New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-10-22
TIE LATE SOLAR ECLIPSE SEEN FROM
Peru.
LETTER FROM LIEUT.. J. NJ. GILLISS.

From The National i1feligenoey, Oct 30
We hive been ia Ored with the following letter from
Lieut. Gilss to Prof Henry # the Smithsonian Inst
tue, in which the former briefly relates the success OF
his visit South America to take observations of the
late solar eclipse: $500
Ny DEAR SIR: When the steamer left this place on
the Both u. seriously unprecedented tua tine journey
to Peru would prove frutless, because Of clouds al
most every morning until near O'Clock. Three days
experience in this city satisfied e that must leave
the coast, and therefore, alter furnishing the com
mander OF the French wal steamer Ureler with instTu
ments suitable for making the observations satlstac
torily, and leaving him To proceed IN the snip to
point GU the coast }unta dc la Aqua where the ceu
trail line of the shadow would first touch the Continent
set out for Piura, intending To- proceed from thence
to station near Omos, town sixty leagues distant
from Paya by the ROAD selected. The Journey tIither
was made in five days. across sand desert aud under
a nearl, vertical SUM-
At this time will Only say that the journey proved
successful. The morning was quite favorable, though
al the instant If total observation there an e.
ceedngly delicate and guaze-llke vapor between me
and the sun To it attribute the fact that the four
prominent prutuherances which appeared at the com
meuccment of the total eclipse, not rose coored
but bright, Illuminated clouds. They we're plainly
distngusbable by the unass sted eye, and continued
visible Or a second or two after the western limb OF
the sun lad emerged The form and gradatiOn oi
brliancy in the corona light winch appeared stimuli
faueOusly and Oblitcraed at the same time as the
apparent solar clouds ere probably attributable to
the same cause.
Nv report hereafter VII he in detail. write to-
day greatly fagUed from the exhaustug journey, and
only because know that you will be- DESTROYS To learn
the result at TIE earliest date. Wien told You that
during the three days preceding the eclipse was
Frustrated by agues AMI constant and intense fevers
you NAV Judge OF the effects of travel across Peru
wan desert. My young companion Mr.. L. H. Kay
mOnd bore the journey better and vas of the gr, atest
assistance Indeed, the day preceding the eclipse
was wholly unable to Fit up, aud he mounted the
telescope and meteorological iustrumeits Al night
was strong enough to adjust tine former see That
everything ready for use IN tue following morn
ing and make observation 5 for latitude.
DIR. Muesta, the Director oi the National Obserya-
| tory at Santiago dc Chile, landed at Lanbayeque,
TWENTY-FIVE leagues svutn If Olmos), hut de-
layed that he reached within five e gues of the latter
| town only on the evening preceding tue eclipse H.
| made a station there, but the morning was cloudy
until after the close of the pheuomenOp. On the otn
| he came 10 Dimes 10 see me.
TIE officers of the French steamer Were more Tor
tunate. AT their station, al niIe the eclipse began
| before the early morning clouds had passed away;
but at the instant of totally there was perfect clear
| sky. They saw hrCc principal protuberanccs OF a
rose color two If them IL the positions seen 10y me-
but the extended chain constituting the trt WAS al
most Numerically opposite 10 where II was visible
from Olmos. Tnc duration Of tOtaity observed by
them was SOS q; mine 6,,s. 3 Toe observer with the
telescope lent 10y unablto perceive the corona
light lie say, because 81 t'e moon occupying nearly
tie whole field of view. TIE c1Imnandant Of the
Uiei,r LETT copy OF all their observations for me
he sailed from 10TH, this will form part OF
my report 10 you hereafter
With great regard, believe always yours. ye'y truly.
}. NJ. OILLlSS.
Prof JosrPH Henry
SECRETARY Smithsonian Institution, Washington