The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-19
THE ECLIPSE SEEN At SEA.
Though Luna Yelled Her Face There
Was a Glory In the Heavens Such
as Is Seldom Seen.
1 SAILOR.MANS DESCRIPTION OF IT.
Great Arch Of scintillant Light, Fountain
Of Fire, and, for the Last Set
Piece, Aurora Borealis.

The partial eclipse OF the moon which
happened on Saturday morning was
hidden from New Workers. But the pas
sengers and officers Of the Red Star
line Westernland, far out at sea, had a
good view of the phenomenon, which
was accompanied by an electrical dis
play of rare beauty. Seamen. as rule.
are not susceptible to the poetry of
sea, but one OF the officers Of the West
ernland was SO impressed by the glory
OF the scene that he delivered himself
as follows:
when / came on watch at midnight
/ stood in the doorway of my cabin for
some minutes, SO impressed was 1 with
the beauty of the night. A silvery path
through which the ship was sweeping
attracted my attention: but the wonder
OF the moon, the stars and the deep
blue sky passes all description.
Il went up on the bridge and cast an
eye towards the lovers and sailors
friend. shining down upon us. The stars
twinkled as one sometimes sees ther..
ashore on a clear winters night. And
look where you would-north, south. all
around the horizon-not the faintest
sign Of q cloud could be seen to mar
the clear expanse OF the heavens.
bringing my glass to bear upon the
moon. l discovered an unusually dark
spot near the northern pole, which was
probably the beginning of the eclipse.
At the same instant an unusually bright
flash In the sky coming from the north
attracted my attention. Looking In that
direction, I saw the heavenly electric
batteries were opening their full dis
play. Rays, columns and clouds of light
were bursting up from the horizon from
east TO west, shooting southwark across
The lights, would shoot into every
conceivable shape and form, trying to
outshine even the brilliant stars that
light against darkness, while back of all
the indigo blue Of the sky was In Itself
not the least remarkable feature
mysterious, unearthly rays Of electric
light crossing and flashing in all direc-
DIRECTIONS. lasting but a second.
1.-TWO exceptionally remarkable appari-
tons during the display impressed them
selves upon my memory. One was a
grand arch of light. horseshoe shaped,
raising itself about twenty-five degrees
hollow was sharply defined against the
heavens, while the line of the outer
edge Of the arch was almost constantly
forms that shot up continually towards
the zenith. At the same time In the
hollow Of the arch, up from the horizon
rose column of flame that burst into
a perfect fountain Of fire, playing away
merrily for fully five minutes without
quite as remarkable, II not as beautiful.
IT was what I can only describe as a
gigantic burst of flame that shot across
the heavens from east-northeast towards
west-southwest taking the perfect form
Of a monstrous feather with sharply
ward to the south in soft, feecy clouds,
the western edge of the feather Just
touching the edge Of the moon. The
barbs moved longitudinally, continually
revolving as they swept along, accom-
panied by incessant changes Of color,
from the purest white to light blue,
minutes and then disappeared. when the
familiar, well.known electrical display,
the aurora borealis, began, accom-
panied by unusual white, fieeoy clouds.
These clouds remained stationary for
four or five seconds, the stars shining
through meanwhile. and then disap-
peared. - -
when the eclipse began the moon
stood west southwest from us at about
forty degrees from the horizon. OF
course, we had a perfect view Of II.
about one-fifth of its surface-the north
ern portion-being darkened. From be-
ginning to end the eclipse lasted just
| two hours. and a curious feature of the
electrical display was that 1t moved in
stronger as the face of the moon was
darkened and gradually passing away
as the shadow disappeared from the
| silvery disk"