The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-15
THE ECLIPSE.


SHELBYyfLLE KY, August I, 1859.
Nothing could have been more beautiful or N ore
splendid than the magnificent total eclipse of the
sun which took place here to-day, III one OF the
ciearest Of unciouded skies. 1t was glorious twas
great Success therefore, asttonomcalIy Professor
wintock OF Harvard Observatory who has been
here for more than month past, had everything In
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Photographic apparatus,
spectroscope. lie was assisted by MIR. Jonn
Whippie, Of Boston, who superintendent she photo.
graphic department, and who was himself assisted BY
the brothers Clark, the object glass manufacturers OF
Boston. Professor Dean or tho Coast Survey, OBJ
served the contacts and searched for interior
planets Mr.. Frank Blake OF the Coast Survey. had
similar duties to perform and MIR. Seare, OF Hnr-
ward Observatory was stationed Ut Falmouth, where
ne might be as near a. possible to tho edge OF the
shadow. Mr.. Tevls, OF Snelpyvie, observed the
thermometricai and barometricai phenomena.
While these gentlemen were assigned their varl-
GUS duties repaired early In the morning to point
about seven miles east Of Shelbyviie. where, on q
range OF hills known as Jephtha Knobs, had an ex-
tended view for many miles over the country. Es
peeiaiy toward the west the view was unrivalled.
wide valley lay open between two gently sloplng
knobs, beyond which the undulating country could
be seen for twenty miles more. At the moment
OF toality the sun would occupy the heavens I'm.
mediately over this lovely valley The sun had risen
with clear white light, while opposite IN the
west the sweet blue sky pictured along the
horizon and merging upward into violet aud yellow,
betokened continuance Of lair weather. At ten
O'CLOCK few small clouds appeared but In an hour
ali vanished, and NOT another cloud was seen dur
ing the day. The wnoe dome OF The sky WAS Of q
beautiful azure, extending W the very horizon.
fresh breeze from the east rendered the air delight
funy cool. MY drawings Of the scene were all pre-
pared and ready tOr the nome DtOu5 event. and, TAX
ing the opportunity for little rest was luxuriat-
lag OH Kentucky blackberries, when u party Of q
dozen gentlemen Oh horseback arrived Oh the knob,
whose intention was to reach another elevation.
where they expectedt o hsa axen my pSsi.n
They therefore ntched Cher horses to the fence aud
gathered about me-
The moon had encroacied upon the SUMS disk
about one-haf OF its diameter before any very per-
ssn e he s a aaasS IS s
fused Tue foliage q the trees ana ,s6rubbery
aud LEFT ana behind as. In the direction OF
the sun the sky was glowing with light; the land
streaming across hili and dale aud meadow aud
groves Of forest trees; and as the light diminished
= not nsS pS y grew noe ws 10, Or
Whole landscape very carefully during the approach
ofto;allty. 10 every par or the heavens my atten
In tue east, the sky early assumed q deep purple
blue winch grew deeper and deeper, thus occupy
ag ao9u sp nan xt se We e yeow
and right the dark eastern sky terminating IN O
sharp angie along the horizon on each side Of the
heavens. 1t was now close to t0tality, ana re-
franed from looking behind ne. for the Whole effect
Of the scene looking directly toward the sun during
the total phase, the object which had come to
study watched, then closely the color, the light
and shade or sky and land Tie decrease OF light
struck me as most remarkable Whle
which 1t retained up to the last nonient
occurred to me as most extraordinary. For twenty
cty visible up To the very moment Of the disappear.
afee Of the sun. 1hey can scarcely be SAID 10 nave
changed. The illuminated OBJECTS appeared To have
lost only In quantity and not N DUALITY or color OF
light; and thus the shadows also retained their
hues, and only grew fainter, until
THE LAST FLASH OF LIGHT.
II ever there was glory pictured In the heavens II
was this day aI the moment OF complete obscara-
been suddenly Transformer nom its prevailing glow
INTO a most lovely purple; and at once along tho
sSarn snae ,owsra Inc west rsu,on Of aaS was
suddenly opened revealing thin streaAs OF varioasiy
United golden and yeiiowish clouds. Then suddenly
light appeared upon the SKY along the HORIZON
Thus they isy; strange spaces OF light sprung sud-
TO each other beneath the vanishing orb OF the
universe, like the innnite past and tue tndutte
future pointing toward each other at the extingush
GREAT DIAMOND IN THE sxY.
The most ocautltul and novel Appearances were
now crowdlug with startling rapdity upon the sight
from every part OF the heavens anu the earth. The
sky darkened the yellow triaugles or light either
shrubs ana meadows aud nelds Of corn were merg-
ing weirdy INTO universal shadow. when sud.
Sy nrs lsd rsat a
flashing polnt OF light IN the western SKY. Never
siall forget that beautiful point or lntense lnln
mostly, lngtng ats dazzling darts OF the most exQui
site yet the most tender light in thousand lovely
chickering's. A great celestial diamond gli.tered Tor
q moment Rloriously in the violet sky. It seemed
like ghl bora out OF the immense depths OF inn
ute space; or II seemed as II Great Hand were
swinging with Infinite love- In the gloriohsly ar
rayed, eternal heavens-a lamp OF love aud bliss
Tnat beautiful and unsurpassngV lovely nash OF
light 1t awakened every lender feeling OF the SOU.
1t illuminated 1t with transcendant happiness. Is
was brighter than hope lOveier than love, sweeter
than anecll0n-lt was
1t went out abruptly. The landscape was thrown
into darkness The corona STOOD t0rlh; then sue
ceetled the quiet and lovely beauty. There
the dark moon, surrounded 10y silvery light In the
midst oil violet sky, out which shone forth Venus
brightly and Mercury rapidly twinkilng. The extra
curry were surprising. About TOUR and hall degrees
10 the right OF the sun, almost exactly ia HORIZON
sal iine Mercury tent an Important anu cn,nrnag
whine Venus, upward and to the left, larger Than
Mercury, but placid, supported on the other hand
The central 1gnre OF the celestial picture and was
invisible before and long aiter the total phase. The
corona presented not an appearance OF rays ena-
mating from the cenre but the light lay IN sivery
bands around the margin OF the dark moon: these
again were intersected by Short rounded cones OF
hight, having their bases on the periphery OF the
m0on-the whole together presenting SOFT OF IRE.
guar square, whose sides were inclined the hort
xOn in the direction OF the ecllptic cannot iiken
the corona to halo. II seemed more ike wreath,
bound loosely around the moon. Professor Dean
observed the same phenomenon with his telescope
and remarked that he saw no rays IN the corona,
but that It presented the appearance Of coral--of
aggregations Of very small Rrans-which COMEDIES
closely Will the aspect OF the corona light as 1t pre-
sented Itself 70 my eyes. The light extended irre-
guariy ABOUT the m0oa's radius beyond Its border.
THE PRoMINENCRs.
White intent upon the study OF the corona sky
aud landscape, my eye was continually attracGed by
bright point OF iigtlt ~ the lower edge oil The
MOON q little To the right OF vertical diameter.
had not counted on being able to see the fameus
reddish pr0tuberances with the naked eye. Aud
wondered what the bright point OF light could he.
Although IN the 1t entirely distinct from
II, tta Intensity ncomparably greater. and
pared with the light OF the corona IL was reiarxa-
n dtfYnr vt I'm ava M a briU IA fsh in.