The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-08-13

cloud of smoke, the moon blushed
and looked confused, and it was day
again.sr ssGod said Let there be light,
and tliere;was light. ~ Counter Journal
ATserRINaFIELD, Ill.
CH1cAG0 Aug. S.-The eclipse at
Springfield was 9 startling and sublime
phenomena. The sky was perfectly
clear, not cloud visible. Prof. Pierce
of Harvard, had charge of the observa-
tons which were made near the reser-
yoir. A hundred photographs of the
eclipse were taken by Mr.. Black, OF
Boston. When the observation took
place the heavens and the earth pre-
sented scene of awful sublimity. A
brilliant amber colored corona appeared
around the sun and moon, shining rays
OF light outward in all directions, when
the. whole horizon was illumi-
mated with light of the same color
The planets Mercury and Venus and a
number of fixed stars were distinctly
visible, but no planetaries between
Mercury and the sun were discovered;
Q brilliant rose-colored flame or protu-
berance was noticed on the western
limb of the sun during the period of to-
tai observation. The phenomenon
known as Bailey's heads was distinctly
seen. The phenomenon, Prof. Price
thinks, is occasioned by refraction of
light; he is also satisfied that the corona
or halo at the time of the total obscura-
ton was occasioned by the SUMS atmos-
phere. Prof. Chas. Scott, of the coast
survey, had charge of the general ar
rangements, and with powerful teles-
cope observed particularly the form of
the protruberances, and made special
observation in connection with the
Photographic.
w. p. Montague, q graduate of Har-
ward College this year, was detailed to
note the time by the chrOnOmeter, and
during the entire eclipse, from its COM
mencement until its final close, never
for a moment allowed his eye to wander
from the dial plate, thus losing sight of
the eclipse in any of its phrases. Dur.
ing the total observation of the sun, a
silence like death rested over the city.
The birds flew to their nests, fowls to
their roost, and chickens to the friendly
wings of shelter. A drove of cows
feeding near the reservoir, with heads
and tails erect, and with startled,
frightened look, started for the city,
and did not cease running until "Old
Sol' once more shone forth.
Many other incidents, some laugha-
BILE and others grave, transpired during
the eclipse. Dogs were seen to gaze in
wonder at the terrible appearance of the
sky, and remain during the total Obscu-
ration i'm an attitude of alarm and
but just at the moment
the first ray of the sun appeared eX-
pressed the joy they felt i'm way dogs
only can.
The observations made by the scien-
tific gentlemen have been all that could
be desired. The photographs taken by
Mr.. Black have never been equalled, in
or perfectness of execution.
At 10 minutes and 10 seconds past
four the eclipse commenced, the moons
first contact with the sun occurring
when the former was was 10 degrees
south of the solar equator, on the west
side. The thermometer which a few
minutes before had risen to 102, began
10 fall rapidly. Gradually the darkness
IF twilight spread over the earth.
Small flies, gnats and other heralds of
night, thickly. fluttered in the air, until !
1t IL minutes past the unanimous
from the eager spectators
the visable advent of the |
irst star Regulus. At precisely II min
ties and II secOcds past five the suns |
shining face became totally obscured,
md star after star appeared. The cor
ma threw its brilliant corruscatiOns of !
luminous light around the black sphere
or two minutes and thirty seconds. |
The darkness was equal to that of q |
night, and the temperature |
vas forty.twO degrees cooler than one |
lour before. The countenance of the |
SPECTATORS assumed CHASTITY, unnat- |
lral hue. The sky was of a light pur-
dish color, excepting near the horizon1
where the aspect was that golden radi. |
.nce with which it glOws after beauti- |
ul sunset. The climax occurred when |
It the close of totality, like a flash of |
liver lightning, the first ray of sunlight |
hat suddenly shot out piercing the
ylOom around, and again illuminating !
he world. The eclipse ended at nine
minutes and twenty-five seconds past +.
ix o'clock. In the observations taken |
he phenomena correspondent precisely |
With the computations previously made. |
Six spots We're visable upon the surface |,
If the sun before the eclipse, two of |
which were very prominent and the |
others much less. The curps on the |
noon had q rugged and blurred appef- !
,nce. AS the eclipse progressed toward
he tOtality, the form of the moon |
became visible. Near the curps of the |
of tOtality Baily's heads |
we're seen distinctly by all the Observers,
ifty degrees. The moment the eclipse |
total the flame like protuber-
snces were seen with wonderful distinct
ness, one being very large and on the
over limb of the sun, and three nearly
Is large on the upper limb, while at
cast seven or eight of them in all were
Visible. The one on the right handan
over limb had somewhat the
appearance of a full rugged ship with
ails set. In its part nearest the moon
we're two OF three jet black spots. To
he naked eye it seemed as though they
we're openings or assures in the moon;
wo on the east side and one ON the
outhwest side. Just after the total
clipse, through the opening the lurid
low of the sun was distinctly visible.
The corona was apparent to all Observ-
rs either with or without instruments.
t was very generally described in books
to-, as halo of light surrounding the
noon, but was distinctly seen to be a
Ive-pointed prong on the lower and
wO on the upper circumference of the
noon. These points had q radiant
ppearance. The generally received
heory regarding this corona, that it is
no afmOsnhere of the sun does not
Gem to be sustained by observations.
t is conjectured that the corona is IN
ONE way caused by the phenomena of
ght passing through the atmosphere.