The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1860-08-23
The Astronomtcai Expedi,ion.

The Astronomical Expeditions.
:. Tho Newport correspondent of the Bos-
ton Advertiser gives the following sketch
Of the proceedings on the occasion OF the
report of the Astronomical Expedition to
the Scientific Congress
NEWPORT, RI, Wednesday, Aug. s.
Expectation was on stills to hear Prof
Alexander give the results of the Astro-
nomical Expedition to Labrador, to view
the eclipse. The expedition went out un-
der the direction of the United States
Coast Survey. 1t left New York june %,
In the surveying steamer Bibb, Lieut. Muir
ray, u. S. NJ, commanding. The general
charge was given to Prof. Stephen Alcxan-
der, of Princeton, n j., who was aided by
President f. a. Z. Barnard, of the Univcr-
sity of Mississippi, Prof Smith, of Annap-
lis, Mcssrs S. Walker and Il. Goodfcllow
of the Coast Survey, (who had charge of
the magnetic observations Prof. Hannibal
and Mr.. Lcibcr, Of Columbia, s. c., Lieut.
Ash, Of the British Navy, =. G. Duchocois,
photographer, of New York, and Mr.
Thompson, of the Coast Survey, who as
sisted the photographers They returned
here yesterday afternoon.
The meeting came to order about 10
o'clock, and with little delay, Prof Alcxan-
der gave his account oI this expedition. lie
expressed himself, ut the outset, very
grateful for all the demonstrations of wei
come which he aud his party had met since
their setting feet ON shore. He said that
he felt his ideas almost in turmoil ON
coming fran n land of monumental desola-
tion to one where there is-a high civilza-
tion and n social union, and begged pardon
should cause him to express himself an-
biguously. He said that though he was at
the head of the expedition, because some
head was necessary, there was no SUPERIOR
ty. Never in his widest dreams had he
conceived of such scene of wild grandeur
as on the fifty miles of the coast of I.abra-
dor, along which they skirtcd. An unbro-
ken chain of mountains seemingly made of
cast iron, with no arborcsccncc, sent down
their cold chills upon the water below from
peaks covered with snow. Along the base
of this barrier slept bed of mist, held
there by the laws of nature When they
looked up and saw high plateau at the
top, it was not manifest how they were To
get up there. When they had entered
little inlet, the mountain barrier intcrposin.
LETT them favorable place to work. When
the weather was clear it was very clear, but
1t did not remain So for more than two days
Mt time; and they waited with great anX-
iety to see what the weather would be on
the eventful day. The observations were
all made from the land They had school
cd themselves to watch each his own phe-
mo nd 10 u, a. 4
awc-struck 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 per
son counted the seconds, another the min
utcs. When perfectly sure that the exact
minute of first contact had arrived, Prof \
gave the signal; and the picture 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 blush
light, which the photograph caught. Be
fore 1T was thought that this light was only
In the observers eye, but 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 by
the deyOuring OF the sun 10y wild animal,
or BY the suns slow fading away The
phepomenon was most beautiful sight,
and, it was with difficulty that the behold
.crs could restrain their ecstacy. 1t looked
like an intensely brilliant, mcandesccnt frag-
mcnt of metal exposed to the intenseSt heat,
the sharp points falling away until the sun
was gone. But the clouds prevented q
thorough observation. 1t was the especial
duty of one of the officers of the ship to
watch the shadow of the moon as it passed
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
coiors-copper. lcadcn, golden, and ruddy
Below, the bold cliffs were of dark bIueish
lgreen. The whole spectacle was grand and
beautiful. n newspaper, To be read, must
bc breught within four inches of the eye,
the light boing much less than the twilight
Mt midnight. just after the eclipse became
total, Lieut. Ash caught a slight view OF
the small light blaze. This observation is
indeed valuable. But thoy did not quite
lose the corona. Professor \. had arrang.
cd number Of observations for the scamcn,
under the general charge of the commander.
He prepared sct of simple questions, and
from the Intelligent quartcr-master he gath
cred the fact of bow they saw the corona,
how it looked and tremblcd, and how it shot
but The description was natural as pre-
ciso. Prof Alexander fixed prepared
sheet, in accordance with the ideas which
he gathered, correcting it untiltho quarter
master aItd seamcn said that it was exact
IIApplause.J The speaker was hmscll JUS
tilted of its reliability, and declared tl,at it
justified all the time, care, labor and ex-
pcnsc bestowed upon the expedition.
Prof Alexander, whose manner is ox-
iremcly simple, eloquent, and enthusiastic,
was loudly applaudod as he sat down
Prcsidcn. Barnard followed, with the