Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-08-13
The Astronomical Expedition.

Professor Alexander gave to the scientific
Association, at Newport, an account of the
late Eclipse ofthe sun, as seen at Labrador.
The following is short abstract:-
The observations were all made from the
land. They had schooled themselves to
watch each his own phenomenon and not to
suffer themselves to be awestruck by the
grandeur of the spectacle, to the diversion of
their attention. Prof. Alexander was in the
centre of the group, the photographer was at
his side one person counted the seconds, an
other the minutes. When perfectly sure
that the exact minute of first contact had ar
rived, Prof A. gave the signal and the pie
ture was taken. 1t proved that the belt OF
| light nearest the moon was much brighter
than the rest. Along the edge Of the moon
was u blush light, which the photograph
caught Before it has been thought that
| this light was only in the observers eye.
but now it is proved that there is something
| there, which must be studied hereafter. No
wonder that an eclipse used to be supposed
to be caused Ivy the devouring of the sun bya
| wild animal, or by the suns slow fading
| away! The phenomenon was most beau
| tiful sight, and it was with difficulty that the
behoders could restrain their exstacy. Ii
looked like an intensely brilliant incandes-
cent fragment Of metal exposed to the inten-
sest heat, the sharp points falling away until
the sun was gone. But the clouds prevent
ed thorough observation. 1t was the es-
pecial dnty of one of the officers of the ship
to watch the shadow of the moon AS it pass
ed away, upon the cliff; it came with fearful
velocity, and was gone in three minutes
When the shadow was upon the observers
they saw an intensely beautiful array of col
ors, copper, leaden, golden. and ruddy. Be
low, the bold cliffs were of q dark blush
green. The whole spectacle was grand and
beautiful. a newspaper, to be read, must
be brought within four inches of the eye, the
light being much less than the twilight at
| midnight Just after the eclipse became to-
tal Lieut.. Ash caught slight view of the
small light blaze. This observation is in
deed valuable. But they did not quite lose
the corona. Prof. 4. had arranged mum.
Der of observations for the sesmen, under
the general charge of the commander. lie
prepared set Of simple questions, and from
the intelligent quartermaster he gathered
the fact ofhow they saw the corona how it
looked and ;rembled, and how it shot out
The description was natural as precise
Prof. A. fixed prepared sheet, in accor
dance with the ideas which he gathered, cor
rectng it until the quartermaster and the
seamen said that it was exact. ApplauSe.l
The speaker was himself satisfied Of its re-
liability, and declared that il. justified all the
time, care, labor and expense bestowed up
on the expedition.
President Barnard followed, with the phys
zeal side of the question lie regretted that
the state of the atmosphere had prevented
them from observing several phenomena,
and hoped that observers in other quarters
had been more successful. He saw that Gu
rious breaking up of the lines of light be
tween the sun and moon just ut the moment
of total observation, described by Francis
Bailey in 1897, and called "Bailey's beads"
They also saw the phenomenon, but the
fragments did not present just that rotund-
ty which would entitle them to be called
beads Their appearance he said was so
beautiful that the chief of the expedition was
carried away; and, forgetting himself, broke
the law Of silence by excaiming, "BaiIey's
beadsw
Prof. Al beg to correct Dr. Barnard.
Somebody else said 'Baiey's beads and the
chief cried, BE stillv" Laughter.
DR.. Barnard accepted the correction, and
said that at the time Of the phenomenon, he
was trying to count the number of beads
and did not see the phenomenon observed by
Lieut. Ash. Previously to the meeting OF
the two limbs, it had been noticed that the
moons edge was very rough, while the sun
was smooth. They saw nothing of tina;
drawing out of the beads and their breaking
as if they were the flaments Of IL yiscous
fluid. Bailey himself did not see them. when
in Italy in 1912. DR.. Barnard thinks the
beads are owing to the irregularitv of the
lunar disc at the edge where it meets the So
lar edge.