A Big Aerolite.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 216, 20 August 1887, Page 4

A Big Aerolite.

The Chicago "Inter-Ocean's" Evansville (lnd.) special of June 12th says: An aerolite of vast dimensions fell this morning near St. Joseph, about ten miles from this city and about three miles from the nearest railway station. It was a little after seven o'clock when the residents of the locality were startled by a sharp, qnicK. sound, simultaneous with a severe jarring of the earth. It was first thought to be an earthquake, but a farmer soon brought intelligence that some great projectile had burst through space and imbedded itself in the woods near by. The neighbours proceeded to the spot and found the facts as stated. The aerolite in falling came in contact with a huge oak, which it denuded with its branches as completely as though it had been struck by n hurricane. Pacing downward in a slightly slanting couise, it buried itself in the earth to the depth of at least fifteen to eighteen feet. The sandy sides of the hold made by the meteoric stone had caved in upon it, leaving it bmied out of sight. Several fragments of tho stone lay scattered about, andnotonly those, but the whole atmosphere about the place, was impregnated with the smell of sulphur. The meteoric fragments were of a dull greyish and dark colour, indicating a combination of obsidian, tractile and pumice. They will be sent to the Smithsonian Institution. The depth to which the aerolite had imbedded itself will involve a vast amount of labour to bring it to light, but this will no doubt bo done, not only for scientific purposes, but to s>atMy the curiosity of the multitude who will visit the place during the next few d«ys. From the great orifice made by the stone and the depth to which it has gone, it is estimated that it cannot weigh less than two tons.

" Ma." said a libblo four-year-old, " I saw something run across the kitchen floor this morning Avithout any legs ! What do you think it was?"' The mother guessed various legless worms and things, and finally gave it up, when the little fellow eaid, " Why, ma, it .was water !" >