50 
H. G. FORDHAM—THE METEORITE 
I was walking from the Cherwell towards the Museum, along the 
walk parallel to South Parks Hoad, and was about opposite the 
opening leading to Mansfield College, when I first heard the sound, 
which rolled away towards Headington Hill to the eastward, till I 
could no longer hear it. It seemed to begin in full tone about over 
Mansfield College.— Rowland Wheeler , 4, Bevington Road, Oxford. 
[Note:—I have very carefully ascertained the positions of the 
objects mentioned in this letter from Mr. Wheeler, and find that the 
sound was first heard a little to the N. of E., and was last heard a 
little to the E. of N.E.— F. A. Bellamy, Oxford.~\ 
Thame. —At a farmhouse near here the occupants rushed out, 
as they thought that a chimney-stack was falling. An observer 
says: “A very unusual sound, like the rumbling of a distant 
explosion.”—‘ M. 31, p. 164. 
Garsington. —People at Garsington report the stopping of clocks 
at the time.— James C. Ross, [vicar of Baldon,] Baldon Vicarage, 
Oxford. 
Tetsworth.— Loud explosion.— *31. if.,’ p. 164. 
Baldon. —A very loud report, which I heard at 8*20 a.m., 
seemed due to a thunder-clap, though it sounded very like a big 
cannon-shot, or an explosion; the sound seemed to come from a 
S.E. direction, that quarter being full of foggy cloud at the time.— 
James C. Ross, Baldon Vicarage, in *31. 3J.,’ pp. 163, 164. 
Pyrton. —Time of explosion: 8'20 a.m. Direction of report : 
three people point to a direction about E., or rather to the N. of E. 
The general idea in this neighbourhood was that Westminster 
Abbey had been blown up, showing that the sound came rather 
from that direction. Character of report: One person describes it 
as that of a double-barrelled gun going off very quickly, only he 
says it was like a very big cannon (I give his own w T ords). 
Another says it was like the explosion of dynamite, which they 
use on a neighbouring estate to blow up roots of trees, etc. 
Another likens it to thunder. No vibration. The village of 
Pyrton lies about 1 mile N. of Watlington.— Cecil Hamersley, 
Pyrton 3Ianor, Tetsworth. 
Assendon. —I thought it was Hounslow Powder Mills blown up. 
The sound of the explosion was terrific; it caused the birds and 
[other] animals to cry out in terror. It caused concussion of the 
earth, and felt like an upheaval, then a prolonged rending sound, 
with three slight reports towards the end. The atmosphere was 
foggy, clear over-head, dense looking N. and S. This place is in a 
valley between the spurs of the Chiltern Hills.— James Ratty, 
Assendon, Henley-on-Thames. [Hounslow is about E.S.E. of 
Assenclon.] 
Sonning Common. —The postman from Henley to this place, cross¬ 
ing Crowsley Pare, felt the effect, and fancied it to be thunder. 
At the ‘ ‘ Bird-in-Hand ” public-house, 4 miles N. of Beading, it 
was more distinctly fancied to be an earthquake, for much notice 
was taken of the singular disturbance among the poultry. Here, 
half a mile N. of the “ Bird-in-Hand,” my housekeeper reported 
