The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-08

se1turei into the fierce sun blaze without
head covering would simply have courted
sarstroke in a xooihardy manner.
However. as the sun disappeared almost
tmperceptihiy behind the suns disk. A re-
llarkahle change took place
TIE tropical heat grew by degrees less
end less until ere long We were able 10 sit
cut in the full glare Of the sun. not only
n comfort, but with pleasure, and when
three parts OF the surface were ohscured
we safely stood in the fading sunlight
harehead-i.
The sun. viewed through smoked glass.
gradually assumed q crescent form, the
shadows OF all objects became impercepti-
bly, softer. resembling more those cast by
the lesser lurninary. In fact. the softness
of moonlight peryaded everything.
All this point il was still NOT without risk
TO regard the sun with unprotected eye.
Tor its golden crescent sui shot ont
fierce. binding beams but slowly the great
black pail grew larger, and slowly the
great blind crescent waned Of / may so
describe it) until a mere attenuated seq
ment like thin yellow cheese rind re-
NAMED. and now we dared boldly OBJ
serve with the naked eye and. truly. the
result was remarkable. for, while through
the glass the thin golden wirelike curve
was clearly discernhlo edging the sabls
moon 20 the unprotected eye the appear
ance was quite otherwise. the bright
beams, still fairly powerful, proving con-
fusing to the sight.
The sun. in fact, appeared TO have suf-
fered a catastrophe. He was certainly
quite unacceptable as our solar iumi-
nary, for great irregular shafts Of half
binding light burst forth from his now
feeble remains in erratic and contortei
fashion, producing most extraordinary
effect. Surely. with no great stretch of the
imagination one could conceive the sun as
engaged in a death struggle with some
terrible adversary-a veritabie lutte des
gsants."
During this time the steadily waning
daylight simulated advancing eventide.
The sky assumed a more and more somber
hue. Shadows grew not longer. but more
dim. and the temperature noticeably fell.
All on board were on deck intently OBJ
serving the rare phenomenon, and as the
critical moment drew near every one was
wound up 10 the highest pitch of expecta-
ton. when, even as we watched, the sun
suddenly ceased TO be: our satellite had
completely blotted him out.
The sight was now very remarkable. for
in place of the usual glorious orb OF day
there hung in the zenith a great black
disk. black as the blacklist night. from be-
hind which. and intensifying, If possible.
its inky blackness. long streamers of
family luminous ether stretched far into
space. assisting to maintain the dim re-
liglous twilight with which We were en-
shrouded.
Shades as of approaching night had al
ready stolen across the sky, but varied by
beautifully graded tones of grays and
greens. a sunset without sun, stars twin
killed. here and there, and "a planet in close
proximity TO the sun-probably Venus or
Mercury. Shone out with great brilliancy.
The scene at this moment, though
strangely weird, was OF singular beauty.
Two and half minutes this extraordi-
nary spectacle lasted; then the fine golden
demi-hoop emerged from under the oppo-
site edge of the black moon. slowly widen
ing 10 crescent reversed and increasing I'M
I'll at 80 d. IN. Uhree hours from first con-
tacD the sun blaZed once more with his
previous fierce glory. and the eclipse was
numbered with the past. l am, sir. faith
fully yours, JOHN s. DISMORR.
2. S.-Totality began at 11:5s a. III.
Royal Mail steamer Orotava, Naples.
Feb. 3.