

 tral part of Texas. The undersigned promptly 

 made arrangements to secure information on 

 its appearance throughout the state, while the 

 phenomenon was yet fresh in the memories 

 of those who saw it. Notes from some three- 

 score observers have been secured. From 



servers agree that at first the light of this 

 meteor was small. Increasing rapidly in 

 brilliancy, it terminated abruptly with an ex- 

 plosion at some considerable distance above 

 the groim.d. To the most distant observers it 

 appeared to reach the horizon. Over an area 

 of some 150 miles in diameter, north of Ban- 

 dera County, sounds like that of thunder were 

 heard from three to five minutes after the 

 meteor disappeared. At Brady and at one or 

 two other places, these sounds are reported to 

 have been strong enough to shake buildings 

 and to cause dishes and windows to rattle. 

 The light in the same region is likened to 

 strong lightning and it is said to have been 

 blinding to some observers. The usual thin 

 cloud of dust high in the sky was noted by 

 several parties, who say it could be distinctly 

 seen for 40 minutes after the fall. 



Ltgentt 

 Weak TMoonlioht 

 Bright TTioDntigt 

 DayU^ht 

 Bright daylight 

 Thu/Ticter sounds 



these it appears that the place where this 

 aerolite fell must be somewhere in or near 

 Kimble County. The observed directions all 

 converge toward this county. Evidently the 

 path this meteor followed was at a consider- 

 able angle to the horizon and had a course 

 from northeast to southwest. Nearly all ob- 



The meteor was observed over the entire 

 state, from the Gulf to the Panhandle and 

 from the northeast counties to the far moun- 

 tains west of the Pecos, a distance of nearly 

 six hundred miles. Several parties who saw 

 the bright body at a distance of about 200 

 miles or less, report hearing a swishing or 



