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stood, and I immediately repaired to the spot, and about two feet beneath 
the surface found a stone weighing forty-two pounds. A second or two after 
seeing the first stone, I saw another descend and strike the earth about the 
same distance from where I stood. I also took the last-mentioned stone 
from the earth about two feet beneath the surface ; both the above stones, 
when taken from the earth, were quite warm. I also saw a third stone 
descend. 
As to the temperature of the stones, we are told that several 
of the largest stones were picked up ten minutes after their 
fall, and are described as being about as warm as a stone that 
had lain in the sun in summer. One fell among dry leaves 
that covered it after it had penetrated the ground ; the leaves, 
however, showed no evidence of having been heated ; no 
appearance of ignition was discoverd in places or objects with 
which the stones came in contact at the time of their fall ; so 
that their temperature must have been far short of red heat, 
while it may not have reached that of 200°. 
It may further be remarked that the day was cool, and the 
sky covered at the time with light clouds. No thunder or 
lightning had been noticed that day, nor could anything un- 
usual be seen in the appearance of the clouds. Immediately 
on hearing the report, one observer looked in the direction it 
came, and noticed the clouds closely, but could not see any- 
thing unusual. 
Those who were in the district where the stones fell, and 
witnessed their fall, saw no fire-ball or meteor. Others at a 
considerable distance, however, saw a ball of fire flying with 
great velocity ; to one it appeared as white as melted iron. 
Another saw a ball of fire of great brilliancy emerging from 
behind one cloud and disappearing behind another. The 
course of this meteor seemed to be over the district where the 
fall of stones occurred. Whether these two phenomena were 
connected, is a point of some importance to be determined. 
On other occasions, when a bright meteor has been observed 
by those at a distance from where a shower of stones has 
fallen, no meteor, but only a cloud, has been seen by those 
witnessing the fall of the stones. Professor Shepherd, who 
has devoted his life to the collection of meteorites and of all the 
facts connected with them, remarks that C( only four or five 
large detonating meteors, out of several hundreds whose paths 
have been observed with more or less precision, have been 
known to throw down stones.” 
Generally speaking, but little damage has been done by the 
fall of meteorites. Humboldt relates that, on the 4th of 
September, 1511, a monk at Crema, near Milan, — another 
