Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-10
THE ECLIPsE.ll ga
observations Made atsheibJ vile. KY.

of the cost survey, in charge oil the oOSer
vations of precision, assisted by F. Blake
4 IT,, of the coast survey. ]. A. Whipple
of Boston, assisted by George Clark and J
Pennergrast, had charge of the photo
graphic. Prof. G. M. Se2rles, of New
York, devoted himself to observations O
the general phenomena, and during the
total phase was to search for intra-Mercn-
| rial planets. Sub-assistant +. III. Agnew
also devoted himself to observations of the
general phenomena, and had charge of the
observatory arrangements, being assisted
! By Mr.. r. E. Sharrard, of Louisville.
The meteorological observations were
: made By Prof. Seymour, of Louisville, and
Robt. TeviF, Of Shelbyville. A number OF
distinguished amateurs we're present, and
with their own instruments took observa-
tions. Among these was Mr.. Bowditch, of
, Boston, a son of the celebrated astronomer:
One of the most important discoveries
made by Prof. Winlock at the spectroscope
was eleven bright lines in the spectrum of
the protuberances of the sun, only i've
having ever heretofore been determined.
He also observed shower of meteors be-
tween the moon and earth. 1E-
The party are jubilant over the success
of the Photographic experiments. -Four ex'
cellent pictures of the corona we're secured,
while eighty.fve photographs of the sun
were taken at different times. During the
partial obscuration the beautiful red flows
ers or solar protuberances were visible TO
the naked eye. Bailey's beads, as well as
| the dark and dismal shadow of the moon
sailing away through the air, were plainly
noted by party of amateurs stationed on
| the top of Shelby College. The sky was
] perfectly clear, and everything seemed to
| propitiate the success Of the observations.
| There were ten or twelve mounted instru-
ments in use on the occasion, the princi-
pal one of which was the Shelby College
telescope, which was handled by Prof
Winlock, assisted by Alvan q. Clark, Esq,
Of Cambridge, Massachusetts. This is
fine instrument, and cost four thousand
dollars 1t once ranked third in the United
| States.
Arcturas, Vega, Venus and Mercury were
visible to the naked eye during the total
phase. Mr.. Scarles, whose duty it was 10
search for intra-Mercurial plaLets, did not
succeed in finding any, reporting nothing
fainter than Regulus, before the sun.
When the sunlight commenced TO be-
come dim, a large number of citizens
rushed to the college grounds, the head
quarters Of the observers. Eight minutes
before the total phase the usual phenomena
of distraction among birds Of the air and
cattle occurred. Six minutes before total
ity, deathly ashen hue overspread the
countenaDces of all present, and for a
while the faint,hesrted we're terrified. The
scene during to.ality was an awful one,
aud when the sunlight appeared again =
~, Of o~,,lfafsnn mn frOu tho
great crowd in the college grounds.
AT owENsBoRo.
GREENSBORO, KY, Aug. THE eclipse
here was total. The stars were out as If
night. 10 the north We had most beau
tiful sight, resembling an aurora borealis.
TIE excitement over the event was very
high. Old people from the surrounding
country stood amazed, and spoke of 1t as
one of the greatest events OF their lives.
During the time loud yells rent the air
from the crowds gathered TO witness 1t.
AT PARIS
PARIS, KY, Aug. mo scientific OBJ
servations made here. Eclipse came on
according 10 programme. Total eclipse
lasted two minutes, fifty-fve seconds. One
hour coming on and one hour leaving.
Commenced at 4:22
AT SPRINGFIELD, ILL
CHICAGO, Aug. S.-The eclipse at Spring
field was startling and sublime phenom7
en&. The sky was perfectly clear, not
cloud visible. Prof. Pierce, OF Harvard,
had charge of the observations which were
made near the reservoir. A hundred pho
tographs of the eclipse we're taken by Mr.
Black, of Boston. When the observation
took place the heavens and the earth pre-
scented a scene of awful sublimity. A
brilliant amber colored corona appeared
around the sun and moon, shining rays of
| light outward in all directions, when the
| whole horizon was illuminated with light
| Of the same color. The planets Mercury
and Venus and q number of fixed stars
were distinctly visible, but no planetaries
between Mercury and the sun were dis
| covered; brilliant rose~colored flame or
protuberance was noticed on the wester n
| limb of the sun during the per;Ol of total
l observation. The phenomenon known as
Bailey's beads was also distinctly seen,
The phenomenon, Prof Price thinks, is
occasioned by refraction of light; he is also
satisfied that the corona or halo at the
time of the total observation was occasion
ed BY the suns atmosphere. Prof Chas.
Scott, of the coat survey, had charge of the
general arrangements, and with power
full telescope observed particularly the
form of the protruberances, and made
special observation in connection with the
Photographic. 60.
= w. z. Montague, graduate of Harvard
College this year, was detailed 20 note the
time by the Chronometer, and during the
entire eclipse, from its commencement I'M
I'll its final close, never for a moment al
LEVIED his eve 10 wander from the dial
plate, thus losing sight of the eclipse in
any Of its phases. During the total OBJ
scurstion of the SUD, silence like death
rested over the city. The birds few 10
their nests, fowls to their roosi, and
chickens to the friendly wings Of shelter.
| A drove of COWS feeding near the reser-
vCir. with heads and tails erect, and with
startled, frightened look, started for the
CITY. and did not cease running until "Old
SOP once more shone forth.
MANY other incidents, some lsugbable
and Others grave, TRANSFERRED during the
eclipse. Dogs were seen 10 gaze in wonder
at the terrible appearance Of the sky, and
remain during the total obscuI ion in an
| attitude Of algrm and wonderment, but
inst at the moment the first ray Of the sun
appeared expressed the JOY they felt in a
way dogs only can.
The observations made by the scientific
gentlemen have been all that could be de-
sired. The photographs. taken by Mr..
Black have never been equalled, IN num-
, Der or perfectness of execution.
At 10 minutes and IS seconds pss four
, the eclipse commenced, the moons hrst
contact with the sun occurring when the
: | former was 10 degrees south OF the solar
{ EQUATOR, on the west side. The thermom'
eler which few minutes before had risen
to l02, began to fall rapidly. Gradually
the darkness of twilight spread over the
\ earth. Small flies, gnsts and other her
r aids of night, thickIy fiuttered in the air
| until, at ii minutes past the unanimous
o ordinations from the eager spectator
announced the visible advent of the fire
star Regulus. At precisely ii minutes snC
:. 10 seconds past five the suns shining fac,
became totally obscured, and star after
: star appeared. The corona threw its bril-
= liant corruscations of luminous ligh
y around the black sphere for two minute
and thirty seconds. The darkness wa
a canal TO that Of a moonlight night, art
It the temperature was forty-two degree
e cooler than one hour before. The oouh;e
nSnces of the spectators assumed a ghastly
It unnatural hue. The sky WAS of ligh
e. purplish color, excepting near the horizon
IS where the aspect WAS that golden radianC
with which il glows after beautiful sur
set The climax occurred when al To