Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-10-15
THE GREAT ECLIPSE.
Observations OF one OF the German As
trOnOmers At Alden, In Arabia--A Dis

The steamer Hermann, which arrived at
New York on the 10th inst, brings foreign
files to the 9Th of September with the fol-
lowing account of the solar eclipse, as OBJ
served by one of the German astronomers
at Alden, in Arabia, and by him communi-
Gated to the London, Times; A1T
The only astronomers and photogra-
pliers that have come TO Alden, are all Ger
mans; three Of them, DR.. Weiss, Naviga-
ting Lieut.. Rhea, and another gentleman,
are Austrians Their chief object was to
make observations on the constitution of
the corona. From the observations
taken by those gentlemen there
can be no doubt that the problem is now
solved, several varied experiments proving
in most conclusive manner that the coro-
ma consists of inhammable gas ina high
state of combustion. The North German
party consisted of one astronomer, DR..
Thiel of Bremen and four Prussian photog-
raphers, working under tho direction of
Dr. Fritch, of Berlin. The party devoted
their attention chiefly to photographing the
various phases of the eclipse, having Sc
lected Alden as the most likely .spotin the
zone Of totality to be free from elodds.
Several English amateurs, officers Of the
army and navy, also contributed their help
in recording various experiments accord
ing to their respective abilities.
The weather for week, preceding the
eventful 18th had been unusually cloudy
for Alden, and prevented the sayants who
had arrived in the beginning Of August
from making as many observations az they
would have wished. The mornings had
been particularly trying, the sun rising be-
tween thick banks of purple gray clouds
On the evening of the 18th almost all the
rank aud fashion Of Alden made an exodus
to Marshag Hill, the eastern promontory of
Alden, where the German party were estab-
lshed with all their instruments. The
night was very cloudy, and much anxiety
was felt by all Interested in the success Of
the observations At gray dawn, however,
and just before first contact the banks of
clouds separated into broad bands, occa-
sionally shutting out view of the eclipse.
Totality commenced at Oh. 29m. 28s. in the
forenoon, and lasted 2m. 55s., during which
interval most magnificent view OF the
phenomena was obtained, and four most
successful photographs were taken.
The only planets and stars observed
during the totality were Venus Jupiter,
and Sirius, which at once shows that the
darkness was not great. y
At the time Of totality the height of the
tide was seven and one-quartef feet, or for
Alden n good average spring tide. The
preceding spring tide (about d fortnight
before) were very bad, the rise and fall
being not more than four feet V
On the first separation o most beautifully
soft light stole out from behind the moon,
lighting up the sea and rocks ofAden in an
indescribably beautiful manner.
The sun was unfortunately behind a
cloud at the final separation, which could
not be, therefore, determined within q sec
ond of time. The times were Of 9i"
H. NJ. s.
Totality .........................6 g 20 2S
First Separation. ..................6 50 23
Totalty ...... -. ...,.......0 2 65
The German partSwere delighted with
all their experiments, and considered them
selves amply repaid for their trouble. They
had most superb instruments, and were
particularly civil and obliging in explaining
their use mechanism, &c. Among the most
interesting was Photographic telescope,
which is made self-acting by means of a
most ingenious clock-work mechanism,
which, with the help Of a single pendulum
and endless wheels, is so delicately adjusted
as to counteract the motion of the earth
and to keep the telescope rigidly fixed on
the star or planet during the ten or fifteen
seconds required to receive the impression.
The corona was accurately measured by
means Of telescope with small squares in
the diaphragm. These valves can be ex-
actlv determined by experiments with the
same telescope in the distance between
known stars, which can be brought to scale.
The QUEEN OF BELGIUM AND ADMIRAL FAR
RAoUT.-An 0stend correspondent of the
Paris Univers Illustre says: ut did me
good to notice how pleasantly the gallant
American Admiral (Farragut) smiled at the
good looking Queen Of the Belgians, when
he escorted her all over his magnificent
ship. The Queen. on her part, was all
smiles and graciousness, and it was evil
dent that she enjoyed the rough but chiy-
alrous politeness of the old sailor ten times
as much as the honeyed phrases Of the
courtiers who accompanied her on board
the American ship, and when she finally
left the ship, she shook hands with the Ad-
miral so cordially that it was evident the
American hero would long preserve warm
place in Her Majesty's little heart.