The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-07
THE DISCOVERY OF VULCAN.
INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR LEWIS SWIFT
FULL ACCOUNT OF HIS sUCCEssFUL OBsER-

INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR LEWIS SWIFT
FULL ACCOUNT OF HIS sUccEssFUL oBsER-
WALTON OF THE NEW STAR.
from the Rochester Dem ocrat, August 81
Professor Lewis Swift returned from Denver, Col,
Saturday evening. bringing splendid trophies of ais
skill as scarcher OF Tie heavens That his discovery
was not duly reported by tho Associated Press IL
chiefly owing TO Professor Swts modesty IN herald
ing results OF his iabors and his desire to care
fully determine the significance Of his observations
before makii public announcement. Yesterday alter
noon We visited Professor Swift at his pleasant homo
Ambrose street and learned from him the story OF
his visa to Denver and observations OF the total
eclipse. Professor Swift saic:-"Up to the time OF
the eclipse tho prospects Tor clear day very
poor. The nights clear, but 1t was CLOUDY and
rainy every afternoon. Sunday afternoon there
was q clearing storm, with hail ana drcnching
rain. Up to Sunday afternoon an unprecedented
amount of rain had fallen in the region. On Monday
morning thcre cloud In the sky and all pre-
dicted clear day, and had it. The final prepara-
tions were rapidly AS possible. A. G. Thomas
had arrived at the eleventh hour from Chicago with
a telescope and spsctroscopo attachment Professor
Hough had brought small telescope with fine lines
stretched the object glass. and micrometor
cyopiecc, Tor the purpose OF measuring the corona
had secured from the Mayor tho services OF police
officer to Keep tho grounds about the instruments
clcar from spectators. According to Washington
predictions tho eclipse was TO commence at All. I'm.
gu a. According to Professor Coberts calculations
II would begin At Al. lon. Sos, Washington ume-a
difference of three minutes. Professor ColDert's
prediction proved to be worry nearly correct.
About half hour before the eclipse to begin our
party took their positions. was about twenty feet
to tho outh OF Professor Hough, who was in group
consisting OF himself Professor Colbert and Professor
yesterday who used the telescope Tor observing the
corona. 10 the west was class OF fifteen young
ladies' from Denver instructed by Professor Colbert
10 sketch the corona outheasL Of my position Mr.
Thomas was stationed.
.Whcn arranging my instrument made the post
worry low, exciting much comment by 10y companions.
told them intended to lilo on the ground during the
observations, this being position had found the
easiest my experience Of twenty years comet seek
ing. spread a carpet on the earth and mad great
advantage the other members OF tue party, who
obliged 10 assume constrained positions, which
tended TO Unstcadiness OF vision. Seated by me Was
Daniel DruuimOnd, with an accurate timepiccc, set
by the clrOnometer few minute before the first
tact. L. ID. smith, an old acquaintance, whom met
recorded The time oil each event called
IL. Mr. Drummond IS an experienced engineer una
counted the seconds with great accuracy.
THE piscovEHY DUE TO BLuNDER.
GAS arranged my telescope ior the FIRST event the
VIM was blowing IN htfui gusts from the southeast,
shaking our instruments. To prevent my instrument
from swaying tied long stick TO II, about loot
above eyepiece, tne other end being braced
against the ground and Tree 10 move only IN d.
rectiop. THIS Was blund, r TO which owo the dis
covery of stranger, when am inclined 10 think
Vulcan. As the Gun moved the eye end OF The lole-
scope moved to tho east. The suck would not allow
any backward movement, and when attempted to
observe the shy 10 the cast oil the sun could not.
THIS mined my area oil vision 10 u small distance
west the sun. But TO return to the observation.
NV observation OF the rst contact was four seconds
laier than the observation CT Professor Colbert Tue
following is my record OF events ny Washington