Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-01-11
THE SUNS ECLIPSE.
Successful Telescope Observa-
lions on the Pacific Coast.
Much Scientific Data and Valuable
Photographs Obtained

The event of New Years Day which will
long be remembered in California was the
total eclipse of the sun, visible throughout a
belt ninety-three miles wide, extend
ing diagonally across the northern
part of that State. Trained observers
from all parts of the Unlted
States, provided with all necessary IN
struments, were stationed at various points
in the path of totality, and as the weather
was favorable at most places, their ODSerVa-
tions were made under exceptionally faVora-
BILE circumstances, and will prove or great
scientific value
The principal work was done by the liar
ward University party at the William Lick
Observatory, astronomers at Norman, FRO
fessor Swift near Chico, the Chabot
Observatory, and people at Clover
dale. The latter party was In charge
of Professor Charles Buckhalter, and
included no less than twenty-five expert
enced amateur photographers. Besides cam
eras and smaller Instruments observers were
equipped with 10 half-inch refiectors of
ChabOt University and a siderlal clock set TO
automatically record the time.
The observers were placed in a large vacant
lot covered with the greenest of grass, ana
containing several giant white oaks with
long streamers of gray moss clinging to their
leafess branches. These features of the land
scape were brought out with weird effect
during the solar observation
At 1928 T. NJ. the first contact was noted.
The sky was clear, with the exception OF
few lacelike cirrus clouds, which, how
ever, did not, except at rare Intervals
cross the face of the sun. Slowly
the moon crept onward, until the
sun was a narrow crescent, like the thinnest
OF new moons. Then the face of nature as
stunned CHASTITY aspect. Faces became OF a
SIckly, greenish-yellOw hue, though this Ell
feet may have been partly due to the retiec-
ton of the dim light from the emerald lawn
Six minutes before the totality Venus
came into view A moment later, Jupiter
could be seen near the zenith. At this mo-
ment, while all eyes were strained to catch
the first glimpse of the corona, the silence be-
came SO perfect that the ticking of the
sidereal clock was plainly heard. The
air grew chill, and then all at once
so quickly that none could note how this
change was made, there hung poised in the
sky the great black body of the moon. sur,
rounded by a ring of glitteriDg FURNISHED
silver, from which extended long rays and
irregular bands, like remnants of golden and
rose tinted satin ribbons with raveled ends.
This was the marvellous corona. Mercury
and Mars now came out to join the two
larger planets previously noted. One shout
OF ''Oh!" went up, then all was still again
save for the ticking of the clock and
the voice of the timer calling off
the seconds to the busy company of
rather twilight-the uncanny twilight of
another world. Objects could plainly be dis
cerned and the motiOnless, mOss-covered
arms of the old oaks were not the least awe
inspiring feature of the landscape
One hundred and four seconds were told
off, and then, on the lower circumference
of the black ball hanging in the
heavens appeared a tiny speck of fire,
bright molten STEEL which soon ex-
banded into a crescent. In another
second the wonderful spectacle was ended.
The total phase had passed. Three cheers
were given with a tiger for the eclipse of the
sun and moon.
The corona was observed through the in
struments seven seconds before totality,
which began at :46:45 P. NJ. large num-
Der of excellent photographs were obtained,
which will be turned over to the Lick OBJ
Servatory.
Observers at other points report very IA
vorable results 1t is expected that the
eclipse will aid in solving many long dis
puted astronomical problems
Professor Louis Smith was stationed at
Nelson, California, and telegraphed the fol-
the eclipse: LAS far atfording oppor
tunity to search for intra-mercurial
planets it was a failure from clouds and
haze. All four contacts were well made,
the chronometer watch previously set to
Lick Observatory time being used Five
very small colorless protuberances were seen,
all having pointed apexes. Near the point
of one was another detached from
at the second and third con
facts, but entirely unlike those seen at Den
yer in 1873 No chronosphere was visible,
though looked for Mercury, Venus, Vega
and Alpha Cvgni were seen. The corona
could not be drawn, but as seen through the
TELESCOPES it was not very extensive"
PROMINENT PEOPLE.