Smyrna times., 1869-08-11

THE ECLTPsE.-The eclipse has come and
gone, and Science has another lesson to teach
the world by the event. While the masses
viewed it simply as a matter Of curiosity, to
the man of science it was as the opening Of
sealed book, and before many weeks we may
be &pprized of its contents. 1t being the only
eclipse of importance that will occur during
:he present century, unusual efforts were put
forth By scientific parties to witness it. The
observations seem to. have been particularly in
terestingr at Des Moines, Iowa Springfield
and .NIattoon, ILL.,, and at Shelbyvile, KY,
these localities being within the belt of one
hundred and forty miles in which the eclipse
was total. From the various telegraphic dis
patches we compile the following accounts of
the observations made at the points named
above
At Springfield the superintendent of the L.
S. Coast Survey, and number of other scien-
ti6c men, viewed the phenomenon. They were
surrounded by great throngs of people. At
three minutes past 5, or a little more than two
minutes before the total obscuration, the planet
Venus was seen, and the boys began to cry out
l. SOC q obdis w lIuAu SlA cSCOuuS Ol Ln6
prediction, the last rays of the sun disappeared,
and that instant the corona (the ring of light
around the sun) burst forth in all its spendol
and beauty. Another moment and the red
protuberance burst forth on the left hand !iml
of the sun, like tongue of fame jetting ou
horizontally. Soon another jet flashed verti
cally downward from the lowest limb of thu
Maapxubila fha haa1-ono hal
sufficiently to permit view of planets anC
stars, besides Venus. Fowls went to roost
but probably owing to the extreme clearness o
the atmosphere and its absolute freedom frou
all clouds, every one was impressed with tn
fact that the darkness was not nearly as grea
as they expected A herd of cattle feeding a
little distance from the point of observation
paid no attention Ghatever. =. II
At Des Mones the atmosphere was foggy
4 large party Of scientific men were at thi
point. Here the darkness was great. Dog
affrighted ran howliag to their kennels; a foe
of turkeys, surprised that night had foun
them 30 far away from their accustomed roos
ran hurriedly to cover, and birds and animal
showed the utmost signs of fear. One of tn
ASlSEtd dheo ooJS & 20. .eit
- son swept the swift moon, and its shadow
like a pail, blaekened the earth until, as suC
,denly as a candle is snuffed, the sun's last ray
were obscured, and then, with halo Of glor
the Jagged outline of the corona shone fro
behind the black moon, which seemed motio
less, and pink -colored flames marked the pr
,traberances which astronomers are so intent
studying, In this case they shot out from Il
suns surface certainly not less that from 81, O,0I
10 $4,000 miles and shown with a brilliant ro
lustrc. w. ~ 90 lEGta seR odN t7.Yaoa J.
inAsthep light came aeaiu the people shout
and birds on the trees began to twifter as
coming morn, and the mystfed turkies aga
left their loosts. The time of the total obsc
ration was 2rnia.' SO see. The photographic
secured excellent negatives Of the eclipse
all its phases ''''L
A large party, including Prof Winlock,
Harvard, Alyan Clark, and others, obtain
some gratifying results at Shelbyyille, X
aud took several photographs of the sun. 4
red protubersHees nd-Baily s beads we're pla
ly visible Prof. Winlock observed elss
bright lines il the spectrum, only Eve havi
been previously determined. -
siAt Matteon,s Ill., asProfs Heugh OF rDnd
Observatory, and NIarfsy of Rutgers Collie