The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-03-05
A TOTAL ECLIPSE.
Its Weird Effects Heightened by q
Smart Clerk.


most interesting natural occurrences
that human eyes have ever beheld.
Savage and barborous peoples have al
ways looked on such cclipses with the
greatest alarm. Even among our own
people, many persons seem unable to
look upon an eclipse without feelings of
fear. As the area of country over which
an eclipse of the sun can be total is
very small, never being wider than
about one hundred and sevcnty-fiv
miles. and as the phenomenon may not
be visible in the same tract of country
twice in a century, it follows that many
human beings maypive to a good old
age, yet never see total eclipse of the
sun.
On August z. 1869, total eclipse of
the sun occurred visible in parts of
Iowa. Illinois, Kentucky and North
Carolina. The writer lived at the time
Just on the southern line of totaiity. To
the people in the country town where
we resided the eclipse was total. the line
running from northwest to southeast,
at distance of possibly half mile
from town. We had occasion to 60 out
: of town for an hour during the after
rcnoon, and the moment of totality Oc-
S,tcurred while we were on our way home,
5 and mile distant, in q southwest direc-
4 ton.
n At this point, which was just outside
the line, mere dot, or speck, of the
sun remained visible. Consequently we
did not see the eclipse as ''total," but
we were so near the line that all the
characteristic glories of the pheno-
menon-the corona" the fred
fiames," etc.-were distinctly seen.
We had one most interesting sight,
which those inside the line of totality
could not see. Running up through the
atmosphere to the very heavens, We
could see the line of shade, the edge
of the moons shadow, the line between
a total and partial hiding Of the sun
from the earth's surface beneath. To
the northeast all was ash-colored and
dark. such a shade as we have seen at
no other time. 1t appeared as a great
wall of darkness, solid thing, reach
ing from the earth to the skies. But to
the southwest the scene was very differ
ent. Here there was glimmer of light,
and the rays of light could be seen,
somewhat as when the sun breaks
through rifted clouds. The light shone
brighter and brighter as we looked off
to the horizon. The contrast with the
-.walr'-the solid darkness-in the
other direction was very striking.
When the moon had passed over the
disk of the sun, and the light burst
forth from the other side, there was
another vision that, once seen, can never
be forgotten. Just as we see the shadow
of summer cloud fly over the hills and
fields, SO the wondrous shadow that had
been seen hanging over the earth was
seen to fly away toward the southeast,
chased byt he ever increasing brightness.
Ii did not rise from the earth. but SIM
ply rolled away with q wonderful
velocity.
But in the village occurred special
event, that, more than even the glory
of the eclipse itself, will make that
occasion ever memorable to many OBJ
servers. The eclipse had been long
discussed in the town. As the suns
light diminished. smoked glass was in
demand, and everybody was on the
watch. to see what could be seen. OF
course. all had been told of the strictly
natural character of the phenome-
non, but among the Observers, few, if
any, of whom had ever before, seen
total eclipse of the sun, there were
some superstitious persons, and some
weak-minded ones, who were expecting
to see something marvellous, and they
were not disappointed. The main street
of the village ran north and south. The
sidewalk on the east side of the street
was particularly favorable place from
which to view the sun. which was now
descending to the westward. The east
side sidewalk was crowded with people,
and as the suns light grew less and
less. they were in fever of excitement
Some thought that the end of the world
had come.
An Irishman, with his family, had
come into town in his farm wagon. dur
ing the day, and having finished his
business. and having no fear of the
eclipse. had started homeward. He
! lived in the northeast part of the town,
ard had gone possibly quarter of a
mile, when, the moment of totally hav-
, ing arrived, he stopped his team. and
ell. turning in their seats, gazed at the
wonderful sight. Chickens were going
to roost, cattle, and even hogs, showed
their appreciation" of the occasion.
The dogs sought safety with their mas
tiers. and crowded up against them.
When the weird, wonderful shadow had
fully enveloped the earth, chill, as of
midnight, fell upon every thing.
On the west side of the street, and
near the middle Of the block, was a
moderate-sized two-story building. The
main floor was occupied as drug store.
The proprietor was absent, and the
establishment at this moment was in
charge of a young man, whom We will
call Jack Brown, mischieyOus chap,
who never missed an opportunity for
having some fun and who now resolved
to utilize the eclipse. Some teams were
fastened to the posts on the west side of
the street. On the east side, with his
head from the sun, was horse, a great,
big. awkward beast, fit only for the
pillow, but which some country boy had
saddled and ridden to town. The street
commissioner had not very well attend
ed to his duty, and the street at this
point was in very bad repair. In fact.
there was big mud-hole just back of
where the big. horse spoken of was
standing.