19* 



were heard in the air, which the inhabitants took to be the 

 noise of guns at sea. When the labourer recovered from 

 the extreme alarm into which the descent of such a stone 

 had thrown him, his first description was, " that the clouds 

 opened as it fell, and he thought heaven and earth were 

 coming together." 



The following is the account given by Mr. L. Wilson: 

 si I hereby certify to the public, that while I was in 

 Yorkshire, near Capt. Topham's grounds, I heard noises 

 in the air like the report of a cannon at a distance, and 

 at the same time I felt two distinct concussions of the 

 earth, which shook the buildings and the church near 

 the spot where I was at the time. I was very much sur- 

 prised, not knowing from what such circumstances could 

 arise : within a very short space of time afterwards, I was 

 informed that a stone had fallen within 200 yards of me ; 

 and a servant, belonging to my uncle, Mr. Wm. Parke, 

 who resides near to Capt. Topham, was one of the people 

 who saw it fall." 



" Charles Prestin, son of the Rev. Mr s Prestin, eleven 

 years of age, being in the church-yard at play, on Sunday, 

 Dec. 13, 1795, at half-past three in the afternoon, after 

 hearing a noise as of firing of cannon, heard at the above 

 time a hissing in the air, and was sure something fell near 

 the cottage belonging to Capt. Topham. 



Given under my hand, this 29th day of April, 1796, 



Wm. Prestin, 

 Curate of Wold Newton, Yorkshire," 



