The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1869-08-19
THE ECLIPSE EASTWARD.

From the Chicago papers of dates since the
eclipse down to Aug. 18th, we gather informa-
ton respecting the great solar eclipse. In Chi
cago and Springfield, Illinois, the sky was clear
and bright before the time of observation, and
excellent views were presented. Each place
was out of the full ecliptic belt, yet the sight
and influence of the phenomenon were dis
tinctly visible. At the period of deepest OBJ
scuration the day seemed dark as twilight, and
domestic animals, fowls, and the birds of the
air manifested fear and disposition to seek
shelter and protection. In Omaha, Nebraska,
and in St. Paul, Minnesota, candles were light
ed in Offices and dwellings, chickens went to
roost. dogs to kennels, and cows came in from
astures as if it were shutdown, In MADISON
Wisconsin Indianapolis, Lafayette, Washing
ton and Vincennes, Indiana; in st. Louis, MO:
and in Wheeling, and at Green Rrar, West
Virginia, the observation varied from fainter
to deeper shade than in Chicago. In Clncln-
matt it was almost total, and there, as well as
in Jefferson, Iowa, and Louisville, Kentucky,
the darkness was oppressive and the air be-
came yisibly cooler. At Shelbyville, Kentucky,
fine observations were obtained by the corps OF
astronomers and scientists from the coast sur
yey and from several Of the Universities and
Colleges in the East. At Wilmington, North
Carolina, the darkness was almost deep as
night, and stars shonc brightly. But at Des
Mones, Iowa, the display was the grandest
aud there Il full corps of astronomers. sent by
order of the Government, under Commodore
Sands of the Naval Observatory at Washing
ton, and aided by u number OF Professors from
various Colleges, obtained the most thorough
observations of the great phenomenon, aud l23
excellent photographs of the various stages OF
the eclipse were taken, two Of them presenting
the appearance of the celestial bodies during
the time of total eclipse. We append the re-
port vi the scene:
THE TOTAL ECLII'SE.
There was steady but slow d:ininution OF
light down 10 about hall minute before the
beginning of totally. when suddenly, as II the
wings of darkness, or the shadow OF al impcn-
etrablc cloud had passed over the earth, the
darkness became SO great that the operators
could not read the scales OH their therm0me
ters, and the photometers Indicated light con-
slderaby fainter than that OF the full moon.
Lanterns had 10 be employed by all the opera
tors iii order 10 carry on their observations.
Venus appeared IN all her radiance 10 the east
of the sum- and Mercury shonc out about Elk
degrees 10 the west, and about as consplcuously
as star OF the first magnitude.
ii. .i..,,.
As il flashed into view there was a murlnur OF
admiration from the spectators, and Il regular
hurrah from the boys showed their apprcca-
ton OF the scenic effect Of this celestial drama
The corona itself seemcd to be a halo Of light,
whose rays were very different in respect 10
length. and quite variable IN briiance. From
the apparent northeast limb OF the sun a long
conical mass Of light. perhaps halt the diane
ter of It's disc. sIo. of In the direction al the
zodiac. From the opposite side 4 similar small
cr mass projected and from the north of It's
disc column OF burning rays shot something
like i miniature aurora light. Between these
large masses was "A continuous circle OF smaller
rays, which made the ring complete
But the most noticeable phenomena connect
cd with tho corona, aud those which attracted
the most attention. were the long points of
rose colored light as dis;ingushable from the
white light. even with the naked eye, as awhile
rose from a red one From the exact south
ern point oi the suns disc appeared a tongue
Of flame about onc-twcltth of the suns diane
ter in length; this was plainly visible with the
unasslstcd eye Through the telescope il as
sumcd the appearance of fcccy cloud illuml-
mated by pink light The draughtsman CON
nccted with Prof Hilgards party has made a
drawing of it, in which he represents three
fame colored tongues proceeding from mass
Of woody, cloudlkc substance From the east
ern side of the sun were two other prominent
crimson points. From the west and south were
two other smaller ones aud one which assumed
the shape of the two horns of an OK, proceed
ing from the same point. This latter phenom-
enon was cut off by the sudden temperance
Of the SUMS edge, and the conclusion of the to-
tally of the eclipse. The total eclipse ended
with a sudden flash of light in shape like
globe of fire rather than n long line of light, as
it was expected to be, Instantly Mercury was
invisible, and Venus disappeared in 3 minutes
and Is seconds afterward. During the total
eclipse line of light like an early sunrise APP
peared both east and west Of the observers.
which was supposed to be the termination of
the umbra in each direction.
The calculations Of the astronomers in re.
gard to the time of the commencement of the
eclipse was almost exactly verified; but the du-
ration of the total eclipse was about five sec
onds less than the estimated time, which would
throw the centre of total observation about