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The Unsolved Mystery of the Kentucky Meat Shower
Common meteorological events like rain showers and blizzards can be fascinating. But sometimes the sky surprises us with an event we never expected. In August 1994, for example, the town of Oakville, Washington, was hit by a rain of “blobs” – clear, jelly-like globs. Afterward, townspeople developed bizarre illnesses and animals began to die. According to The Chronicle, theories about what the “blobs” were included jellyfish displaced by military experiments in the ocean, a new undiscovered species, or waste dumped from an airliner overhead. This wasn’t the first time an American city had been struck by unexpected objects descending from the sky. An incident in Kentucky in the 19th century involved mysterious meat.
The Kentucky Meat Shower
The most surprising case is the “Kentucky Meat Shower,” an event so bizarre it sounds like it belongs in a cheesy alien movie. The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that on March 3, 1876, the wife of a local farmer said she saw chunks of raw meat fall from the clear blue sky. It was described by those brave enough to eat it as tasting like mutton or venison (via Wonderopolis). How much meat fell that day is unclear, the description used is rather antiquated. Reports say the amount could “fill a horse-drawn carriage” (via VICE). Transylvania University art professor Kurt Gohde, who studied the event, explained, “I have no idea what that means, but it’s been published in virtually every report I’ve seen.
The source of the mystery meat
Before you draw parallels between the Kentucky Meat Shower and the rain of blood in Jordan Peele’s “NOPE,” many believe the phenomenon has a natural, albeit very gross, explanation. Scientific American, citing an 1876 issue of the Louisville Medical News, reports that a farmer suggested – and Dr. L. D. Kastenbine agreed – that the meat shower was caused by the gastric ejection of vultures flying overhead – in other words, vulture vomit. The theory goes that vultures flying overhead released their partially digested food, which was simply blown over the area, creating the meat rain. This theory is supported by the fact that certain vultures native to Kentucky are known to use their vomit as both a defense mechanism and a way to keep themselves light.
So vulture vomit is the reason for the meat shower? It certainly sounds plausible. However, Kurt Gohde of Transylvania University noted that the eyewitness to this event reported seeing a clear sky, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. If there were no birds in the area – at least none that the witness saw – does that undermine the vulture theory? Atlas Obscura tells us that others have theorized that the meat came from the remains of a knife fight that was blown into the sky by a passing tornado. One humorist even argued that a doomed planet, once home to livestock, blew up and sent meaty debris to Earth. You have to think weird to explain the weird, it seems.
The enduring mystery
The Kentucky Meat Shower remains an unsolved mystery. Despite various theories attempting to explain the phenomenon, there is no definitive answer. The bizarre event continues to capture the imagination of people fascinated by the unusual. It serves as a reminder that the world is full of unexplained phenomena, and sometimes even the most bizarre events defy easy explanation.
The Kentucky Meat Shower is a fascinating and baffling story that has stood the test of time. It serves as a reminder that even in our modern age, there are mysteries that remain unsolved. The next time you look up at the sky, you might wonder if there are other strange phenomena just waiting to be discovered.
Sources:
– The Unsolved Mystery of the ‘Kentucky Meat Shower
– The Chronicle
– Louisville Courier-Journal
– Wonderopolis
– VICE
– Scientific American
– Louisville Medical News
– Atlas Obscura
FAQS
The Kentucky Meat Shower was a bizarre event that occurred on March 3, 1876, when chunks of raw meat fell from the sky in a clear blue sky in Kentucky.
What did the meat taste like?
According to reports, those who dared to taste the meat described it as tasting like mutton or venison.
Where did the meat come from?
The exact origin of the meat remains a mystery. One theory is that it was caused by the gastric ejection of overhead vultures, which is essentially vulture vomit. Others have theorized that it may have come from the remains of a knife fight, or even from a doomed planet where livestock once lived.
Were there any scientific explanations for the meat shower?
Some scientists and experts have suggested that the meat shower was caused by vultures flying overhead and releasing their partially digested food, which was then blown over the area by the wind. However, eyewitness accounts of a clear sky during the event cast some doubt on this theory.
Why is the Kentucky Meat Shower considered an unsolved mystery?
Despite various theories and speculations, there is no definitive answer to the mystery of the Kentucky Meat Shower. The event continues to intrigue and perplex researchers, and the true source of the meat shower remains unknown.
What does the Kentucky Meat Shower teach us about unexplained phenomena?
The Kentucky Meat Shower serves as a reminder that even in our modern age, there are mysteries and unexplained phenomena that defy easy explanation. It highlights the fact that there is still much we don’t understand about the world around us, and that strange occurrences can capture our imagination and curiosity.