The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-10-08
THE GREAT ECLIPSE
Onservntions OF one ofths cor-..
tronomers at Alden, In ArebIahAh

The steamer Hermann, which orri,. ,
New York on the 10th inst, brings foroid az
niles to the 9Th of September. with tbof III
lowing account of the solar ~eolipse. os 81
served by one Of the German -astronomers
at Alden, in Arabia, and by him commnni.
Gated TO the London Times:
Inc only astronomers and pbotooro-
piers that have come to Alden, are all Cor
mans; three of them, DIR. Weiss. Noviga-
ting Lieut.. Rhea, and another gentleman.
are Austrians. Their chief object vop 10
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 a most conclusive manner that the coro-
ma consists OF inflammable gas in n high
state OF combustion. Tho North German
party consisted of one astronomer. DIR
Thiel Of Bremen, and four Pussian nbotog-
raphers, working under the direction of
DR.. Fritch, Of Berlin. The party devoted
their attention chiefly 10 photogaphinq The
various phases of the eclipse, having go
lected Alden as the most likely spot in the
zone oil totality to be free from clouds.
Several English amateurs, officers of tho
army and navy, also contributed their help
in recording various experiments accord
-G ~ tAA III
The weather for n week preceding tho
e%ventful 18th had been unusually cloudy
for Alden, and prevented the savants who
had arrived in the beginning of August
from making as many observations as they
would have wished. Tho 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 and fashion of Alden made an exodus
to Marshag Hill, the eastern promontorv of
Alden, where the German party were estab-
lishod with all their instruments. The
night was very cloudy, and much anxiety
was ielt by all Interested in the success Of
the observations. At gray dawn, however.
and just before first contact the bonks of
clouds separated into broad bands, occa-
sionally shutting out a view Of the eclipse.
Iotality commenced at Oh. pom. 2Ss. in the
forenoon, and lasted 2m. 55s., during which
interval n most magnificent view of the
phenomena was obtained. and four most
successful photographs we're taken.
The only planets and stars observed
during the totality were Venus. Jupiter.
and Sirius, which Mt once shows That the
darkness was not great.
AZ the time Of totality the height of The
tide was seven n one-quarter feet, or for
Aden y good average spring tide. The
preceding spring tide (about n fortnight
Deiore) were very bad, the rise and fall
being not moro than four feet.
On the first separation q most beautifully
soft light stole out from behind the moon.
lighting mp the sea and rocks ofAden in nn
indescribably beautiful manner.
The sun was unfortunately behind n
cloud at the final separation, which could
not be, therefore, determined within a Sec
ond OF tir1e. The times were of:
II. 81. =.
roleHIy ................G 20 %
Fret Separation ..... -.........G 80 28
-
Totality ....... ... .~.......O IS
The German party We're 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 n Photographic telescope,
which is made self-acting by means of a
most ingenious clock-work mechanism.
which. with the help of n single pendulum
and endless wheels, is so dolicatoly adjusted
ms 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 a telescope with small squares in
the diaphragm, These valves eau be OK
octly determined by experiments with the
samo telescope in the distance between
known stars, which can be brought TO scale.
lHEQULEN % DELoIuMASD ADMIRAL FAR
RAoUT.-An Ostend correspondent Of the
Paris Univers Ilustre says: 1T did me
good to notice how pleasantly the gallant
American Admiral (Farrngut) 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 gIaciousness, and 1t was evil
dent that she enjoyed the rough but ehiv-
alrous politeness Of the old sailor ten times
us much as the honeyod phrases of the
courtiers who accompanied her on board
tho American ship, and when she finally
left the ship, she shook hands with the Ad-
miral 80 cordially that it was evident the
American hero would long preserve a warm
place in Her Majesty's little heart.