New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-25
TRANSIT or Venus OBSERVATIONS.
rAsMANIAN EXPERIENCES DESCRIBED BY LEONARD
WALDO OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE.

TAsMANIAN EXPERIENCES DESCRIBED BY LEONARD
WALDO OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE.
A paper made up of notes on observations
Of the Transit Venus read before the NenNUrk
Academy of Sciences at No. Ga Madison-aye. Last
evening by Leonard aldo. the representative OF Column
ba College the station at Hobart Town Tasmania
Mr. Waldo was attentively listened TO by audience
which ncuded many ladies and gentlemen Of culture
and professors in different branches Of science
His explorations illustrated by series Of photo
graphic views exhibited screen with stereOpticOn
Among the lecturers remarks were the following
In 1871 the United States Congress appointed Com
ever appropriation should be made for observing the
Transit Of Venus The principal portion OF the labor de
of the Commission. | regret To say that the pho
tographcrs in some chosen more Oh account
Of their professional skill than because OF their know
edge In pr rehearsal OF the work 70 be
done had Washington and shortly afterward the
party, with is equipments set san IN the 5waaIa rom
sandy Hook. OF the voyage / shall say nothing, hut
will again take up the thread Of my narrative at the time
when We reached Hog Island. here We Degah 10 en-
counter gales which did not escape from for
long time After sunday and sunday nsht spent
time all attempts 10 make lanuins proved
ReecqS5 we v se1 n croret snd where lS we
were informed would be folly 10 attempt 10 hand This
proved We could land neither at American
CHIP Bay standing a. near s possible 70 the ahore
batled al day and night with very severe gaze
laden with snow, rain and hail In the morning We dis
covered that IN spite OF our efforts we had dlted %
miles from land
=
10 land the instruments and lumber 10 be futile, set
sail for Kerguelcn Island This il barren rock, against
which the sea dashes it, spray 100 feet III the lts
grandeur desulatOn. Al first II was impossible
To efe-t landing here but eventually Efforts
DrOved succesSful We found spot overlooking the only
fresb-waer stream the Island, situated upon high
bluff and protected from the wind by knoll OF about
100 feet high landing the lumber and Instruments
with much difficulty. left the party Of observers
and set sail for Hobart Town.
where We arrived oct. ], 1l6 days from
NcwYork We received and treated with universal
courtesy y the British cOlOniss and not subjected
TO auu6vanccs which feared might arise from any
petty iealouses. We offered the free Use OF any
ground which might select, and also were t.nuefed
a guard OF soldiers protect instruments. W haf
cXpccir ma the Hobart Town population consisting
OF uuaudOm lckctOf-leaye men, and were grained ana
surrIsed 10 NM our mistake The people dislike The
term Van Dcman'- Land saying that II has entirely
passed away, That not M but the beautiful las
mania remains IN. foliage ~ luxuraint ferns and
grD,-.s -rywuc ~ great size. have ferns IA the
peshBornoOd Of t.obart Town fourteen feet III length
Al FIR, .c were considerably puzzled by the appare
of the points OF the compass North seemed
to De- here slOuld be- and East took the place OF
M4nf