Evening star., 1869-08-09
THE GREAT ECLIPSE.
Observations in Washington and Else.
where.

The great solar eclipse on Saturday evening
attracted general attention in this section, and
observers were out in every direction. Com
modore B. +. Sands, Superintendent Of the
Naval Observatory in this city, this morning
made the following report of the total eclipse
As observed a. Des Moines. Iowa, and the
partial eclipse as observed here, to Secretary
Robson:
l.. s. NAVAL OBSERVATORY, WAsHINsroN
9th August, ls69.-Sir. i have the honor to
report that / have received q telegraphic dis.
patch from our Observers of the eclipse at Des
MONIES, Iowa. Professor Harkness reports as
follows: 1--WE have succeeded beyond our most
sanguine expectations. We have 123 photo.
graphs of the eclipse, two being OF totality.
Also, spectra of fve prominencies, no two OF
them giving the same lines; could see no ab-
sorpnon lines IN spectrum of corona. 1t gave
a continuous spectrum, with one bright line on
it," Professor Eastman's observations were
also most successful. Professor Newcomb
reports, mo intra.mercurial planets were
visible"
Mr.. F. W. Bardwell, aid, left here on Friday
mornIng and arrived in Bristol. Tennessee, in
ample time for the eclipse. His special objects
OF attention were duration Of totality and
iutra.mercurial planets. The circumstan.
ces attending his observations were ex.
tremely favorable. Mercury, Venus and
Regulus were visible to the naked eye, but no
intra- a-mercurial planet was seen. He recorded
numerous notes Of the phenomena, from which
a full report will be made.
At this Observatory the sun was partially
obscured by clouds and owing to the use of
higher power than the observer was &C.
customed TO, he failed to get the first and last
contact. His other observations were entirely
successful. / will have the honor to su bmit
more detailed report upon the return Of the
officers sent ont from the Observatory.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
b. +. SANDS,
Commodore, Superintendent
Hon. GBe. NJ. robson, Secretary or Navy.
A Washington party, consisting of Wn S
Huntington, Col. Magrauder, Hallet Kilbouru
and Porter Morse, accompanied by Hon. ID. X.
Goodloe, OF N. O., arrived at Raleigh, c.,
saturday afternoon, TO observe the eclipse.
They were received by Gov. Holden, members
OF the Raleigh press and others. and proceeded
AT once to the state Insane Asylum, near that
city, to take obser vations from the cupola,
which commanded an extended aud unob.
structed view. Prof. j. X. Burr, of Newark
n. ana J. M. Buckley, OF the New York
Evening Post, and other scientific gentlemen
were present. The sky was clear and bright,
and all the surroundings were propitious The
scene at the time OF totality was magnificent
hey ond description. At sos the eclipse began.
the shadow gradually covering the disc OF the
sun until complete. At 544h the sun was half
obscured, and at 6.02k the eclipse was total,
ahd remained so for ms seconds. A thermom-
eter which was placed in tho sun stood at %
degrees at 5O5; at SAX il fell to 20 de.
grees, and at the time Of the total eclipse
~ Tell 10 Is degrees, the air growing rap
assumed haZy and leaden appearance.
Immediately succeeding the total observation
me corona became visible and brilliant. Cor
Iuscatlons seemed to flash and radiate from
ha lind,
OF soft white light burst out brilliantly and
repeatedly until the close, when Venus Mer
Snry cur ana mars shone out IN magnificent splen.
the landscape, while changing tints of black
orange, indigo, and leaden hues covered the
heavens near the horizon, north and south
Inc spectacle was magnificent and sublime
and the crowd about the cupola spontaneously
burst out with "Praise God from whom ali
blessings fiow.' During the totality two
moons circumference, and curved lines were
visible across the disc of the moon, resembling
The groined projections at the top of some
Gothic cathedral. No point could have offered
better facilities for taking an observation than
this, and the circumstances were all that could
be wished. Every facility was extended by
Dr. Grissom, of the asylum, aud to whom the
Washington party are much indebted
The total eclipse at Spring gfield, Illinois. WA,
a startling and sublime phenomenon. The sky
was perfectly clear. Professor Pearce. Of
Harvard, had charge Of the observations, which
were made near the city reservoir. Ahnpdred
photographs OF the eclipse were taken by Mr.,
Black, Of Boston. When the total obscuration
took place, the heavens and earth presented a
scene OF awful sublimlty. A brilliant amber.
colored corona appeared around the sun and
moon, shooting rays Of light outwards in ali
directions, when the whole horizon was illu.
minated with light OF the same color. The
planets Mercury and Venus and q number of
fixed stars were distinctly visible, but no plan.
etoids between Mercury and the sun were dis.
covered. Brilliant rays of colored flame or
limb Of the sun during the period of teal oh.
scurauon. The phenomenon known as
"Bailey's Beads" was also distinctly witness.
ed. The phenomenon, Prot Pearce thinks, is
occasioned by refraction OF light. He is also
satisfied that the corona at the time OF total oh.
scuration was occasioned by the suns atmos.
phere.
MIR. FRANCIS H. SMITH, Congressional pho.
nographer, will leave here this afternoon to
rejoin his family in Connecticut, he not hav.
ing seen them since his return from the Pacific
coast, where he accompanied the Ways and
Means Committee.
INDIAN APFAIRs.-It is the intention of the
Commissioner OF Indian Affairs to have thor
ough Investigations made into all recently re.
ported outrages upon travellers, miners, and
others by Indians in New Mexico. The De.
Partment is satisfied that whatever depreda.
tions have been committed were done by
straggling bands, which the tribes will assist
the Government In ferreting out.
AN IMPORTANT CASE, involving the posses.
sion Of the most valuable railroad franchise in
Texas, will be heard in this city before judge
Swayne, Of the Supreme Court, In chambers
DUNG the present week. The ante. .bellum
bondholders brought suit against the present
organization Of the Galveston and Houston
Railroad In the United States District Court for
the eastern district Of Texas, Judge Watrous
presiding, and obtained an order pending the
decision to have . receiver appointed, and on
this order The present contract 10 based.
Army OF THE TBNNEssI1.-General John
A. Rawlins, President of the Society of the
Army of the Tennessee, has notified the organ.
ization that the following. named persons have
been selected a. the Executive COMMITTEES OF
Arrangements for the fourth annual meeting
to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, November
~ next, namely: Colonels b. H. Bristow, All.
MARYLAND, General E. H. Murray, Captain
Harry Gill, Captain Thomas E. Bramlette.
General w. S. Ward, OF Louisville; General
w. q. Gersham, Colonel J. S. McQ uiddy, Sur.
geon ID. w. Vogets, Of New Albany; Generals
Ben. Spconer, of Lawrenceburg, and McGiu.
ris, OF indianapolis; Colonels McGarber, of
Mfdison, and James Kegwyn, Of jefferson.
vile, Indiana: General A. Kiekenlooper, of
Cincinpati; Colonel L. NJ. Dayton, of Wash.
ington, ID. c.; General W. J. Landrum, of Lam
caster; J. L. Croxton, of Paris, and D. w.
Lindsay, of Frankior.i Colonels X. Kelley, of
q Icy rs