[meteorite-list] New York "meteor" 1907
From: Sharkkb8_at_aol.com <Sharkkb8_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:50:24 2004 Message-ID: <c1.1eb2c770.29dfb0f5_at_aol.com> --part1_c1.1eb2c770.29dfb0f5_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I recently obtained a "Mineral Collector" Magazine from January of 1907, with an article about the discovery of a "meteor" in New York. There are a number of obvious "red flags" in the story (not to mention the misplaced modifier at the beginning which suggests that the forestry worker was imbedded in the earth!), but the rest of the magazine does not seem to be sensationalistic or scientifically sloppy in nature, so I was curious whether this "find" was just quickly debunked and forgotten, or whether there is any kind of vaguely interesting additional storyline here. Ring a bell with anyone? (Bernd?!) "SIX TON METEOR FOUND IN NEW YORK CITY" "Partly imbedded in the earth, G.J. Stork, a head forester of the Department of Parks in the Broinx, while directing the trimming of trees in an unfrequented portion of Van Courtlandt Park, on Dec 13, came across one of the largest meteors (sic) in the vicinity of New York City. Its weight is estimated to be five or six tons. Meteors of one-tenth the size have been found at different times in the other parks of the borough, but nothing approaching the latest find in dimensions has ever been discovered. Samples of the deposit were chipped off and taken to the office of Commissioner Berry, in Claremont Park, where it was pronounced to be of more than usual geological interest. The meteor will be offered to the Museum of Natural History for exhibition. Commissioner Berry will otherwise have it mounted in Van Cortlandt Park and exhibited there. When found it was embedded about a foot in the surrounding soil, its great weight apparently having driven it into the earth in its descent. Judging from its outward appearance, the park officials say it has not been long in the park. Usually when they have lain very long in one spot the meteors become moss-covered and stained." Gregory --part1_c1.1eb2c770.29dfb0f5_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit <HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2> <BR>I recently obtained a "Mineral Collector" Magazine from January of 1907, with an article about the discovery of a "meteor" in New York. There are a number of obvious "red flags" in the story (not to mention the misplaced modifier at the beginning which suggests that the forestry worker was imbedded in the earth!), but the rest of the magazine does not seem to be sensationalistic or scientifically sloppy in nature, so I was curious whether this "find" was just quickly debunked and forgotten, or whether there is any kind of vaguely interesting additional storyline here. Ring a bell with anyone? (Bernd?!) <BR> <BR>"SIX TON METEOR FOUND IN NEW YORK CITY" <BR> <BR>"Partly imbedded in the earth, G.J. Stork, a head forester of the Department of Parks in the Broinx, while directing the trimming of trees in an unfrequented portion of Van Courtlandt Park, on Dec 13, came across one of the largest meteors (sic) in the vicinity of New York City. Its weight is estimated to be five or six tons. <BR> <BR>Meteors of one-tenth the size have been found at different times in the other parks of the borough, but nothing approaching the latest find in dimensions has ever been discovered. <BR> <BR>Samples of the deposit were chipped off and taken to the office of Commissioner Berry, in Claremont Park, where it was pronounced to be of more than usual geological interest. <BR> <BR>The meteor will be offered to the Museum of Natural History for exhibition. Commissioner Berry will otherwise have it mounted in Van Cortlandt Park and exhibited there. <BR> <BR>When found it was embedded about a foot in the surrounding soil, its great weight apparently having driven it into the earth in its descent. Judging from its outward appearance, the park officials say it has not been long in the park. <BR> <BR>Usually when they have lain very long in one spot the meteors become moss-covered and stained." <BR> <BR>Gregory</FONT></HTML> --part1_c1.1eb2c770.29dfb0f5_boundary-- Received on Fri 05 Apr 2002 09:01:25 PM PST |
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