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Nininger Moment #4
The Trip To Mexico Part 2
Two nights before the Nininger party reached Mexico City while trying
to set up camp, several unfriendly characters approached them. They
managed to catch their interest with an article of little importance
and swiftly packed up and drove on. They were in bandit country but
continued on long after dark looking for some sort of shelter they might
stay at. They finally arrived at a hacienda but had to pass through
four gates to gain access to the main house. A little while later police
came and question them in regards to a murder that had taken place at
a neighboring hacienda. After answering the questions the police left
and they were left to finish their late evening meal and sleep in the
court until the next morning.
After arriving in Mexico City the first place they went to visit was
the Institute of Geology. Nininger knew no one there and had no I.D.
of introduction but asked to see someone who might know something of
meteorites. They were introduced to a Dr. Mullerried a German geologist
who was a great field investigator in Mexico. He explained to Mullerried
he read some accounts of iron meteorites being found in quantities at
certain locations in Mexico and asked for help on finding the spot.
The Dr. said they would talk of it later and then showed Nininger to
the National Museum where many meteorites were located. At the museum
many of the meteorites were mislabeled or even unlabeled. Nininger offered
his services of putting the pieces back into order and trying to identify
some of the unlabeled specimens. The mislabeling and lost labeling was
the result of many revolutions in Mexico. He and Alex also spent time
cutting and etching a number of specimens to further identify them.
He had also brought trade specimens with him so that trades could be
arranged for the excess museum pieces.
One of Nininger's aims was to visit the spot where so many iron meteorites
had been found and so after a few days approached Mullerried again to
try to find out more about the Xiqupilco village near Toluca. Nininger
knew that a Dr. Jose Aguilera had told him that a total of twenty two
tons of material had been shipped from that area. Two mineral dealers
Foote and Ward had collected most of the material prior to 1906. He
also knew a visit to the location might yield him many meteorite specimens
he could trade later for others back in the United States. Mullerried
cautioned him that it would be somewhat dangerous but would try to make
arrangements. The village of Xiqupilco was some 30 miles distant from
Mexico City but rugged mountains laid in between. Nininger and Dr. Mullerried
would take a train to Toluca and then another train to Ixtlahuaca and
hire other transportation from that point. Nininger cashed a travelers
check in Mexico City for fifty dollars into pesos in order to have some
cash to negotiate with. Alex remained behind as he was ill and resting
at the time.
Source: Find A Falling Star by H.H. Nininger
Note: Nininger spent time prior to making the trip to Mexico at familiarizing
himself with as many meteorites as possible so he would be knowledgeable
about trades. His effort helped to put the Mexican National Museum's
Collection back into order and helped to effectively receive many needed
trades for the meteorite market in North America at that time.
The Nininger Moments are articles or books written originally by Harvey
Nininger and put into a consolidated form by Al Mitterling. Some of
the items written in the moments might be old out dated material and
the reader is advised to keep this in mind.
--AL Mitterling
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