Paper: Frederick Post City: Frederick, Maryland Date: Monday, January 13, 1919 Page: 1
MD. Excited Over Meteor
Countains Believe Object Struck Earth At Mt. Airy Last Night BRILLIANT LIGHT VISIBLE THROUGH ALL OF MARYLAND Baltimore And Ohio Railroad Signal Tower Building At Mr. Airy Junction Shaken When Body Struck Ground: Some Saw 'Huge Ball Fire'
A heavenly body supposed to have been a meteorite, flashed across the eatern sky at 10 minutes after 6 o'clock last evening, producing a brilliant and illuminating light followed in some localties by a report resembling distant thunder. The light came from a clear sky and war witnessed by hundred of persons and all over the county. A report from Baltimore stated that the light was visible in every section of the State and caused speculation and inquiry from thousands of persons. It is thought that the meteorite fell in the vicinity of Mt. Airy Junction. The light was particularly visible along the Baltimore and Caro (?) Railroad from Brunswich to Baltimore. Hundreds of persons in the county who saw the light and thought that it came from an automobile on an adjoining road. G. M. Golbert, telegraph operator at the signal station, Mt. Airy Junction, saw the light and heard the report. Immediately following the report, said Mr. Goldbert, the detonation rattled the windows in the station and preceptibly shook the building. He said the light disappeared immediately after the report and it created the impression in his mind that a munition plant or a large factory had exploded. Others compared the rumbling sound to an earthquake detonation. Mt. Airy Junction was the only place to report the explosion was of sufficient force to shake a building and it is thought that fragments of the meteorite fall in that locality. Roger Snyder, telegraph operator at the signal tower, Adamstown, stated that he stepped outside for a glass of water when the light flashed. Looking up, he said, he saw a ball of fire traveling eastward. When at a point apparently under the moon, the ball exploded with a report and instantly emitted a light and extinguished. After returning to his office reports came over the wire east and west concerning the light. Many inquiries came over the telephone to The Post from different part of the county asking about the light. Some of the inquirers declared they heard a report while other state that they saw the bright flash. Two men on Patrick street state that they saw the ball of fire and it was so brilliant and apparently so near the earth that one remarked "lookout or that ball of fire will strike you." Reports from New Market, Frederick Junction, Point of Rocks, Buckystown, Boubs, Washington Junction, Brunswick, Thurmont and Emmitsburg were to the effect that the light had been seen. In the eastern section, however, the illumination seemed more brilliant and attracted more attention. Dr. Joseph H. Applie, president of Hood College, an astronomy student, stated that while he did not see the light from its description it must have been a meteorite, which became ignited when it came in contact the earth's atmosphere, which extends 60 miles above the earth. He said meteorites are constantly passing through space but do not ignite until striking out atmosphere, which extends 60 miles above the earth. He said meteorites are constantly passing through space during the months of August and November and are commonly called "shooting stars." They are either pieces of a small planet or a small piece of a planet that follows the course of its orb and finally reached the earth. Subjected to intense heat the pieces become a composition of iron. Pieces of meteorite, weighing as much as two towns, have been found imbedded in the earth. It is not uncommon, he said, to see on exhibition in museums large pieces of meteorites that have been found imbedded in the ground. It is only when the meteorite comes in contact with our atmosphere, he added, that it ignites from friction and exploded.
Mark Note: Meteorites A to Z, does not list any meteorite having fallen at this time and location. (Looking foward to Meteorites A to Z Second Edition..:-) Please visit, www.MeteoriteArticles.com, a free on-line archive of meteor and meteorite articles. |
