The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-30

IL sparseiy covered with sage brush and coarse
grass trees conspicuous by their entire absence;
OF brooks ana streams there none aud the hori-
ION is bounded by the distant peaks OF tho Rocky
Mountains. The land seems low and wet and 1t is
almost Impossible realize that II is really 1880 feet
above the level OF the Beside the station water
tank and coslshed Of the railroad company the place
boasts OF only two small cottages, and It's population
consists Of white adults. three children and
Chinese laborers who keep the track in order. Amid
such a community lilo cannot be otherwise than
molotonous, and tho arrival OF the Naval Observa-
tory eclipse party really constituted an era IN ITS
history.
THE OBSERVING PARTY.
The instruments OF the party came through from
Washington in a postal car, which was accompanied
by single member Of tho expedition while tho
is as foIlows:-
Professor William Hardness, United States Navy,
chief OF party.
Lieutenant +. W. Sturdy, United States Navy.
Mr. A. N. Skinner, of the Naval Observatory.
Mr. Alvin G. Clark. OF tho well known optical firm
OF Alvin Clark Il Sons.
Professor O. Ii. Robinson, OF Rochester University.
Mr.. L. Trouvslot of Boston, and his SOB, who arc
also sent out by tho Naval Observatory, accompany
tho party, but strictly speaking they members
of IL
QUARTERS PAEry
These gentlemen arrived in Creston about ten
days ago and the regular routine OF an
astronomical party in tho field at once
commenced. Their quarters had been estab.
lished beforehand BY Mr.. STEINER, and con.
sisted OF the postal car already mentioned. which
serves as ofaoo and dormitory; temporary OBJ
servatory, twelve feet by twenty-five built of
rough boards tho western half Of its roof being
OF canvas arranged for ready removal whom
the instruments are to be used tent; cook
ing tent, and a small tent which shelters the two
soldiers who guard tho party at Crss.on. Nothing
be had but air. and that is rather thin Tor
the barometer indicates pressure Of only 23 inches.
The fuel and water required Tor the daily Of the
party arc brought many a weary mile by the railroad
company, and generously furnished Of charge
The tents, provisions and camp equpsge come from
Fort Steele. and to Major Thornburg, the command
ant of the post, tho comforts enjoyed by tho party
arc mainly due.
SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS.
Tho scientific apparatus brought the party
Of a sextant and artificial horizon for deter mining
local time and latitude. large equatorIaicamera for
photographing the poiariscopio phenomena OF tho
corona. three inch telescope with spectroscope
for examining the spectra presented during totaty,
q second three inch and inch telescope for OBJ.
serving the contacts and far possible the opti
cal appearance of the eclipsed sum- meteor spectre
scope for examining the general distribution Of the
different kinds of light emitted by tho corona. Pro-
lessor Hardness chief OF the party. is OF
responsible for all s operations, but he has devoted
left the duties OF the camp, the proper performance
OF which II 20 essential to comfort OF all con-
ocrned. to hrs sxective onace, Lieutenant Sturdy.
LIFE IN THE YIELD
Az few persons have ever been with an eclipse ex-
psd.ion In field it may be matter of interest to
describe the daily lie OF the party. About half past
six In the morning tho members Of the scientific
corps rise and perform their abutons all using the
Same tin basin, one after the other and drawing the
necessary water from old whsksy BARREL the odor
from which is by no means agreeable Near ono end
OF The car the toilets made They are not elabo-
ratio, and It takes but few minutes to prepare for
breakfast The soldiers have risen hour before,
and about o'clock OF them, who acts as
cook pokea his head in The car and sings out en.
temen, breakfast is ready" This Is tho signal Tor
q general stampede. and It il not many sec
onds before oil are assembled in the mess tent
Some members OF tho party amuse themselves
oy giving elaborate orders broed spring chicken
quail on toast and other dscscies, to which Rodman
the cook, replies most politely and brings coffee or
tea cold Leans butter cakes and hard tack. these
edbles disappear rapidly down tho throats OF sevsn
hungry men. About half-psst seven Professor Hark-
ness and Mr. skinner observe for local with
sexlsnt and artificial horizon The latter instrument
is alitre basin mercury covered with glass roof
which q reflected image OF the DO seen, and
the scxtant consists OF two mirrors small telescope
a divided by which tho angle between the sun and
this rejected image can DO measured The messuro-
msnt is made by looking into tho telescope
pointed toward the basin OF mercury, bringing tho
direo, ana reflected images Of the sun into contact
by moving ono OF the mirrors, noting the time ndi-
Gated by the thermometer this is done and read.
ing OF the divided arc Amer repeating this process
SIX times certain other observations are made for de.
tsrmining the index correction Of the sextant aud
then half an hours computing suiecs TO determine
the error OF the chronome,er AZ sigh, o'clock all the
instruments arc busted and inspected, and dummy
practice is commenced aud continued pretty steadily
III about half-past eleven. Actual practice
on the cannot BE- begun till afternoon,
because the roof 10 the eastern sdo OF