Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-05
THE ECLIPSE.
1t Was by No Means SO Dreadfu1iy Dark
After All.

It Wa by No Means SO Dreadfu1ly Dark
After All.
In order to get a clear view OF the eclipse
8 reporter went up to Walkerville OH New
day, and at the hospitable quarters
oh Superintendent Hall OF the Alice, found
an excellent point of observation. Here
before the eclipse began, the sun had a very
powerful effect. Completely sheltered from
the north the office of the company has an
unimpeded southern exposure, and the
thermometer hanging near the door OF the
Office on this side registered about 60 be-
fore the eclipse began. The first appear
ance OF the moons shadow on the south
western edge Of the sun, as seen through
smoked glass was at 10 minutes to z by
the clock in the Alice. as the eclipse in
creased a p~erceptible difference began to be
experienced in the atmosphere. The Their
mometer gradually fell, and when the lace oil
the sun was about half obscured by the in
~creasing moon shadow it had fallen to A.
The greatest observation occurred about 8
%. m. when the thermometer declined to ~.
At this time q crescent shaped piece Of
the top of the sun only was visible, Wnlcn
was set down by astronomers as only one
eleventh of the suns surface. 1t seemed 20
be more than this to an ordinary observer;
However the observation OF O-llth OF
the suns Surface did 10 cause a CORE
spending diminution OF the light OF day
The sky assumed a darker lint OIL plue
and the general appearance OF things tool
on a kind OF twilight half gloom, but as &c
any chickens being idiotit enough to go to
roost under the impression that the shades
oil night were falling was u q
the question. There was Lot the least
occasion in the clear atmosphere OF Walker
vile to light All extra lamp or supplement
the existing light of day shorn as it was by
the moon with any artificial light. Every
thing was perfectly visible, only, instead o
the warm. mellow sunshine OF an hour be
fore, there was q ''greenery.yallery" hut
over everything. Nature seemed to b.
sicklied Ger with the pale cast OF though
which takes possession of people at sea un
accustomed to ocean voyages, when thel
lean with unutterable sadness over Tn,
taffrail and commune with the ocean VIII
more or less haste. In brief, 1T gave on
the impT ession that Nature was not 1eeilnl
well, and that il a little Perry Davis Pain
Killer could be administered it Nigh
help her some. But just when thing
tWGI6 lOOhL1k du UAO1A ~
the bilious line, they presented a rare pic
ture to the artistic sense. From the plat
form in front OF the Alice a wide view !
| obtained, taking in many niles In extent
| The main range of the Rockies crops up OF
| the east, the high peaks OF the Highland
| are seen to the south, while the mountain
| roll like pillows of ocean to the west. be
| yond the Lexington hill, however. appar
entity the entire space OF the valley beyon'
| was covered with a sea OF mist, engulphin
| the Wooded Butte and leaving only tn
tops Of the Highlands visible. Th
sea of mist extended to the west a
far as eye could see, exposing only tn
tops OF the ranges, looking ilk
the world, emerging from another food.
The Big Butte to the west OF town wa
but an Island If few acres in size. A
this time g p. N.Y. every feature OF tn
landscape was distinctly visible, but sui
dued by a watery tint that gave things
different appearance from their ordinar
one. There were darker tints on every
thing, but the furthest visible object wa
distinct. Tie great sea of fog was NOR
sharply outlined than when the sun va
shining brightly and had a more substar
tial appearance.
When the moon began to pass ava
from the face OF the sun, o sellse OF reli'
was experienced, and the show" was tel
to be over. Il was another hour befor
the shadow OF the moon lett the northeas
edge OF the SUMS disc. But long befoI
then the sun was apparently as strong 8
when shining unobscured. A good man
people went out OF town to get an unin
peded view OF the eclipse, and everyor
seemed to he in raptures over the unu'
ual sight. There were two hours goo
was over, and in that clear atmospnei
the day was a great deal warmer than
Butte, where the depressing conditions
an irrepressible fog made life q burden :
more senses than one, In Butte the the
mometers fell considerably below zero, an
with the assistance OF the fog il got prett
| dark.