The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1860-08-29

The ECLIPSE AS SEEN AT LABRADOR.-Prof. Alex
ander who accompanied the e. s. Expedition to Labra-
dor has given to the American scientific convention,
now in session at Newark, N. j.. very interesting
account of the great eclipse observed by him in those
hyperborean regions:
The expedition had been fitted out under the patron
age of the coast survey andits enlightened supernend
ent. Mr.. Baehe.
Never in his widest dreams had he conceived of
scenes of such wild grandeur and dessoaton greeted
them as they approached their final destination.
The shore was skirted with almost unbroken range
of mountains seeming like cast iron. They were beyond
aborescen yegetation-and but little except MOSES
grew anywere Along the base of the mountain towards
the sea- lay bank of mint. 1t necessary to get on
the opposite side to be free from danger from this
The difficulties seemed to be very great sort of terrace
on the western side of the range found which
promised to be sutable hither with great difficulty
transported ourselves and ournstruments Theweather
when clear was very clear but lasted than
two days The day had looked forward to with great
anxiety was overcast still could see the disc of the
SUM- the clouds served for eolored glass screens
The most interesting results of our observations are
l. The moon broke the curve OF the sun with an
enormously rough edge
3 A phenomenon which I was the first to notice
some years ago, viz, belt Of light around the moon,
brighter than any other part of the sun.
| g. An appearance which bat of our party saw,
which was observed in $780, and once LATER and has
been called an optical delusion but which the photo
graphic plate now had not forgotten to record Thus
was real and not optical
/ The phenomenon in question was a Blush light OF
the side of the moon close to the edge projected the
sun These three results professor A. considered amply
justified the expenses of the expedition.
As the eclipse progressed, and when there was only
bit of ragged intensely brilliant silverware of the
suns disc left it seemed if the melting ava,
and dropping point by point, till in minute all wa
gone During totaity the sky overspread with th
most beautiful coIors- We through the deepening
mist Just as the last fragments of the suns disc meet
away single blush Of the eorona but it white
nored prominences were visible.
On shipboard they were more fortunate During th'
totality momentary rift in the clouds revealed th
spectacle to the sailors. They the corona and de
scrbed it as precisely if they had read description
in an astronomical work The drawing taken from the
statements he considers in every sense reliable. 1
exhibits the corona with unequal shoots of light
i Dr. f. 4. P. Bernard, member Of the expedition
cave a few results which very interesting. Th
phenomenon known as '-Bailys beads" was distinct,
seen. This consists of series of round dots Of light
like a string of beads, which Immediately succeed
total obscuration He attributed TO them similar cause
which is assigned for mirage The passage of the SHADOW
created the inequality Of density in the atmosphere
as that which, the principle of reraetion produce
mirage.