New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-30
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.
ITS EXTENT HERE-wHERE TOTAL-HOw or
SERVED-wHAT is To BE sEEN-REsULT9
HOPED FOR-INsTRUMENTs To BIZ Used.

HOPED FOR-IESTRUMENTS To BIZ Used.
The unusual event of a total eclipse of the
Sun viii be witnessed the seventh OF August, week
from tomorrow by portion Of the people Of the United
States. The phenomenon indeed common enough, II
is simply to somewhere the earth But thatf
Is very rare when confined TO particular place
try may be illustrated by the following facts. The eee.
DRAFTED Astronomer, HALEY, computed in 7l5 that up to
that date total eclipse OF the sun had occurred at Lon
don for period Of 575 years And that date
has occurred at that place. At Paris during tho Eight
eenh Century, but total eclipse OF the sun was seen
that Of 1924; and during the Nineteenth Century mono
has been. or will be, seen.
We told by astronomers OF Washington that "no TO-
tai eclipse OF the has been visible IN any consider
able portion Of this country since none viii DO
visible after this year during the present century," Thus
it appears that persons living the United States
have had view Of Niagara Falls, Of the Mammoth
Cave OF Kentucky Of the Natural Bridge Of Virginia,
thai. have witnessed the grand astronomical phe-
uomonOn Of a total eclipse Of the sun. And by far tho
great majority OF the people IN the United States
OF the city Of NewYolk will be unable to witness tho
great total eclipse Of this year, for In NewYork and
most parts Of the country, the eclipse Is only partial,
though unusually largo. In this city and It's vicinity
about yo-sixths Of the suns disk viii be obseurad Those.
therefore, hope witness the total phase, do
as the astronomers have learned to DO.
Instead Of waiting patiently at their oberyaores for
the eclipse to approach them which have IL will
take some centuries to do, the astronomers have ac-
CURED the habit or taking their ODScrNaCfs 70 the mo
Of the total eclipse. The total eclipse OF this year Is Wis.,
iblc along track about 40 miles widc and more than
COCO miles long When this track laid down a map.
throughout its whole extent, IL looks like narrow NIB
bon stretching North America and portion Of
Asia. 1t begins in Siberia where 1t takes northeast
erly course, till It little south OF Behring's
Straits, after which it turns its course southeastery,
traYcrsing portions Of territory OF Alaska thence
into British America and through Montana Dakota,
Nebraska, Iowa. Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky,
Tennessee, and North Carolina 1t ends In the Atlantic
Ocean, OF the coast Of the last mentioned State All places
situated the central line Of this track will have the
totally obscured for period varying from 2m as.
to 3m i3s, according to geographical position Places
situated the borders Of the track about 70 miles
either side Of the central line, Will have the just
covered completely for Instant and the duration Of
the total phase will be greater the the place is to
the central line Outside Of the track OF total phase
the northern side, only partial eclipse OF the suns
southern limb and the southsde Of tho
track partial eclipse Of the northern
limb will be But the duration and magnitude OF
the partial eclipse viii be greater proportion tho
place of observation the borders Of the track OF
total phase.
Perhaps some curious reader who has not looked very
closely into his treatise Astronomy, who may have
long forgotten all about IT, may wish TO know what
Is the OF tho total phenomenon being restricted to
| the comparatively narrow track which we have de-
scubed Allow TO refresh his memory. The rays OK
light coming from the extreme borders Of the suns spher
body straight lines and without previously cross
ing to borders Of the moons much smaller
globe form a with its yertex pointed toward the
earth-that Is, the occasion Of eclipse like that
which will be witnessed In Au1st OF course, the Opaque
body OF the eats out all the light from this cone
between her sphere and the yertex IN tho APP
preaching eclipse this reaches to the nearest sur
face Of the earth; and, If 1t were mate
rial solid body, it would pierce down toward
the earhs center so that the section Of the cone by
the earths surface forms nearly circle OF about l4o
miles in diameter. All persons aud places within the
limits OF this circular section OF the moons conieal
shadow are OF involved I'm the blackness OF night
The brighter stars and planets near the region OF the
sun and moon appear; the birds aud beasts, in great
terror the unusual and sudden approach Of darkness
the places Of shelter and rcpOse But TINS
circular shadow, OF 40 miles IN diameter, does not
remain long on the same part Of the earths surface.
For the is flying around the earth in her orbit from
West to East with the velocity, the 9Th Of August Of
about 40 miles per minue and the shadow passes over
the earhs curved surface with the increased velocity OF
about A miles per minute, nearly threequarers OF
mile every second Of time.
Hence the whole circular shadow Of hundred and
forty miles diameter sweeps the EARTH IN general
direction from the west toward the east forming belt
Of its own width, than six thousand miles long. in
the short time OF about two hours and half Those OBJ
servers who have witnessed the approach and passing
away OF the previous total ecpes OF the SUM- describe
the rush Of this black wing OF night something pecu
lary impressive In the year total eclipse OF tho
sun was visible the south OF France which was OBJ
served by celebrated ATago and Of which he gives
following interesting accounts AT Perpgnah ohD no
sick renamed indoors From early dawn TIE people COW
yered the terraces the city rampars all the kOhs ana
| vantage points from which they could hope to SEQ
the sun rise At the citadel had under our eyes, be-
sides the numerous groups Of citizens, the soldiers who
were about to be reviewed. The time for the beginning
of the eclipse approached Nearly 10000 persons smoked
glass hand, scanning the radiant orb, now pro-
eced upon an sky. Hardly had aided by pow
erl glasses began TO distinguish the slight shade ob.
scurng the western limb of the sun, when shout the
mingled sound of 900 different voices apprsed us that
our observation had preceded by seconds only that
made by 10000 mproyised astronomers with the naked
eye this their first essay lively curiosity, the spirit
of emulation and desire not be foesalled, seemed
| to endow their natural vision with unaccustoned
penetration and power.
Between the commencement OF the eclipse and thu
time which closely preceded the total disappearance oil
the SUM- we remarked nothing worthy OF record ih inc
countenances of the numerous spectators Bat when tho
SIM narrowed 10 a mere line, began 10 throw over the
horizon but faint light anxiety spread through INC
whole crowd each man felt impeed 10 communicate MS
impressions TO his neighbor Then began du roaHAe
that OF a distant sea after tempest Inc noise DecaS
lauder IN nroportion to the thinning OF the slender
solar crescent Finally the crescent vanished
| norl,ness succeeded suddenly to the light, and an
obsoIute silence marked this phase Of the eclipse,
"a borply as did the pendulum Of Astronomical clock.
| The phenomenon, in its magnlhccncc, had tri'
pbed over the resessness Of youth the fvOlity
winch certain take for a sign OF superiority, and
over the noisy indifference Of which the soldiers ord
narily make their boast profound calm rcgucd too, In
the air. even the birds ceased their song. After olema
waiting OF about two minutes duration transports ofJoy,
frantic applause sauted, with the accord the same
pOnanety. the temperance Of the first solar rays 10
melancholy selfcoectedness, produced by ndenna-