The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-08-26
The Eclipse.
Observations at Different Localities.

Springfield was startling and sublime
phenomenon. Tie sky was perfectly
clear, not a cloud being visible. Prof
Pearce, of Harvard, had charge of the OBJ
servations which were made near the city
reservoir. A hundred photographs were
taken by Mr. Black, of Boston. When
the latest observations took place, the
heavens and earth presented a scene of
awful sublimity. A brilliant amber-color-
ed corona appeared around the sun and
moon, shooting rays of light out in all di
rections. When the whole horizon was IL
Illuminated with light of the same color,
the planets Mercuryand Venus and num-
Der of fixed stars were distinctly
visible, but no planetoids between Mercu-
~ and the sun were discovered. A bril-
liant rose-colored flame or protuberance
was noticed on the western limb of the
sun during the period of total observation.
The phenomena known as Bailey's Beads
was also distinctly witnessed Prof. Pierce
thinks it is occasioned bya refraction of
light. He is also satisfied that the corona
or halo at the time of total observation is
occasioned by the suns atmosphere. Prof
Chas. Schott, of the coast survey, had
charge of the general arrangements, and
with a powerful telescope observed par
ticularly the form of portuberances, and
made special observations in connection
with the photographer. w. p. Montague,
a graduate of Harvard College, this year,
was detailed to note the time by the
chronometer, and during the entire
eclipse, from its commencement until it's
final close, never for moment allowed
his eye to wander from the dial plate, thus
losing sight of the eclipse in any of its
phases during the total observation Of the
sun. A silence like death rested all over
the city. Birds flew to their nests, fowls
to their roost, and chickens to the friend
ly wings of shelter. A drove of COWS
feeding near the reservoir, with head and
tails erect, and with scared frightened
look, started for the city, and did not
cease running until Old Sol once more
shone forth. Many other incidents, some
laughable and others grave, transpired
during the eclipse. Dogs were seen to
gaze in wonder at the terrible appearance
af the sky, and remain during the total
observation in an attitude of alarm and
wonderment, but just at the moment the
first ray of the sun appeared, expressed
the JOY they felt In a way that only dogs
car. The observations made by scientific
men have been all that coutd be desired.
The photographs taken by Mr.. Black
have never been equaled in number or
perfection of execution.
NATION, Aug 8.-The observations
at this place were made by Prof c. w.
Hough, of Dudley Observatory, Albany
N. Y; Prof David Murray, of Rutgers
College, New Brunswick, N. j.; Prof
L. L. yesterday, of Hillsboro, ILL.,; Prof
John G. Haase, of Waterford, N. Y. Lew
is Swift, of Marathon, CORTLAND county
N. Y; and Thomas Simmonds, of New
York city, late of Dudley Observatory.
The instruments made use of were ordi-
nary telescopes, one of them, however, be-
ing provided with mesnes for accurately
measuring the dimensions ofthe protuber-
ances on the sun. and the corona, or sur
rounding halo A chronograph was EN-
ployed to note accurately the time of the
different phenomena. The time was OBJ
tanned by telegraphic communication with
the Dudley Observatory, at Albany, N. Y
At ten minutes and fifteen seconds past
four the eclipse commenced, the moons
| HlSG CO1lIdS1 WILL IiII OlIn OCCuII1u2 WIlCu
the former was nineteen degrees south OF
the solar equator, on the west side. The
thermometer, which few moments before
had risen to 1922, began to fall rapidly
and gradually the darkness of twilight
! began to spread over the earth. Small
flies, gnats, and other heralds of night,
thiclkly futtered in the air until, at eleven
minutes past five, the Unanimous excla
nation from the eager spectators announ
| ced the visible advent of the first star
Regulus. AT precisely eleven minutes and
seventeen seconds past o'clock the suns
shining tace became totally obscured, and
star after star appeared. The corona then
threw its brilliant coruscation Of luminous
| light around the black sphere For two
minutes and thirty seconds the darkness
was equal to that of moonlight night
and the temperature was forty two degrees
cooler than enc hour before. The cOunte
nances Of the spectators assumed ghast
| ly and unnatural hue. The sky was ofa
| light purplish color, except near the hori-
zon, where the aspect was that of golden
radiance with which it CLOVIS after beau
tiful sunset. The climax occurred when
at the close of totality, like flash of sill
yer lightning, the first rays of sunlight
shot suddenly out, piercing the gloom, and
IN a second again illumining the world
The eclipse ended at9 minutes and %
seconds past six o'clock. In the obserVa
tions taken, the phenomena corresponded
precisely with the computations previous
| ly made. Six spots were visible on the
surface, two of which were very promi
nent, and the others much less so. The
cusps on the moon had ragged and blur
red appearance AS the eclipse progressed
toward totality, the form Of the moon be
came visible. Near the cusps Of the phe
nomena of totality, Bailey's Beads were
seen distinctly by al the observers, exten
ding through an area of at least fifty de
grees. The moment the eclipse became