The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-10-10


at this season were a little more than
half, at Akkshi slightly less, and the
heavens were closely interrogated dur
ing all the weeks while the expedition
prepared for the eclipse. AS the day
drew near, sunshine and rain alternat-
ed IN ways to try the soul of any but
the most calmly scientific human be
ing If one retired to rest remember
ing a just past gorgeous sunset, he
would probably be awakened in the
morning By a heavy shower on the
shingled roof of the old school-house.
That roof, however, is the usual pro-
menade Of the muItitudinous crows Of
the region, who rise at unknown hours,
and begin the days exercise vigorous
Iy before dawn, so that always showers
or crows were at hand to rouse the IN
wary If the forenoon was thfckly
cIouded, a radiant afternoon often fol-
lowed and sparkling early morning
often merged themselves into a thick
ening, sky by the ecIipse-houT, about
two O'Clock. Thus hope and despair
alternately possessed the present on
locker, although the chief astronomer
kept calmly at work, showing no sign
that natures moods were undermin-
ing his nerves He had no time TO
study the state Of the western horizon,
and the vagaries of the wind, and the
prevailing drift of cirrus or cumulus.
And so the hours grew fewer before the
9Th, and Friday and Saturday, the 9TH
and 9Th, brought heavy rains; but the
suset of Saturday night was superb
rose and gold and salmon glory, and a
group of the leading officers and citi-
zens came in to congratulate us upon
the fine prospect for the morrow. The
fishermen of the town sent their COM
pliments by these gentlemen, and their
opinion that the eclipse would show in
a clear sky. These interested and sim
pIe-hearted friends said they had re-
Trained from calling during the two
days rain, as they so feared it might
continue that they could not bear to
see us and all the fine instruments, but
now they gladly came under the pres
ent happy circumstances. One of them
reported his visit to a shrine that day,
to learn from the oracle the probable
state of the coming day, and the reply
was, BE careful" This he interpret
ed to mean that the morning might be
cloudy. and we, thinking observation
hopeless, would not get all things
ready. Then at the critical moment
clear sky would appear. and we should
be unprepared. Hence the warning to
be on guard.
Sunday morning saw an early shower
and a later clearing; another shower
and a clear blue western sky; drift
ing gray scud from the south, and brief
unshine-altogether an unpromising
sort of day, with possibilities of breaks |
cloud all the time. The first |
contact could not be accurately observ-
ed. but, shortly after, the clouds be-
came very thin, and with smoked glass
the sun showed it's bitten side distinct
Iy, but ilI-defined through cloud. Most
of the population of the town seemed
to be congregated along the fence |
around our enclosure, looking with far
more interest at us and the instruments
than at the sun and the darkening |
landscape Just before totality, which |
occurred about two minutes after three, |
local time went to my appointed sta
ton for drawing the corona, at the top
of small lighthouse standing in the
of a little temple just above
the rocks of the shore-a most pictur-
esaue Underground for a spectacle
beyond anything that it has ever been
NV fortune to witness. The sea grew
Ieaden in color, the sky desolately SOM
bre. The crows pretended indifference,
but soon succumbed and flew off TO the
thick pine forests on the mountain
sides with heavy haste. The Alger
grew DINNER and grayer, the sampans
and junks became almost one mass of
equal colorlessness, and the grass and
verdure suddenly grew strangely, vi
wildly yellow-green. 1t was moment
of appalling suspense: something was
being waited for-the air was porten-
tous. Then, with leap, as it seemed,
deep darkness came over the world,
and with an indescribable outtiashing
at the sahe' second the corona burst
forth in a heavenly radiance. But dim
" seen through thin cloud, it was never
the less beautiful beyond description,
a celestial fame from an unimaginable
heaven. simultaneously the whole
northwestern sky far up toward the
zenith was instantly flooded with
Iurid and startlingly brilliant orange,
the clouds drifting across it slightly
darker in shade, while the west and
southwest cleaned in shining lemon
yellow. 1t was not like sunset; 1t
1.aS TOO Somhre too terrible The sea