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Nininger Moment #5
The Trip To Mexico Part 3
After hiring transportation to the village of Xiquipilco a dangerous
trip over a very bad road took place for some three hours and a total
of twelve and a half miles. Many wrecked vehicles were seen in route
that failed to negotiate the winding road. At the time Nininger and
Dr. Mulleried arrived at the village around nine in the morning there
was not a sign of anyone around except a man wearing a white suit and
a large sombrero. Dr. Mulleried explained their reason for being there
and found out that the man was the presidente or mayor of the village.
They were invited to breakfast and while eating the mayor left and soon
returned with a twenty pound meteorite. Asking if this is what the men
wanted, Nininger and Dr. Mulleried both looking excited stated that
it was and was there any more to be found. The mayor explained he thought
he could probably find another ton around! The mayor sent out word they
wanted more of the iron specimens and while waiting Nininger went out
for a short walk and he himself found a three pound iron still in one
of the fields.
When walking back into the town square, they noticed a small line with
local men holding baskets and bags full of meteorites as well as a number
of them holding specimens in their hands. Over the next few hours Nininger
and Mulleried bought over 700 pounds of meteorite specimens until they
ran out of money. Word had gotten around there were men in the village
buying the meteorites up and finally after all the money had ran out
for them to buy specimens with, there were still hoards of people waiting
in line hoping to also sell their specimens. Nininger was able to buy
one tool manufactured from the meteorites in the form of a crowbar and
it was found in an old blacksmiths shop with the widmanstatten lines
showing in the tool.
Besides the Toluca Iron Meteorites they had bought that day, Nininger
had obtained a good amount of information and later acquired the main
mass of the Chihahua City that weighed 100 pounds. He also obtained
Zacate, Chupaderos, Bacubirito, Tlacoptepec, Puenta del Zacte, and Rancho
de la Presa. A total of over 900 lbs were obtain by this one trip to
Mexico giving Nininger some leverage to expand his own collection through
trades. The meteorites were shipped back to the USA and Alex and Nininger
sold the transportation that had taken them there, helping to replenish
their money supply which had run quite low from all of the expenses.
Soon after the sell of their dependable transportation they boarded
a train that would take them back home from their long and sometimes
dangerous trip.
Source: Find A Falling Star By H.H. Nininger
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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