The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-08-31
The Eclipse as Seen From Pixies
Peak.
Philadelphia Press. |

Philadelphia Pressl
The sky was cloudless and the atmos
phere wonderfully clear. The range OF
vision extended for probably one hun
dred miles in every direction. The
mountain north and west stood out clear
cut against the sky, and the plains to the
eastward stretched away until they
seemed to mingle with the horizon. 1t is
rare occa ion when distant objects can
be so clearly and distinctly seen from the
Peak. There was no haze or mist tc
cloud the view in any direction. There
was perhaps no special feature observa.
BILE in the eclipse, as noted from the
summit, which could not be seen from
any point on the plain below, except
such as might arise from the clearness
and rarity of the atmosphere incident te
the elevation. This clearness and the
absence of moisture doubtless gave
great advantage for scientific observa-
ton and for the use of astronomical in
struments.
But there was no point, probably,
within the entire limit of total observa-
ton which afforded such an opportunity
Tor noting the approach of the shadow
of totality, or which gave an equal OPP
portunity for taking in at single sweep
of the eye such an extended area of the
earth's surface.
To the unscientific observer, the most
remarkable phenomenon observable from
the summit of the Peak was the APP
proach of the shadow of totally
from the north, its swift passage, and
the sudden burst of sunlight which fol-
lowed.
1t must be remembered that the
movement of the shadow from north to
south was at the rate of about thirty
miles per second, and it was necessary
that one should have stretched beneath
him wide expanse of the earth's sur
face in order that the eye could seize
with glance the line of the approach
ing shadow, and followed it as itrushed
away to the southwark. This advan-
tage an observer who stood upon the
Peak possessed.
General Myers had very kindly adj
vised our party where and how to look
for the coming shadow, and we had taken
our station on the northern edge of the
summit several minutes before the
period of total observation Of the suns
disk. Without the aid of glass the
eye could at this time distinctly note the
simmering of the bright sunlight on
the mountains more than one hundred
miles to the northward. Suddenly we
observed them disappear, and great
wall of darkness, stretching out on
either side as far as the eye could reach,
concealed them from us. With incon-
ceivable rapidity the shadow swept to-
ward us, its front clear black line, Dor
dered with fringe of yellow. 1t hid
from sight range after range of the more
distant mountains, and quickly covered
with a CHASTITY pail the peaks and foot
hills and plains close beneath US.
When the shadow reached and en-
velop US, the eye could dimly outline
the nearer mountains, aud could single
out with st ange distinctness the houses
and farm4 in the valley below. The sky
overheard seemed heavy and leaden, and
every visible object was pallid and
CHASTITY. The very shadow seemed
tangible and to weigh upon us, but the
horizon all around us was brightly il
lumined by flashing rays of red and yell
low lights, like those of the aurora.
While we on the Peak were still en-
veloped in the depth of the shadow, its
upper line passed over the far-off range
to the northward, and the clear sunlight
struck the mountains, and away beyond
and through the darkness they burst
suddenly inIo view. In an instant other
and nearer mountains appeared, and
then the dimly-shaded parks and the
wooden divide were bathed in sunlight,
and the shadow rushed past us.
During the period of darkness the
view around US was weird and terrible
but the sudden burst of sunlight which
appeared upon the distant mountains, as
they seemed to spring up instantaneously
from the bosom of the earth, was one of
the most sublime and joyous visions
that it is ever given to mortal eyes to
witness. 1t brought a sense of relief
and delight, and no one who saw it can
forget it.
There was one peculiar phenomenon
of color connected with the approach
and disappearance of the shadow of total
observation which may, perhaps, have
some scientific value, and be worthy of
note. 1t was observed that along both
lines of the shadow, and especially along
its departing edge perhaps more dis
tinctlv than its advance line, there was
a well-defned strip of yellow color,
shading off into orange and light red.
This appearance was well defined, and
bordered the dark lines like fringe.
These lines of color were noted by three
or four persons, who all agree as to their
appearance. Will some scientist tell us
why they we're there, and what they in
dictate?