The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-08-12
The Eclipse as Seen Along the Line of
Totally.

Baltimore Sun, of Monday
THE ECLiPsE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Tha scene at the time of to,ality was
magnificent beyond description. At
sos the eclipse began, tho shadow
gradually covering the disc of the sun
until complete. AT 5.4iI the sun was
half obscured, aud at COZ! the eclipse
was total, aud remained so for one hun.
bred and eighteen seconds. A Their.
mometer which was placed in the sun
stood at ninety-three degrees at sos /;
at 5,4i9 it fell to seventy. three degrees,
and at the time OF the total eclipse il
fell to sixty-eight degrees, the air grow.
ing rapidly colder, while the whole at.
mosphere assumed hazy and leadcu
appearance.
Immediately succeeding the total oh.
seuration the corona became visible and
brilliant. Corruscations seemed to fash
and radiate from the circumference of
the moon. Undulations of soft white
light burst out brilliantly and repeated
ly, until the close, when Venus, Mcr.
curry and Mars shone out in magnificent
splcndor. A peculiar gloom spread like
a pail over the landscape, while chang.
ing tiuts Of black, orange, indigo, aud
leadeu hues covered the heavens, near
the horizon, ncrth aud south. The
spectacle was magnificent and sublime
and the crowd about the cupola sponta,
neously burst out with "Praise God from
whom all blessings flow" During the
totality two blades of crimson light
seemed to cut the moons circumference,
and curved lines were visible across the
disc Of the moon, resembling the groined
projections of the top of some Gothic
cathedral No point could have offered
better facilities Tor taking au obserya.
tion than this, aud the circumstances
were all that could be wished. Every
facility was extended by DIR. Grissom
of the asylum, and to whom the Wash.
ington party are much indebted.
The streets aud housetops in vii.
mington, were crowded with people to
witness the eclipse Of the sun this even.
ing. The following observations were
taken from the top Of the Dawson Bank
buildings, Washington time being the
standard: The time of the greatest OBJ.
scuration was six and quarter minutes
past six. The duration of the total
eclipse was one minute and thirty sec.
onds. The time Of the beginning of
the total phase was five minutes past
six, aud the end of the total phase was
six and half minutes past six. The
beginning of the eclipse penumbra was
hive minutes past five, and the end OF
the eclipse penumbra was fifty. four
minutes past six. 1t was the graudest
spectacle ever beheld here. During the
observation the stars shono almost as
bright as at night, fowls went to roost
three quarters of an hour earlier than
usual, and business was almost sus.
pended in the city so great was the i'm.
preston produced.
THE ECLIPSE IN IOWA.
An unclouded sky allowed the MANY
observers gathered here to witness the
eclipse with great distinctness, n slight
haze only interfering to prevent sat.
isfactory search for planets supposed
to exist inside the orbit of Mercury
According to Prof. j. II. Safford's OBJ.
servations the first contact occurred nj
Oh. Am. 43s.-the commencement of
the total obscurity was Al. 45m. 3Os.-
of totality 4h. 48u. 22s. The last con.
tact was oh, 45m. lis. These points of
time are from six to twenty-five seconds
later than calculated according to Wash.
ington time, f. p. Nimenis and Prof
Hillgood observing it. Another point
noted was the discrepancy between the
calculation aud observation of the cor.
ona. 1t was nearly rhomboidal in form.
and very distinct and extended, at some |
points half a degree beyond the edge of |
the suns disc. Rose eolored protlber. |
ance appeared to the number Of five.
and the greatest being on the suu's |
southwestern quarter.
THE ECLIPSE IN ILLINOIS.
The total eclipse at Springfield, iii. |
nois, was startling aud sublime phe.
nomenon. The sky was perfectly clear.
Professor Pearce, of Harvard, had
charge Of the observations, which were |
made near the city reservoir. A hun. |
dred photographs of the eclipse were
taken BY Mr.. Black, of Boston. When
the total observation took place, the
heavens and earth presented a scene Of |
awful sublimity. A brilliant amber.
colored corona appeared around the sun
and moon, shooting rays of light out.
ward IN all directions when the whole
horizon was illuminated with light of |
the same color. The planets Mercury
and Venus and number of fixed stars
were distinctly visible, but no plauetoids |
between Mercury aud the sun were
discovered. Brilliant rays of eolored
flame or protnberances were noticed on |
the western limb of the sun during the
period OF total observation.
THE SCENE AT oISoIsNArI.
The eclipse attracted great attention. |
AT the time of the greatest observation,
about half.past Eve o'clock, the gas was |
lighted, and a deep, strange shadow set. |
tied down on our city. The atmosphere |
had yeliowish appearance, and indis. |
tinct clouds skirted the western horizon;
stars were distinctly seen. The mercury |
fell to 20 degrees at the time Of the |