Wilmington journal., 1869-08-13

The EoL1PsE.-No sight of more sub
Unity or grandeur conId possibly have
been! itnagined' 'than the eclipse, presented
yesterday. Business v;ts for the time sus.
pended and every innabitant,. large and
small. gazed with silent awe npon this won
derful phenomenon, one of the grandesi
on record. The very breath seemed sus-
pended during the total phase, and the
magnificent sight was Witnessed with feel
ings impossible to describe. Admiration,
awe, wonder, curiosity and delight were
all singularly blended; and the scene was
we'll calculated to awaken such feelings. f.,
At a few minutes past 5 o'clock the
eclipse commenced. Those who watched its
progress through smoked glasses could see
the body of the moon gradually shutting
out the bright circle of the sun and casting
its shadowupon the earth. Inabout 80 min
ntes the sun was half-eclipsed, and at few
minutes past o'clock the eclipse was
total. In the mean time the earth grew
dark, and as the light of day became OBJ
scured by this premature darkness. the at
mosphere grew cool and chilly feeling
swept over us. The thermometer fell 4 de-
grees, and the wonderful change was every
where apparent, and even the chickens
began to prepare for sleep and actually
went to roost The darkness was that Of
carly night, but not quite SO great as
actual night lighted by the moon. It
seemed premature and unnatural dark
ness and one that could be felt. ..
The total eclipse lasted for the space of
three minutes. The sight was one then
for tho naked eye. The body of the moon
fully obscured the sun, and around it's
edge was crimson circle from which
mellow rays shot forth. Upon tle lower
edge of the moon appeared considerable
spot or gap, through which d deadened
light was seen. In other parts Of this
planet and within the circle were to be
seen two or three small spots through
which The light penetrated as through a
veil. Several stars made their appearance
brightin the heavens and the firmament de-
noted night. While the gaao of all humani--
ty was thus fixed the sun began to emerge
from tho eclipse. The FIRST flash of his
bright and golden rays appeared sudden
Iy, and he seemed rapidly to emerge from
the shadow. The dazzling effect was not
Immediate, bnt that portion of the suns
snrfaco first seen appeared like liquid fire,
and rays shot forth beautiful and in tho
heighth of aplendor. Seen with the naked
eye this liquid fire, as it were, seemed i'll
commotinn, and it Was al optical deluslon
with some for All instant. ti,at the two
heavenly bodies had come in contact and
one was consuming the other. And tho
sight was grandly sublime and the wonders
of the works of God were fully manifested
to our awe stricken gaze.
The passage of the sun from eclipse
seemed qnite rapid and soon interest was
lost. The earth resumed its wonted ap-
pearance, the air again war mod, the pulse
of nature was renewed and the cheerful
light of day reappeared Scientific men
all over the line of country in which the
eclipse was visible have made extensive
observations, and will publish then. for
the benefit of the world. The appearance
OF the moon was no doubt accurately photo,
graphed for preservation. To witnessing
this sight our age and generation has
boon extremely fortunate.
Daily Journal 8M.