A Shower of Flesh and Blood

In 1841, accounts were published in the newspapers of two showers of flesh and blood-one in Tennessee, and the other in Massachusetts. A correspondent of the South Carolian [Carolina], writing from union district, S. C. under date of the 30th ult., who signs himself L. M. Davis, gives the following account of a similar occurrence which lately took place in that state: 'on Saturday last, whilst Mr. Wm. M. Inlow and his two sons were picking cotton on his plantation, (in Laurens District, near Enoree river, and about two miles below Musgrove's Mill,) the younger son called to the others, who were a little distance from him, to listen, for he heard something falling near him. They thought he was mistaken, and paid but little

attention to it; but he insisted, and told them if they would come, he would show it to them on the ground. They went and found the ground strewed with what appeared to them to be pieces of meat, varying from the size of an ounce ball to larger than a hen's egg. These pieces were very moist, and as red as blood or any thing else could make them; and the grass, cotton, or whatever they came in contact with, was stained as with blood. They were scattered several feet apart, over a space of ground some twenty or thirty yards in width; and they examined it for something like fifty yards in length, but did not go to the end of it.

I was informed of it yesterday, and went in company of two gentlemen, to visit the place in person. We were so lucky as to find some of the articles still remaining, and all agree that it had the appearance of flesh, of the finest mould [mold], much finer than we had ever seen before. Some of the pieces seemed to be entirely fat, but most of it lean, very red, and somewhat transparent when held up toward the light, but it was considerably dried when I saw it, having lain twenty-four hours.

The younger Wm. Inlow, a very intelligent and credible youth of fourteen, says he first heard a few scattering peaces fall, and looking up, saw the air darkened with them; and that it looked something like snow falling slowly, when the flakes are far apart; but that the pieces fell more rapidly. The shower fell about the middle of the day, while the sun was shining, and a few light clouds were in the atmosphere; but nothing visible could be assigned as the cause of the phenomena."