"A planetoid entered our atmosphere in 2226, at about same speed as that of the Earth, 46 miles dia. Struck the Earth 126 miles south of the mouth of the Orinoco, and produced an indentation in the crust of the Earth which destroyed nearly every principal building in Carracas, Havana, and other cities of the West Indies and a gigantic tidal wave which produced enormous destruction. The undulation was felt over the whole Earth; the heat of impact was sufficient to fuse the Mass to the Earth and it broke in many places. It took 11 years to cool sufficient to be examined. Its altitude above the sea is 22 miles and gigantic streams pour down its [???] due to condensation of snow. Lathrop you can work this up about finding gold etc. if it will work in."
-- scenario for a science fiction novel by Thomas Alva Edison