Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-21

The readers of TIE STAR who, amid COM
Portable home surroundings this evening, care
lessIy glance at the heading OF this article and
wonder what more Is 20 be said abOnt an astro-
nomical spectacle which gives the people of
these broad United States 'he go-by and wastes
its wonders on the fishes of the Atlantic and
the benighted inhabitants OF the dark CONT
nent can hardly realize the anxiety of the
little band of American scientists who, after
Drawing the perils OF the and OF the African
jungle to increase the worlds store of useful
knowledge, may have their long journey. the
Qualms of sea sickness and other discoTforts
and all their work of preparation made
of no avail by few clouds between
them and the sun tomorrow. Let
us hope that they will have a clear celes-
tai field during the Few important minutes of
total eclipse in which TO note their observa-
tions, and perhaps settle or help 20 settle the
many disputed points as 20 the nature and ORR
gin of solar light and heat. to ascertain whether
the luminous protubeTaNces noticed In solar
eclipses at the time OF total observation hereto
fore are due to solar clouds or flaming gases.
and to solve other problems winch may help us
to a better understanding OF the conditions and
limitation of life upon cur planet TIE map
published in The STAR last Saturday showed
very clearly the narrow zone of total eclipse.
Beginning south of Cuba the shadow sweeps in
a curyIng line southeaStward along part of
the South American coast, thence over the At
lantic and across Africa. ending on the eastern
coast of that continent. 1t first strikes the
dark continent a short distance south ST. Paul
dc LoandO, where the American party landed.
And now a word or two about that party:
PERSONNEL OF THE EXPEDITION.
The United States expedition. which sailed
on Saturday, October II, in the war ship PEN
sacola, is perhaps one of the most important
scientific expeditions ever sent out for such a
purpose for it is not only OF interest to astrono-
mers and photographers but carries a score of
scientists distinguished in other fields who
will return laden with the fruits of their labOrs,
whether the main object, the observation of
the eclipse, is a success or not The party con-
sists of David p Todd, director of the expedi-
ton and chief astronomer. from Amherst col
lege, Amhelst, Mass; Cleveland Able, meteo-
rolOgist, from the signal service, Washington;
Frank H. Blgelow, first assistant astronomer,
from the nautical almanac bureau, WaShington;
Eben j. LoOmis, assistant astronomer, from the
nautical almanac bureau. Washington: He'll
Chatelain. interpreter and lnguist, from New
York; T.. ID. Preston, physicist. from the coast
survey, Washington; c. A. Orr, anthropologist,
from Clark university Worcester, Mass; G. F.
Flint, stenographer. from Washington. D. c.:
Herman 5. Davis, assistant astronomer. from
Princeton college, New Jersey; Arthur Ii.
Brown, assistant naturalist. from the national
museum, Washington: Z. G.. Wright. chief pho
tOgrapher, from Brooklyn, n. Y; John Eugene
Carbut, assistant photographer, from PhiladeI-
phia. Pa; Michael OCOnnOr. assistant photOg-
rapher, from New York; G.. L. Van Guysling
machinist. from Brooklyn. " y; L. II. Jacoby,
assistant astronomer. from Columbia college.
n. Y; Vim. Harvey Brown, naturalist, from the
national nuSpUm WASHINGTON