The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-02-25
THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.
Return of the Astronomers From South
America.

bronzed by the sun Professors Burnham
and Schaebele OF the Croker eclipse ex.
pedition have returned from their field
of labor in South America. Their efforts
in 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-
BILE 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 OF
the Lick Observatory were solidly set up.
To California and to citizen OF that
State was due the honor of an expedition
which has added materially to the scien-
tific knowledge and the cause of learning
throughout the globe.
1--WE have heard nothing of what has
been going on in the rest of the world
since we left South America, but 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
CAS- the eclipse in its totality 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
90 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 a mile second, the sun was
two hours high in the horizon.
"We were thus able to get very salts
factory results. 1t is of interest that our
had the honor of priority in
observing the eclipse by some five or six
hours. The comparisons between the
taken by US in Guiana and
those procured in Africa by the English
and American astronomers are of the
utmost scientific importance. We can
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 hame-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 l can say,
as l 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,
out considering the work of preparation,
the length of 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 on
Sunday the 22d of December, and the
eclipse took place on the morning of the
9TH. We left Cayenne for Trinidad on
he Sd of January on the steamer Vene-
W. loft Tr;niIoA on tha Al on1
lrrived here on the evening of the DIST"
Professor Schaebele said that the
obtained greatly resenbled
hose taken OF the eclipse on January l,
SS9. He concurred with Professor
3urnham as to the importance of the re-
suits obtained, and SAID that there really
vas only halt an hour of clear weather,
md that was at the time of the eclipse.
The Governor of French Guiana, Mon
ieur Cerville Reache, witnessed the OBJ
ervations, and was very kind to the
He gave several enter
ailments and a state dinner in their
honor.
ave carried with u.s." said the Pro-
essor, three instruments belonging to
he observatory on Mount Hamilton,
ne sixth-inch Clark equatorial, one
)almayer lens and an eighteen-inch sill
cred mirror, ground and figured by
'rof Schaebele of Ann Arbor. An exact
duplicate of one of these instruments
vas used in Africa. This makes the
ondition of comparison absolutely per-
ect. We were aided in every way by
he French Government, who placed |
heir convicts at our disposal"
The Comte de la Baume, who was sent
ut by Jansen, the great French astro-
omer, photographed the eclipse ON
alute Island, just off the coast.
1t was here that Father Perry, the |
,atholic priest, who was brought their |
pom an English man-of-war, was at
acked by dysentery just before Christ
las day. He was carried on litter to |
is instruments, did his work in spite of |
is great debility, and died almost i'm
lediately after.
G. II. Rockwell OF Tarrytown, friend |
t Professor Holden, accompanied the |
chemist to South America and aided |
in the work. Professors
and Schaeberle will remain a
Nv days in New York before starting
Or the Coast San Jose Mercury.
Volcanic Disturbances in Japan.
The inhabitants of Kumamoto-ken,