The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-02-19
THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.
Return of the Astronomers From south
America.

America.
A dispatch from New York says
Flushed with triumph and considerably
brouzed by the sun Professors Burnham
and Schaebele OF the Croker eclipse ex-
petition have returned nom their field
III the cause Of science have not been
crowned with complete success.
There were but two points on the ter
restial globe where the eclipse Was visi
bic in its totality, the northeast coast OF
South America and the west coast OF
Africa. 1t was in Cayenne, French
Guiana, upon the solid ramparts OF a
French battery that the instruments oi
the Lick Observatory were solidly set up.
70 California and to a citizen OF that
State was due the honor OF an expedition
which has added materially 10 the Scien-
tlic knowledge and the cause of learning
throughout the globe.
eve have heard nothing OF what has
been going on in the rest of the world
since We LETT South America, bet | will
say that circumstances were against us,
but Providence was on our side. A few
minutes before the eclipse occurred the
sky was overcast, then, as if for our
special benefit, the clouds cleared away
and the moons shadow passed over the
discs OF our instruments. After we had
taken our photographs the sky became
cloudy again
''As the eclipse in its totally only
lasted two minutes, you can imagine
how fortunate We were. We selected
Cayenne as our point of observation be-
cause it was as far south as we cared to
60 in the track of shadow. When it left
US to journey across the ocean to our
brother workers in Western Africa, at
the rate OF mile second, the sun was
two hours high in the horizon.
eve were thus able to get very salts
factory results. 1t is of interest that our
exhibition had the honor OF priority in
observing the eclipse by some five or six
hours. The comparisons between the
photographs taken by us in Guiana and
those procured in Africa by the English
and American astronomers are of the
utmost scientific Importance. We can
superlmpose on the print upon one
another and thus determine exactly any
difference which may exist between the
corona at the first and the seconds points
of observation.
SIN this way we can ascertain whether
the flame streamers are constant or not.
Ii there are characteristic features they
will then be all the more merit"
"What are the results OF your observa-
tons ~
THAT question:" said the Professor,
cannot be answered until the photo
graphs are submitted to study. We have
not attempted to print from our mega
tives, and this will not be done until we
arrive IN San Francisco; but can say,
as have already said, that we will at
tain our principal results by comparison.
The differences in the African photo
graphs and our own will contribute the
main results.
There is not much to tell about the
actual work of an eclipse expedition Ii
is pretty much all over in few seconds,
but considering the work of preparation
the length oil our journey, the expense OF
the undertaking, which in this case falls
upon Colonel Croker, | can tell you, "
said Professor Burnham, "these little
points in the interests OF science gener.
ally fall upon governments and not upon
private Individuals"
''How about your itineracy Professor? %
''That is simply told. We arrived or
Sunday the 22d of December, and the
eclipse took place on the morning OF the
9th. We left Cayenne for Trinidad or
the Sd OF January on the steamer Vene
Zuela. We left Trinidad on the 4th anC
arrived here on the evening OF the Dist.
Professor Schaebele said that the
,Nn O. ~ Ii
those taken OF the eclipse on January
1899. He concurred with Professor
Burnham as to the importance OF the re
suits obtained, and said that there really
was only halt an hour of clear weather
and that was at the time of the eclipse
The Governor of French Guiana, Mon
sieur Cerville Reache, witnessed the oh
servations, and was very KIND to tn
astronomers. He gave several enter
| tainments and state dinner in the
| honor
eve carried with u.s. said the Pro
| lessor, three instruments belonging +
| the observatory on Mount Hamilton
| one sixth-inch Clark equatorial, on
! Dalmayer lens and an eighteen-inch sill
vered mirror, ground and figured b.
! Prof Schaebele OF Ann Arbor. An exac
| duplicate Of one of these instrument
was used in Africa. This makes tn
condition of comparison absolutely pei
| feet. We were aided in every way b.
the French Government, who place
their convicts at our disposal"
The Comte de la Baume, who was sen
out by Jansen, the great French astrc
homer, photographed the eclipse o.
Salute Island, just off the coast.
1t was here that Father Perry, tn
Catholic priest, who was brought thei
upon an English man-of-war, was al
tackled by dysentefy just before Chris
mas day. He was carried on litter t
his instruments, did his work in spite c
his great debility, and died almost in
mediateiy after.
G.. RI. Rockwell of Tarrytown, frien
of Professor Holden, accompanied In
scientist to South America and aide
materially in the work. Professor
Burnham and Schaeberle will remain
few days in New York before startin
for the Coast. - San Jose Mercury.