The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-11
THE TOTAL EgLTPSE.
How tt Appeared at Raleigh, North Caro-
lima, and Springfield, Illinois,

letter from Raleigh, N. G., describing the
eclipse. which was total at that point, saya:
The scene At the time of totality was maeni-
hcent beyond description. At sos the eclipse
began the shadow gradually covering the disc
was half ehscured. ard ct s.02a the sSl;psa was
total and remained so for one hundred and
eighteen e,,et a. seconds. thermomster, which was
grees at sos; at 5.44A it fell to seventy-three
degrees, and at The time OF the total eclipse it
fell to sxty-eight degrees. the air growing
rapidly colder, while the whole atmosphere as
sumed hazy and leaden appearance. 81.
Immediately succeeding the total obscura-
ton the corona became visible and brilliant.
Corrnscations seemed to f'sh aud radlate
tions,o OF soft white light burst out brilliantly
and repeatedly. until the' close, when Venus.
Mercury and Mars shone out in magnificent
splendor. Apeculiar gloom spread iike pail
black. orange, indigo aud lesden hues covered
the heavens near the horison, north aud south
Inc spectacle was snfagniacsnt andsublinae and
out with Praise God from whom all blessings
how:" During the tOtality two blades Of Grim.
son light seemed to cut the moons circumfer-
ence, and curved lines were visible across the
tections OF tho top Of some gothic cathedral
No point could have offered better facilities for
taking an observation than this, and the cir
cnmstances @ were all that could be wished.
Every facility was extended by DIR. Grissom OF
the asylum, and TO- whoM tho Washington
party are much indebted. u
A dispatch from Springfield, Illinois, SAYS:
The total eclipse ct Springfield, Illinois, was
startling and sublime phenomenon. Tho sky
yard. had charge Of the observations y which
were made near the city reservoir. hundred
photographs of the eclipse were takon BY Mr..
Black, OF Boston. When the total observation
took place the heavens and earth presented q
scene OF awful subhmity. A b1llllant amber COL
ored aorona appeared around the sun and moon.
shooting rays Of light outward in all direc-
tons, when the whols horizon was illuminated
with light OF the Same color. The planets Mer-
curry and Venus and q number OF fixed stars
were distinctly visible. but no planetoids be-
tween Mercury aad the sun were discovered.
were noticed on the western limb Of the SUI
during tho period OF total observation.
The phenomenon known as 'sBailey's Beads :"
was also distinctly Witnessed. The phenomo-
refraction OF light. He is also satisficd that the
corona at the time OF. total obscuration was oc-
casioned BY the SUMS atmosphere.
1he moment the eclipse became total. the
hAm0-like protuberancas aoan with won
derful distinctness. one very large on tha lower
hms af the sun, and three nearly as aarge on
hm6 st Least seven or eight q
scs 81 raiRs sa.ps the appeas
part uoarest the moon were two OF the let blnck
spots. 10 the naked eye it seemed as though
there were openings offssures IN the moon, two
On q tn east side and oae on the southwest side.
just alter the total eclipse, tx "ough three open.
ings, the lnrid glow of the sun was distinctly
visible; The corona was not, as generally de-
scrlbed in books &c., halo OIL ght surround-
ing the moon. but was distinctly seen to be o
hne pointed prong on the lower aud two on
| the upper circumference OF the moon. The
points presented radiant appearance. Tho
generally received theory regardin this CO.
roma, that ~ is tbs atmosphere Of the sun,
fs1O9S he Np0 ~,
made at thls point. 1t is coniectured that the
corona is in some way caused by the phenonle-
ma OF light passing through the atm osphero.
Although search was made no planetary bodies
we're observed between Msrcury and the sun.
Bu1! Durlns the totahty phase. Mercury, Venus,
Visible. Temperature in the shade at the be-
ginning Of the eclipse was II degrees; during
totality 4S degrees, and at the end it had ris sn
TO 70 degrees; at $40. in the sun, in tho grass,
tho Thermometer was at 1Q0 degrees; = few
minutes after o'clock it rose to 1Oa degrees,
whtbe during the total eclipse it fell GO de-.
grees. bot subsequently rose to 80 de. vees.