The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-30
THE SUNS ECLIPSE YESTERDAY
Viewed Through Smoked Glasses by
Hundreds of People.
The eclipse yesterday came on SEIZED

The eclipse yesterday came on sched-
ule time, and it was a big affair.
Hundreds of pieces of smoked glass
shaded as many curious eyes that gazed
heavenward to see the aweinspiring
sight of the moon coming between the
sun and the earth.
Shortly after O'clock the moon began
to put in its work, and did not leave off
until IL o'clock.
The first contact occurred on the west
ern limb of the sun, 90 degrees from the
north point, and the last contact was on
the eastern limb, 1872 degrees from the
north point
About three-fourthS of the suns diam
eter on the southern side was obscured.
leaving the sun in the shape of a cres-
cent, like the moon about four DAYS af-
ter the new moon.
During the eclipse a slight haZiness
WASH oticed, and the temperature was a
little lower on account of the cutting off
of about one-half of the suns heat, but
otherwise there was nothing unusual.
Altogether the darkened sun, cool air
and deep blue of the sky gave everything
the appearance of an Indian Summer
afternoon.
1T was very rare phenomenon from
scientific standpoint, and scientists all
over the country watched it with intense
interest. Quite a number of people went
down to Col. Shaffer's to get a peep at
the sun through his 4-inch telescope, to
which reference was made in the News
and Observer few days ago. 1t was a
great revelation to most of them.
In this locality the eclipse was par
tial. but in Mexico, Cuba and on the
Atlantic ocean it was an annuar eclipse,
or one in which the sun is not quite OBJ
scured, thin rim of light being visible
along the edges, while the central portion
was completely hidden by the moon.
The eclipse was plainly visible through
out this country and in many parts of
South America.
After it was over it was much talked
about, and many wonderful stories of
still more wonderful heavenly phenome-
ma were told.
"Awe-inspiring as is an eclipse of the
sum-" said Judge Walter Montgomery,
of the Supreme Court, Il saw something
once even more remarkable. 1t was one
summer afternoon about ) o'clock in
the year 1866. / was at Warrenton. A
man on the street discovered and point
ed out long serpentine silver trail in
the western horizon. 1t extended half
way across the heavens, had a great
number of convolutions, like a crawling
serpent and was clearly and definitely
marked, in spite of the brilliant sun
shine. i never knew what it was, though
the papers explained tiff explanation it
may be called-by saying it was the track
of meteor, or something of that sort
Whatever it was it remained in the
heavens for an hour. The negroes were
very much excited, and while we were
gazing at it, a wag in the crowd remark
ed that Gabriel would step out on the tail
of the thing presently and blow his trum-
pet
Put dat man in JAIL" said an old col
ored woman, who was famous for her
shouting capacity at the August meet
ings, Jest SIGH talk as datll bring Gable
out whether he wants ter come or not"
Then again, and before this, Judge
Montgomery said he saw another very
wonderful thing. 1t was a meteor that
seemed to him to be as big as a barrel.
1t shot clear across the heavens and
lighted up every bush and tree as bril-
liantly as if it were day. This was one
night in 1S62-the night after the fight
between Mcclellan and Lee at Manassas
gap.