The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-29
LOCKED UP IN TEE PLATES
Photographic Data Of the obser-
vati0nS Unknown.
Astronomers mt Wndcsboro, n. C..
Not Enthusiastic Over vixunI Re-
sults-PrOf. Young Disappointed
Cameras May Tell Another Story
Prof. Langley Makes IL Statement.

| eCilpse VIII reveal Oh the mysteries Oh tne
sun. what the observations here taken will
add to the sum total-a meagre sum total
| at best-of the worlds scientific knowl-
| edge on the subject. are secrets as yet
| locked up in the undeveloped photo
| graphic plates which were made in the
off all the direct solar rays. So far as
the visual observations were concerned
| the general consensus of opinion among
the scientists here is that the most re-
markable feature of them is their barren
ness.
Prof. Young, of Princeton, was disap-
pointed, and frankly confessed himself
| to be.
Il feel like getting into well and
| staying there" he remarked to one Of
| the other observers who was speaking
with him on the subject.
The corona was faint. and the white
prominences which have been one of the
interesting features of other eclipses were
| faint or entirely wanting. The corona was
| pale and DINNER than on other occasions.
The corona streamers which shoot out
| thousands of miles from the suns surface
were less active than they have been at
other eclipses which have occurred at
periods where the solar spots were nearer
the maximum.
So all things considered II was entirely
a neutral and non-resultant eclipse so far
as the observers with telescopes were
concerned. Fortunately, however, this
does not tell all the story. The photo
graphic plates have yet to relate their
history of the eclipse Of 1900. The pre-
parations for this feature of the obser-
vations were never before eQualed in the
history of eclipse observation. Without an
exception the Photographic machines
worked almost to perfection.
or course the plates have not been de-
veloped as yet and will not be for sew
eral days to come. So the attitude OF the
scientists is that they are disappointed as
to the visual observations and hopeful as
to the records made by their Photographic
appliances.
With the laymen however. it is another
matter. For them it was a spectacle
pure and simple. and il the thousands Of
people who saw it along the belt of to-
tality, fifty miles wide, were impressed
with it as we're the hundreds who saw
it here in Wadesboro, it is one that will
not pass from their memories for many
a long year to come.
So far as the weather conditions were
concerned there was absolutely nothing to
be desired. The astronomers. to whom
clear or a cloudy sky meant SO much, are
enthusiastic over the way the elements
favored them. All OF them were up be-
tween 4 and 5 this morning when they
were called. The sun swung up above the
ridge Of the hills nearly forty miles away
on the rim of the eastern horizon with
clear. reddish glare that soon had all the
morning mists in the valleys scattered.
The very first of its rays that hit
wadesboro fell full on the Princeton bat
terry of scientific artillery that was already
unlimbered and ready for action in the
wheatfieid on the steep hillside OF Captain
Stanley's place. The celestial artillery OF
Yerkes and the Smithsonian obseryatories
were down in the gully on the Leak place,
and the sun was well above the hills be-
fore it's rays found them out. Up on Cars
Mount were still other works of the enemy.
The excursionists went TO Cars Mount
to see the spectacle because they were shut
off from anywhere within gunshot of the
Princeton. Yerkes. and Smithsonian OBJ
servatoIies. But upon the hill with It's
splendid inter-county Interstate pano-
rama spread out in a great circle from
sixty to eighty miles in diameter. 1t was
free for all. Down below at the foot OF
the hill the darkeys gathered in groups
and took observations on their own ac-
count.
Upon the hill top over 1000 people were
assembled, most OF them intent upon see
ing the shadow of totality and the ensuing
path of light as the first bright edge of the
sun is uncovered. 1t is usually one of
the most impressive features OF total
eclipse. but 1t failed here today. Yet even
a tame eclipse is something not to be for
gotten.
The air for fifteen minutes bsfore the
totality was complete had been growing
sensibly colder. From down in the valley,
and in the barnyards, in houses nearer by,
the growing of roosters could be heard
1t was a strange reddish light, such as
neither sun nor neon In normal conditions
can give. All around the magnificent
sweep OF. horizon was a curious, tawny
glow. while overhead the sky took oa the
deepest hue of night.
Close 10 the sun the planet Mercury,
which is SO near the gun that it rarely is
seen save a moment or two before sunrise
or sunset, shone out bright and clear. A
little TO the north and farther down
toward the horizon. Venus glowed almost
as brightly as on a dark night Other
stars were seen dimmed and uncertain.
Prof. Langley of the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition gave cut for the press this evening
the following summary Of the observations
which he and his corps of scientists and
assistants made:
THE total eclipse of the sun was
observed here under a cloudless sky. All
the observations planned by the Smith
sonian party were carried out without
miscarriage SO far as now be de-
termined. Numerous Photographic ex-
posures were made with a 135-foot focus
telescope op the reflected image of the
corona In order to obtain a flash spec
trum independently of 4 3S-foot focus
telescope pointed directly on the sun,
while an automatic apparatus was used
to determine with precision the tikes OF |
the four contacts. ive cameras were en- |
ploycd in the study of the outer corona |
and in the search for intra-mercurial |
planets.
The bolometer was used today for the |
first time in connection with an eclipse |
of the sun, and by its aid the heat of the |
corona wes successfully observed. prob |
ably for the first time in connection with |
eclipse Of the sun. The shadow bands |
were seen and photographed under favor
able conditions and meteorological obser-
vations were conducted. Visual obserya-
tions and sketches were made and the |
observations will. it is hoped. prove sue
cessful throughout
In all seven pictures werc taken with
the Yerkes monster camera. They |
are on plates OF twenty-five by thirty
inches, and should show the corona and
the corona streame-s even better than in
the pictures taken by the Smithsonian
135foot camera. In the latter. the same
sized plates are used as in the Yerkes
and the body of the sun will come
so much nearer TO filling them that there
will be- scant room for the streamers.
Paste This in Your Hat.