The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-08-13


tOOn; H., will give a very accurate idea, of
the occurrence all along the belt of total
eclipse: q
CHICAGO, August S.--The eclipse &c
Springfield, Ill, was startling and sublime
phenomenon. The sky was perfectly clear,
not cloud being visible. Professor Pearce
of Harvard had charge of the observations,
which were nude near the city reservoir.
A hundred photographs of the eclipse were
taken by Mr.. Black Of Boston when the total
Obscuration took place. The heavens and
the earth presented a scene Of awful sublimi-
"a brilliant amber colored corona appear
ed around thesun and moon, shooting rays Of
light outward in all directions, when the
whole horizon was Illuminated with a light
OF the same color. The planets Mercury
and Venus, and number of fixed stars,
were distinctly visible but no plRnlOrds be-
tween mercury and the sun were discover
ed; brilliant rose c0lOred flame or protu-
berance was noticed on the western limb of
the sun during the period of total obscura-
ton, The phenomenon known as Bailey's
beads was also distinctly witnessed. The
phenomenon Professor Pearce thinks is oc-
casioned BY retraction Of light, he is also
satisfied that the Corona or halo at the time
Of the total obscurstion, was occasioned by
the suns atmosphere. Professor Charles
Schott Of the coast survey, had charge of the
general arrangements. and with a powerful
telescope observed particularly the form of
the protuberaDces, aud made special Obser-
vations in connection with the photograph
ers. W. p. Montague graduate of Harvard
college, this year, was detailed to note the
time by the chTonometer, and during the
entire eclipse, from its commencement until
It's final close, never for a moment allowed
his eve 10 wonder from the dial plate, thus
not losing sight of the eclipse in any of its
phases. During the total obScurstion of
the sun a silence like death rested all over
the CITY. Birds flew to their nests, fowls to
their roosts, and chickens TO the friendly
wings of shelter. A drove of cows feeding
near tie reservoir, with heads and tails
erect and with a startltd, frightened look,
started for the city, and did not cease run
ming until old Sol once more shOne forth.
Many other incidents, some laughsble and
others grave, transpiFed during the eclipse.
Dogs were seen TO gaze in wonder at the
terrible appearance of the sky, and remain
during the total observation in an attitude
of alarm and wonderment, but Just at the
moment the first ray Of the sun appeared,
they expressed the Joy they felt in a way
that dogs only can. The observations made
by the scientific gentlemen have been all
that could be desired. The photographs
taken by Mr.. Black have never been equal
ed in number or perfection of execution.
At Matsoon the observations were made
by Professor g. W. HOugh of Dudley obser-
vatory, Albany, N. Y; Professor David
MurrY of Rutgers college, New Brunswick,
N. j.; Professor Easterday, Hillsboro, III;
Professor John O. House, Waterford, New
York; Lewis Swift, Marathon, Cortland
county, New York, and Thomas SimOnds,
New York city, late of the Dudley obserTa-
tory. The instruments made use Of we're
ordinary telescopes, one of them, however,
was provided with means for accurately
measuring the diversions Of the protubances
on the sun aud the corona or surrounding
halo A chTOnograph was employed to-
note accurately the time Of the different
The time was obtained by
belegTaphic Communication with Dudley
University at Albany, N. 7. At 10 minutes
Is seconds past the eclipse commenced,
the moons first contact with the sun OCCUR
ring when the former was nineteen degrees
south Of the solar equator on the west side.
The thermometer which a few moments
before had risen to 102 degrees began to fall
rapidly. Gradually the darkness Oftwilight
spread over the earth; small flies, gnats and
other heralds Of night thickly hutteriDg IN
the air until eleven minutes past i've. The
unanimous exclamation from the esg ger spec
tators announced the visible advent Of the
first star Regulus. At precisely IL minu-
tes II seconds past five, the suns shining
face became totally obscured, and star after
star appeared. The Corona threw its brili-
ant corruscatiOns of luminous light around
the black sphere for two minutes and thirty
seconds. The darkness was equal to that
Of moonlight night, and the temperature
was fOrty-tWO degrees cooler than an hour
before. The cOuntsnances of the spectators
assumed q chastity, unatural hue; the sky
was of light. purplish eoleF, excepting near
the horizon where the aspect was Of that
golden radiance with which it gloWs af ter
! beautiful sunset. The climax occurred
when, ut the close Of the tOtality, like fash
Of lightning, the first ray of sunlight shot
suddenly out, piercing the gloom in second,
again Illuminating the whole. The eclipse
sndsd at nine minutes and twenty .twO
seconds past six o'clock. In the observations
AIKEN, the phenomena cOrrespOnded pre-
,isely with the computations previously
made. Six spots were visible on the serface
1f the sun before the eclipse, two Of which
we're very prominent, and the others much /
less. The cusps on the moon had ragged
blurred appearance. As the eclipse progress
sed towards totslity, the form of the moon
became visible, near the eusps Of the phenO-
nena of tOtality. Bailey's beads were seen
distinctly, by all the observers extending
through an arc of at least fifty degrees.
The moment the eclipse became total the
fame like prOtubeEances we're seen With
distinetness; one very large on
The lower limb of the sun and three nearly
As large on the upper limb, while at least
seven OF eight in all were visible. The one
On the right hand or lower limb had some
what sails set. 10 its part nearest the moon
we're two or three Jet black spots; to the
naked eye it seemed as though there were
openings or assures In the moOn-tWo on
he east side, aud one on the southwest side,
ust after the total eclipse through the open
ngs the lurid glare of the sun was distinctly
visible. The corona was apparent to all
observers, either with OF without instTu-
nents. 1t was not as generally described in
books, halo Oflight surrounding the moon,
but was distinctly seen TO be five pointed
1rongs on the lower and two on the upper
circumference of the mon. These points
presented radiant appearance. The gen
orally received theory regarding this corona
haiti is the atmosphere of the sundoes not
seem TO be sustained by sbservations made
Al this point. It is co5jectured that the
corona is in some way caused by the phenO-
nena light passing through the atmOs-
lhere, although search was made, no plane |
larry bodies were observed between Mercury |
md the sun during the totality phase. Mer-
curry, Venus, Regulus, Mars, Saturn, Dane
both, and other stars were visible. The |
in The shade at the beginning |
If the eclipse was n degrees; during the |
,Otality As, degrees, and at the end Of the |
eclipse it had risen to 10 degrees, At $40 |
n the sun on the grass the thermometer
vas at 100 degrees; few minutes after 4
o'clock it rose to lO2 degrees, while dn';-,.
Otal eclipse it fell to 60 degree -. i..-rg lug
Iueutly rose to 50 1- .O,sos - 'u' 'uO1'
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