Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
The Total Eclipse OF the Sun. August.
1887


As the time for the eclipse drew near, the
number of visitors TO the castle greatly in
creased and the preparations, extended
through long weeks, received their final
touches At last the 18th of August dawn
ed,-''the great, the important day, usher
cd in with the clearest of skies and the most
radiant sunbeams. Twenty or thirty of tho
guards, in snowy dresses, watched the cas-
tie and all its entrances, and none except the
specially invited guests were admitted.
The instruments were carefully adjusted for
instant use, and, in spite Of the torrid heat,
we were all astir with eager anticipation.
The guests quietly gathered in the open
space below the instruments, and subduod
hum of pleasant conversation filled the hot
noontide. The eclipse was TO begin atthir-
ty-sevon minutes after two o'clock. About
an hour before this, a delicate little white
cloud floated up toward the zenith and
spread very quietly over the bright, blue
sky, until even the visitors began 10 look up
ward, with some fear lest the afternoon
might be only partly clear after all. ANA
that little white cloud not only grew into
great size itself, but il was joined by other
and darker ones from all directions, which,
as they seemed 10 gain confidence from mum
berS and blaCkncss, soon shut out the sun
completely and spread CONSERVATION over
every face around US. The beginning OF
the eclipse was not seen at all, but we
caught few glimpses Of the sun afterward
"a gradually narrowing crescent.
AS il became apparent that my part OF the
work-which was 10 draw the fimy, outer
most steamers OF the corona-could not be
done. | left my appointed station and has
tened 10 the upper castle wall. Here, stand
ing near the instruments, | watched the
strange landscape under its gray shroud.
Even inanimate things seem endowed at
times with a terrible life OF their own, and
this deliberate, slow-moving pail of cloud
seemed malignant power, not TO be evadcd
AT the instant of totally "A darkness and ST
lcnce like that OF death fell upon the castle
and the town and all the world around.
Not word was spoken the very air about
us was motionlcss, as If all nature We're in
sympathy with our suspense The useless
instruments outlined thcir fantastic Shapes
dimly against the massing clouds, and q
weird chill fell upon the earth. Darker and
still darker il grew. Every trace OF color
fled from the world Cold, dull ashcn gray
covered the face of nature and a low rum
bic OF thunder muttcred ominously on the
horizon. Even at that supreme moment my
thoughts few backward over the eight
thousand miles Of land and stormy ocean al
ready Travelled, the ton OF telescopes brought
with such CAFE, the weeks Of patient waiting
at the old castlc,-all that long Journey and
those great preparations for just these three
minutes OF precious time, which were now
slipping away so fast.-And already they
were gone! One sharp, brilliant ray Of sun
shine flashed down upon US. Totally was
overland lost This tiny rift in the clouds
showed the slender edge o. the sun for a
second and was gone. And profound sigh
as OF great nervous tension relieved. came
up from the crowd below. The calamity
was too great 10 be measured at once, and
il was some minutes before we cared 10
speak We had trusted Nature, and she had
failed us, and our sense Of hclplcssncss was
overwhelming
Every astronomical student now knows
how the track Of this Inflated eclipse was
followed by clouds all along its course, and
how totality and the wished for corona were
hidden by clouds from nearly all the eager
eyes and waiting instruments through is
entire length. But an astronomer must
be philosophic; and our astronomer nobly
displayed this quality.
And 80. gradually, our visitors left 80, and
the sound OF demolishing and packing was
heard on the hill The tepts We're folded and
the party dispersod.-St Nicholas.