The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-10-24
THE REIGN OF LUNA.
Scientists Voyage TO the West
Coast Of Africa.
TOTAL ECLIPSE or THE SUN.
An Event Of Surprising Inferess IN the
Scientific wsr!d-sfrsnge Coronai
Rays to BE studied.
Sew Yora Evenlng go. o.. y

Sew York Evening sen. Oct Il
An expedition of profound interest 10
scientists ali over the world and more
especially 20 astronomers in the United
States will sail from the Brooklyn navy
yard on Tuesday next The destination of
the expedition Is the West coast Of Africa
and the occasion is a total eclipse OF the
,un by the moon. The interesting asiro-
nomieal event viii occur on December -.
and II nothing happens 10 intervene will
b. viewed by some twenty wise American
professors from point in Africa IS or 100
miles inland from 81. Paul lie Loando.
The party viii he taken To the point Of
observation by the United States flag ship
Pensacola, under the command Of Captain
saies. The vessel has been provisioned
for q cruise Of Eve months. which IS the
time Captain Yates thinks the trip viii
consume. The Pensacola Is one OF the
eldest vessels in the American navy. and is
manned by q crew of 30 officers and men.
The ship was selected for the cruise by the
navy department at Washington on account
Of her ample accommodations. for the
Pensacola is very slow. The scientific men
will occupy the sdmiral's cabin. which is
rommodiors and elegantly fitted up. IL
was originally intended that the Pensacola
should sail today, but a. the scientific
instruments were not all ready the start
has been deferred until Tuesday.
Although the eclipse is the principal OBJ
ject of the expedition. there are other
scientific investigations to be made, such
~ deep.sea dredging aud study of the
winds and ocean currents. Expert bug
hunters wiil bottle rare specimens Of AZ
riosn insects. and specimens of Dark Con-
tiuent flowers and shrubs will be secured
and brought here for future analysis and
classification. SO that in case Jealous
cloud should come between the lenses OF
the telescopes and the sun and moon at the
supreme moment~or minute, for the
moon viii hide the glowing face of the sun
for only 30 seconds--the expedition will
net have been entirely fraitless.
After landing the majority If the scien-
title men at 80. Paul de ioando CAPTAIN
Yates says the Pensacola will I've taken out
Ia sea Of the African coast and anchored
In 600 fathoms Of water. Here the deep
sea dredgings viii lie carried on.
The only danger To life anticipated by
the party is from the fevcrs which prevail
on the African coast. IL is expected, how
ever, that the eclipse Investigations will be
made from high ground in the interior
where the air is purer and not SO much risk
OF eontagion will be incurred
The last congress appropriated the made
qaate sum OF s. .op0 toward the expenses of
the trip. As the expenses involved will be
many thousands of dollars i'm excess of this
amount, the cost Of the expedition Will be
borne by private subscription. IL is under
stood that there is belief In the minds of
the scientists comprising the expedition
ths, the coming congress will appropriate a
sufficient SUM TO reimburse the persons
generous enough To advance the necessary
funds for the amount expended
Gerrett 7. sefyiss, secretary Of the New
York Astronomical society. when con.
suited a. Ia the astronomical aspects of the
expedition, said ska; the coming eclipse was
one Of extraordinary interest TO astromers.
The excitement was consequent, he said.
upon the remarkable discoveries made az
the similar eclipse which occurred on Ian
prary last and which was observed BIZ
some Of the foremost Americans astron.
omers from point in the northern portion
Of California. The scientific men we're
sstonishea at that time AZ the results 90.
tanned By photographs OF tie eoronal rsys
or sffeamers which shot out from behind
the moon at tae tine ~ oecnlafion. Some
OF these rays. the astronomer said. shot up
millions Of miles into space, and were Of 81
beautiful aud startling nature as to
awaken the astronomical mind To the
Widest speculation a. 10 their origin. This
marvellous phsuomenon is thought by
some ot the deepest thinkers - furnish a
slcw IS 80 how the sun radiates heat and
electricity, Al kinds az speculation have
been iudulEcd IN as to What these st.eamers
are Some are II The opinion that they are
millions 90 msteors shooting cat os
the kissing terrestrial fiery furnace
Is wss also determined that the
suns corona was ln some undiscoverahls
way associated with the spots or the sun
Of which there has beer 50 much talk q.
late. A; the present time the san SPOT.
were AZ minimum. II was Intended or
December -. Mr. Seryiss sad. to take
photographs at the present stage % the
appearance OF ,he sun spots ard preSrrv,
them autl the sun spots were st thel,
maximum, ~hsa comparisons would h
made
Nothing the astronomer sad. vas al
more interest te the student oi the heaven,
than an eclipse ~ the san. The chief dit
Realty was that an eclipse was total Oxei
such a smsN arsa The line Of tctality IN
lscsnbsg nsyt Nould include the Island q
Trinidad, thence across she Atlantis intt
the interior q Africa. here Is would en1
Arserscsns have always hevn aaesd il
Astronomical Photography. snd The TesGls,
achieved this tsnss wogid - eagerly watches
Ter by every astronomer ia Skte woF5d.
CaptAin Yates Is anxious 30 set aadsi
~ay. he - IS enthusiastic 81 "a the Fe
snits a the espssiiloa - she most SrrAni
- enlist. oaly tew - ths scientist Is have
g. yeg bearded Ire rsnsacos sInetsx whagn
Is Prusessos David = lossd. vha has charge
al the eypeSitioa- Amuas iAosa Who wsEl
be a. she party ars The t0spslag
Professor Agsssss, OF Hasssfa, Processes