﻿304 W. E. Hidden — Meteoric Iron from Texas. 



Art. XXXIV. — A new Meteoric Iron from Texas ; by Wm. 

 Earl Hidden. 



The mass of meteoric iron described in this paper was dis- 

 covered by Mr. C. C. Cusick, U. S. A., while he was stationed 

 at Fort Duncan, Texas. He writes me a full account of the 

 manner of the discovery, and I here give an abstract of his 

 letter. 



The Maverick County, Texas, Meteoric Iron. 

 Weight ninety-seven pounds. 



(OXE-THIKD NATURAL SIZE.) 



"On the morning of June 10, 188'2, being stationed at Fort 

 Duncan, Maverick County, Texas (a military post situated on the 

 left bank of the Rio Grande River), I was returning to the garri- 

 son from a short trip in the vicinity, when I casually noticed a 

 round looking boulder that seemed to have a metallic appearance. 

 I examined it more closely and found it in truth to be a metallic 

 body and worthy of careful preservation. I early arrived at the 

 conclusion that it was of meteoric origin as it possessed seem- 

 ingly all the necessary characteristics of such bodies. I had it 

 brought to the fort by one of the privates (Brand), who found 

 the task not an easy one. It was kept at Fort Duncan until I 

 moved to Fort Lyon, Bent Co., Colorado, where I am now sta- 

 tioned, and where this curiosity was for a long time on exhibition. 

 It was on the land of a Mr. Wieste, on an ancient terrace on the 

 American side of the river, near the fort, that I found this iron, 

 and I would add, that he kindly presented the mass to me. I 

 cannot learn anything as to the time of its fall, or its history, 

 other than I have above given you." 



