| dc.creator | | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-02-12T18:11:49Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-02-12T18:11:49Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1961-07-03 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://repository.tcu.edu/handle/116099117/63220 | |
| dc.description | Letter to Wilson Smith discussing a meteor falling over East Texas in Marshall, Texas and working with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Institute and the U. S. National Museum to secure that meteorite. | |
| dc.relation | Oscar Monnig Papers (MS 124) | |
| dc.rights | Prior written permission from TCU Special Collections required to use any document or photograph. | |
| dc.source | Series III, Box 06, Fort Stockton, Pecos Co., TX folder | |
| dc.subject | Meteorite | |
| dc.subject | Fort Stockton meteorite | |
| dc.subject | Fort Stockton (Tex.) | |
| dc.subject | Smithsonian Institution | |
| dc.title | Correspondence from unknown, presumably Oscar E. Monnig, to Wilson Smith, July 3, 1961 | |
| dc.type | Document | |
| dc.description.transcription | 29 Chelsea Drive x 15 1961, July 3 Mr. Wilson Smith, 202 North Texas, Port Stockton, Texas. Dear Mr. Smith: I was glad to get to talk you when I called the nighf [night] of May 30th. It was reassuring to hear that Mr. Eldred at least still has the meteorite. By coincidence, about an hour after we talked, a bright meteor appeared over last Texas (10.25 p.m.) and a man here called me about seeing it. It sounded very good, and I determined to start gathering observations on it the next morning in an effort to track it down. Well, lo and behold the morning paper reported that a piece had fallen in a man's back yard near Marshall, Texas, and I got over there that evening and found an 18 1/2 pound beautiful fresh stone. After wrangling with the owner a day and a half I could get no where, so I left and returned over the weekend, with the same results. He just wouldn't put a price on it, and in this case I was working with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Institute and the U. S. National Museum, who authorized me to go up pretty steeply on the price. I went to $500 and quit — the Yankees don't know the value of money — and told them to keep on working on him as I was retiring in their favor. They finally got it but it took two weeks and I don't know what they paid. They are campaigning hard for meteorites, but it is very fresh falls like this stone that they particularly want. They are testing for some short lived radioactive isotopes presumably formed bb cosmic rays, and some of these die out in a few days or few weeks. But I don't want them to get the Iron Eldred has, so advise me whether I'd have a chance to close a deal if I came out there. Thanks. Sincerely, | |
