The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-02
OLD SOILS HIDDEN FACE.
FAIRLY FAVORABLE WEATHER IN
THE NORTHWEST.

The People of the Coming State OF
Dakota View the Eclipse While on
Picnics-Clouds and Haze Interfered
with Prof Smiths Hunt for Intra-
Mercurial Planets.
ST PAUL, MINI, Jan. IA better day
for the observation Of an eclipse of the sun
than that given the entire northwest could
scarcely be conceived of. Clouds were al
most unknown, and the warm atmosphere
added to the pleasure with which the people
watched the eclipse, which, in this state,
was about three-quarters, while farther
west it was almost total. In many parts of
Dakota and Minnesota, New Years day
was celebrated with picnics, excursions and
ball games. the observation of the ehpse
being part of the days pleasure.
AS SEEN FROM HELENA.
HELENA. MONT, Jan. 1.-The eclipse
was observed here favorably this afternoon.
The dav was bright cold aud clear It
began at -: 05 o'clock and lasted an hour and
a half. The sun was obscured except a thin
crescent on tae top /. grew colder and as
dark as in a bright moonlight. Chickens
went to roost and lamps were lighted III
doors.
PROF SMITHS REPORT.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 1.--Prof. Louis
Smitr. director of the Warner observatory
at Rochester, n. Y, who was stationed at
Nelson, Cal, photographed the following as
the result of his observation Of the eclipse
"As far as affording opportunity to
search for intra mercurial planets. it was a
failure from clouds and haze. All
four contacts were well made
A chronometer watch previously set to
Lick observatory tune, Is being used. Five
very small colorless protuberances were
seen, all having pointed apexts. Near the
point of one was another detached from the
sun. Baiey's heads were seen at the second
and third contacts, but entirely unlike those
seen at Denver Ia 1878. No chronosphere
was visible, though looked foF Mercury,
Venus, Vega and Alpho Cygni were seem
Corona could not be drawn, bu: as seen
through telescopes was not very extensive.
AS SEEN AT FRISCO.
The conditions were generally favorable
to-day, both in California and Nevada for
clear observation of the totul eclipse Of the
sun. In this city, the eclipse was only par
tial, about eleven-tWelfths of the suns sur
face. being obscured. The weather was
perfectly clear and the eclipse was wit
messed by q great number of persons.
During the period of greatest obscur
ity, it became quite dark and
one star was plainly seen. No scientific
observations were made in this city. Half
of the totality in California was from 80
to 100 miles north of San Francisco, and
trans from this city this morning conveyed
large number of people to various points
favorable for observation.
sTREAKs OF LIGHTNING
The weather at Marysville was very
clear The first contact was about 1880
~, .,S,Rt -.
the weather became quite cool. Several
streaks of lightning were observed during
the totality. Several exposures Of wet and
dry plates were made during the totality,
and the views will be- sent to
Amherst college Prof. E. s. Holden OF
Lick Observatory, telegraphs to
the Associated Press that the
beginning of the eclipse was
successfully observed at that point and also
the last contact. Photographs were taken
at Orrville, the clouds obscuring a view of
the totally, OFT good view was hsd up
to within a faw minutes of that period.
The conditions were all favorable at St
Helena.
A NARROW CIRCLE OF LIGHT.
Tho nearest approach 10 totality was at
/ 80 O'Clock, when tie Observers noticed
plainly with the naked eve narrow circle
of light on the northeaster!y side of the
was transferred 10 the other side. The APP
psarance Of the entire valley in the shadowy
light was weird.
a party from Lick observatory in charge
of Prof j. T. Keller made a successful OBJ
servation at Bartlett Springs Prof Keller
telegraphs to the AssociatedfPresS that the
corona was beautifully distinct and thai he
saw remarkable changes in the length of
the Coronal lines. Prof. Barnate obtained
nine photographs Prof Hill photographed
all tie contacts and studied the structure of
the inner corona. Prof. Senschno made
seven measures of light during the totality
WHITE CLOUDS IL THE WAY.
At Grass Valley white clouds obscured
the sun a little during the period Of totalty
Stars and large planets were seen with the
naked eye. The corona ard protuberance
were a great sight. Tae thermometsr fell
e between the first contact and the to-
tality.
AT Virginia City, Nevada, the Their.
mometer was 500 at the time Of
the first contact and dropped TO
90 during the process of the eclipse. Nine
teen-twentieths Of the suns surface was OBJ
scured at this point. The weather was per-
fectly clear.
A heavy fog prevailed at Truckee, Cal.
in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. During
the eclipse it was necessary to use electric
lights in the streets.
At Redwood City the atmosphere was
very cold. During the eclipse two stars
were plainly visible.
At Healdsburg the totally was 50 sec
onds. We u, Mars. Jupiter, Mercury and
stars near the sun were visible The corona
appeared with long rays Of light parallel to
the equator OF the sun. Prof.
G. E. Hall succeeded in securing
number Of fine photographs
of the corona, which show rays To- or 12'
from the sun. Only a rose colored protub-
erance was visible
At Oriand the totality lasted 10 seconds.
Venus aud other stars were visible. Three
photographs were successfully taken.