Evening journal., 1889-10-14
To THE DARK CONTINENT
The Scientists Sail for Africa
on the Pensacola.
TO WITNESS THE SUNS EcLIPsr-


Journcy--many Thrilling Adventures
Are Doubtless in store for the Party.
NEW YoRK, Oct. 14-The United States
warship Pensacola, which is 10 carry the corps
Of scientists to St. Paul de Loando, on the
west coast Of Africa, to observe the eclipse
Of the sun ON Dec %, has sailed Tbe PEN
sacola has a full complement Of officers md
800 men,
The Lenders OF the Party.
Professor David Todd, who is in command
OF the expedition, is about 40 years old.
His reputation as a scientist Is not confined
10 this country alone. In 1873 he conducted
an expedition to Texas TO gather informa-
ton and facts concerning an eclipse which
occurred that year, and in 1882 he was in
vted by the trustees Of the Lick obssrva-
tory m California TO conduct the ohscrva-
tions Of the trunsit of Venus In 1887 hs
went to Japan, taking charge OF another
solar eclipse expedition
Professor h. II. Bigelow, who has spent q
good deal Of his lfe in South Africa, viii
act as his first assistant. Mr. Cleveland Abba
will have charge OF the meteorological divf-
sion, and Mr.. f. d. Preston will conduct re-
searches having for their object the deter
mining of points Of gravity in various parts.
other Members of the Expedition.
Among the party there will also be Pro-
fessor t. J. Loomis, Of Washington, who haa
made himself famous as a botanist and orni-
thoiogist Mr.. c. A. Orr goes at the requess
Of the Clark university, Of Worcester, Mass.
and win have charge Of the anthropologicaI
a.
sented by Mr. L. H. Jacoby, who win CON
fine his attention 10 astronomical matters
Mr. Harvey Brown will make the trip under
the auspices of the Washington National
museum and win make researches in several
branches Of natural history Mr.. II. &
Davis who is associated with Professor
Young, Of Princeton college, viii assist in
the preparations for tho eclipse and In the
| observation iteef.
| At the head OF the department Of languages
will be Mr. Hell Chateain, in having Sc
cured whom Professor Todd regards himself
as being particularly fortunate. Mr. Chate-
lain is a Swiss by birth, and has lived sew
eral years in Algona, the Portuguese settle-
ment whittier the expedition is bound. Mr.
Carbutt, Of Philadelphia, a practical photog-
rapher, will have charge OF all the photogra-
phic apparatus Valuable assistance win
also be rendered by Capt, Arthur Yates and
by Lieutenant Commander Honford, OF the
Pensacola, who are excellent oilicars, and
have made scientific research the subject OK
{ deep study.
FIFTY DAYS Voyage.
Every preparation has been made ON board
the Pensacola for the comfort Of tho expe-
dition during the voyage, which il is ex-
pected will last about fifty days Capt
Yates has surrendered his own cabin to Pro-
fessor Todd and the other members viii bo.
given the best quarters available. The ship
Is in first rate condition. ably commanded,
with a fine set Of men ON board, and every
body is looking forward 10 a pleasant trip.
Plans Of the Astronomers.
"We expect 10 bo gone about five months
altogether Professor Todd said, ''and shall
land at St Paul de Loando After disen-
i barking our stores and instruments we shall
, proceed about seventy-fve miles into the in
! terror and take up our location at a town
called Muxima, where the observations will
be made We are thoroughly equipped in
, every respect, and among our Instruments
; have camera of great size with which We
! expect 10 get "a picture Of the sun four and q
half inches in diameter. If we succeed it
: will be the finest picture Of the suns corona
ever taken The theories of the constitution
Of the sun and the solar corona are just now
in such condition that the astronomers are
q very uncertain as to what the corona really
] Is Consequently great importance attaches
> 10 this observation. We can only see the
: corona during a total eclipse and only for a
IA few hours in a century, therefore every OPP
!, portunity is seized upon to make observa-
, tions We shall not have another such
h chance for several years. We are all deeply
q indebted to the naval authorities for the cour-
}. tesy shown US and to the captain and officers
a Of the ship for the hospitality with which
we have been received
Quinine by the Barrel.
n 'rhe climate OF the country we are going
Z to is very unhealthy We expect 20 have to
fght against various forms OF fever and have
= laid in quinins by the barrel. They tell me
y too that there are fifteen able bodied mos
I quitoes for every blade OF grass, ena many
y other varieties of noxious insects, 50 that W.
y may look forward TO a great deal Of discom
Y fort on land. On board ship everything,
y am sure, viii be pleasant We have tn
marine band and the new piano, which lat
ter win help to break the monotony OF th
e voyage
Ct Prospective Adventures Galore.
ct When the expedition starts up country /
y will he accompanied by half the ships crew
- VINO Will ocb as a guard ana aAei IN Jne u'duS
be portatlon of the outfit The voyage to Mux
in i'm will be made up the river Quanza on
large fat scow. The Quanza is an exceed
ingly muddy stream, and, moreover, is the
or home Of fever aud crocodiles, while Its bank
- are Infested with natives of cannibalisti'
iS tendencies and who have no love for for
Ia foreigners except in the shape Of a pot roas;
!. Two steam launches will be taken along
~, y in which trips further up the stream will b
- made. Each man win he provided with al
outfit consisting Of three suits of white fan
mel, four light flannel shirts, twelve gsuz
shirts, one pith helmet one pair Of low shoes
one pair Of stout walking shoes, one pair q
y, S leather leggings twelve white silk handker
"a "a chiefs, twelve pairs of cotton socks, choler
- - belts, to be worn all the time, and one dres
a suit; two suits of pajamas, one white fel
sil hat und a pair of rubber boots.
Little Water WIN be Druak
Three physicians viii accompany the part,
and no water viii be drunk except such a
To- has been boiled and filtered This is not onll
US because the water is not naturally yer,
-r. wholesome, but because the natives have al
er Objectionable habit Of putting poison IN tbs
v. streams when they know there are strangeri
70 about
While Professor Todd, his party and guard
are away the Pensacola VIII cruise around IN
the neighborhood, and dr. ,ignig iof .p sse
3. l, l. .t.l.