Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-08-14
The Late Solar EcIipSe


The United States steamer Bib, with the
party on board who were detailed by Profess
sOr Bache, Superintendent Of the Coast Survey,
TO proceed 10 Labrador and take observations
OF the great eclipse, reached Newport on their
return on Tuesday afternoon. The officers of
the expedition were Professor Alexander, of
Princeton College; Prof. Barnard, of the Uni
yerSity of Mississippi; Prof. Yenable, of South
Carolina Prof. Lieber, of South Carolina
Prof. Smith, of Maryland NJ DuchOchOwd
and Mr. Thompson, photographers Mr.. Wal
ker and Mr.. GOOdfellOw, of the United States
Coast Survey. The party have had a stormy
return voyage, and some narrow escapes. but
il IS stated that they have accomplished the
purpose for which the voyage was undertaken
In u successful manner. Having arrived at
Newport Just before the close of the annual ses-
sion Of the American Scientific Association
Prof. Alexander appeared in that enlight-
ened body on the last day Of its session and
gave an account of the expedition.
He commenced by saying that he was over
come by the kindly reception which greeted
him the moment he set foot on shore. Con-
trasted with the monumental desOlatiOn Of the
scene which he had witnessed, this sudden in
PRODUCTION to the midst of friends and social
intercourse Was most affecting. Without Be-
ginning with apology, he simply alluded to
those circumstances to explain what want of
unity of ideas he might manifest in his re-
marks.
Never in his widest dreams had be conceived
of scenes Of such wild grandeur and desolation
as greeted them as they approached their final
destination. The shore was skirted with an
almost unbrOken range Of mountains, seeming
like cast-irOn. They were beyond aTboreseent
vegetation, and bat little except moses grew
any where. Along the base of the mountain
chain toward the sea lay bank Of mist. 1t
was necessary to get on the opposite side TO be
free from danger from this source. The diff
culties seemed to be very great. A sort of ter
race on the western side Of the range was found
which promised to be suitable hither wit h
great difficulty we transported ourselves and
our instruments.
The weather, when clear, was very clear,
but lasted never more than two days The day
we had looked forward to with great anxiety
was overcast; still we could see the disc of the
sun; the clouds served our eyes for cOlOred glass
screens. The most interesting results Of our
observations are
|. The moon broke the curve of the sun with
an enormously rough edge.
2. A phenomenon which | was the first to
notice some years ago, viz: a belt Of light
around the moon, brighter than any other part
of the sun.
3. An appearance, which but one of our party
saw, which was observed in 1920, and once
later, and has been called an optical delusion,
but which the photographic plate nOL0 had
not forgotten TO record. Thus it was real, and
not optical. The phenomenon in question was
blush light on he side Of the moon, close
to the edge projected On the sun.
These three results Professor A considered
as amply justifying the expenses of the expe-
dition.
As the eclipse progressed, and when there
was only bit of ragged, intensely brilliant
silver wire Of the suns disc left, il seemed as
If the sun was melting away and dropping
point by point, till in a minute all was gone
ala l.
the most beautiful colors We saw through
the deepening mist, just as the last fragment
of the suns disc melted away, a single blush
Of the corona, but il was white and no red
prominences were visible.
On shipbOard they were more fortunate
During the totality, mOmentary rift in the
clouds revealed the spectacle to the sailors
They saw the corona, and escribed il pre-
cisely as if they had read description in an
astronomical work The drawing taken from
their statements he considered in every sense
reliable. IL exhibits the corona with unequal
shoots Of light
DIR. f. A F. Barnard, a member of the ex-
pedition, gave a few results which are very in
teresting. The phenomenon known as "BaiIy's
beads" was distinctly seen. This consists of
series of round dots of light, like string of
beads, which Immediately succeeds total OBJ
scuratiOn. He attributed to them similar
cause which is assigned for mirage. The pas
sage Of the shadow created the same ineq uality
Of density in the atmosphere as that which, on
the principle Of refraction, produces mirage.
DR.. B. stated some interesting facts con-
nected with the voyage. His ideas of icebergs
were entirely corrected. He had no concep-
ton of their enormous height One was meas
ured to be nearly four hundred feet in height.
This, too, was in latitude 50 deg, off the coast
OF Belle Isle. Other remarkable features of
these high latitudes were great number and
brilliancy of suroras and great disturbances Of
the magnetic needle. What was quite as re-
msrkable, too. the latter became quiet during
the totality Of the eclipse. The almost total
absence Of animal life, with the exception of
muSquitoes was also remarked
V An Investigation, It is said, has shown that