* Astronomy

On the 9th of December, 1880, at about 8 a.m., I heard a most unusual noise and saw high in the air a dense stripe of smoke, and as the smoke travelled along, reports came from it like the quick firing of a rifle. The aerolite was travelling in an easterly direction, and at a great pace, for it was very soon out of hearing--only the smoke being visible. I concluded that at each report a piece of the aerolite must have sprung from the main body, as two pieces struck the ground near my house. The one we have got, but the other struck the ground about 200 yards from my dwelling-house. Before it reached the earth, it made a noise like a stone from a sling, only much louder, and that made us notice where it struck ground, which it did with such force as to bruise one end. When picked up it was so hot that it could not be touched with the naked hand and was carried to the house on a flat stone. Mr. Savage and Dr. Stewart were at my place on the morning this happened, and both saw the stone
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