Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-08-13


by their presence to the interest Of the
afternoon.
THE CONTACT.
At so Is" the beginning of the
eclipse was announced. Two spots
we're easily visible with our glass, one
upon the lower and the other upon the
upper left hand portion of the sun, and
closer observation revealed several
smaller ones between them. The pro.
gross of the moons shadow was watched
with curious interest, but prior to the
total concealement of the suns disc,
large degree of attention was given to
the appearance of the landscape and
the effect upon birds, dogs, &c. Alas
for the recent scourge, there we're no
cattle left to observe E! The approach
of darkness, which was at no time as
great as was expected, was very gradual
until the near approach Of the totality.
when it came 10 rapid gradations, as by
a succession of waves. Still there was
yet visible the blazing edge Of the 81 D,
and as it rapidly diminished, still on
ward came the visible waves of dark.
ness, as though the moons disc were
moved across thu face Of the sun by
separate and distinct Efforts. The birds
took, as for the night, their silent sta
ton on the crags of the neighboring
oaks; in moment more vast flock of
them passed rapidly aud with evident
CONSERVATION over cur heads.
THE ToTALITY.
We lost sight of them, for the great
moment was come; the great shadow
rushed over us with fearful velocity and
the eclipse was complete. Every be.
holder was stricken dumb with anxiety
and amazement. A great wonder, as
on the wings Of thought, had stationed
itself in the unnatural heavens. The
corona shot its pale silvery rays 10
irregular jets about the border of the
sun, so suddenly and so entirely iden
ticul in time with the closing out of the
suns light that the effect upon the
beholder was that Of q distinct aud
awful shock. Equally instantaneous
was the appearance Immediately beneath
the moon Of jet Of crimson light abou,
one and onc.fourth digiis in length and
five eight digits in width. We describe
it as crimson from the poverty of Ian.
guago, for its matchless nue. and strange
beauty are beyond the human power of
description. Amid the strange un
earthly darkness the awful silence WI s
broken by low but spontaneous utter
ances Of wonder aud admiration. The
grandeur of the moment was almos
appalling. 1t was the consummation of
all that human capacity eau understand
of the sublime. Within one and half
minutes three other crimson jets of in>
conceivable beauty appeared simultane.
ously on the lower right band quarter
of the moon. They flashed upon our
vision with strange suddenness and
rapidity, and while Explanations of adj
miration aud wonder were upon every
lip, tho end came
END OF THE ToTALITY.
For two minutes and thirty -four
seconds the wonderful scene had hung
before us in the sky. The unseen hand
which held il before our upturned eyes
shifted again the matehless scenery.
In the iwiakling Of an eye the sun
blazed forth upon the right with an
effulgence as startling as it was un.
looked for. IL cannot be described,
but many were heard to exclaim how
wildly it brought to mind the time
when God said, al Let there be light.
and there was light" The light re.
turned, apparently with much more
rapidity than it departed, and the inter.