833 J. EB. Wiilet on the Georgia Meteorie Stone. 
diameter. So far as I have been able to ascertain, no other 
parts have been found. 
“The noise attending this phenomenon is variously described 
by different persons, and from different places. T'wo intelligent 
ladies residing four miles south of Lumpkin, nearly east of where 
the stone fell, and about ten or twelve miles off, describe it thus. 
While sitting in the house they heard, as it were, the sound of 
a great fire suddenly bursting forth from some confinement into 
the open air. They rushed out of doors, and heard the roar- 
ing sound continue for several seconds. They located the source 
of the noise in the direction of Barlow’s. 
“Tn Cuthbert, about 18 miles from Barlow’s, nearly south- 
east, a gentleman, engaged in a workshop, heard a lumbering 
noise, which he took to be several heavy pieces of machinery 
in an adjoining room, falling down one after another. On going 
in, he found no one, and that he had mistaken the cause of the 
noise. Many persons here heard sounds like repeated thunder 
followed by roaring. Some say that they first heard several 
pid, cracking explosions, like that of volleys of small arms, 
followed immediately by the louder burst of artillery. Most 
persons here thought the noise came from the southeast, passed 
over the place in a northwesterly direction, and died away im 
the distant northwest. 
“The foregoing statements have been selected from many in 
circulation, showing how differently the senses were affected at 
different points. The facts are purposely presented in their 
nakedness. If you can find them available in aid of a scientific 
investigation of the origin of this phenomenon, I shall have 
accomplished more than I expect.” 
The above accounts agree as to the main facts. They were 
furnished by Mr. Latimer and Judge Clarke, without being 
ig by them. It is possible that a comparison of notes 
by them might have thrown some light on the point of greatest 
discrepancy, viz: the direction of flight. It is probable that 
the meteorite came from some point in the north quarter; the 
statement of Mr. Latimer over whom it exploded, and that 
of Mr. Barlow as to the direction in which the earth was pene- 
trated, concur in this regard. Persons in Cuthbert, who repre- 
sent it as coming from the south, may have been misled by an 
echo, mistaking this for the original sound. 
. J. Lawrence Smith, who is giving special attention to 
the subject of meteorites, has requested the privilege of anal- 
yzing the stone above described. 
Mercer University, Penfield, Georgia. 
OE ns ey ee dg SECRET 
