The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-29
SUNS ECLIPSE
witnessed By Many Observation
Parties in the South.
STUDY OF THE CORONA
One Of the Principal Reatures-Path
of Darkness Included Nearly Fifty
Towns-Astronomy Benefited by
by the Occurrence.

ATLANTA, Ga, aay 2s.-The ecIipse
Of the sun to-day. visible throughout
North America, Europe and Africa. but
total only In some parts % Louisiana.
Alabama. Georgia. North Carolina
South Carolina, and virginia In the
United States, was an event OF first I'm
portance, not only to astronomers, but
thu world at large. II was unprece-
dented In more than one respect. Its
path OF totality, instead Of extending
through sparsely settled regions, or
running over sc1nt eEpanses Of water
crossed six states IN a populous portion
OF the country, all Of the region being
easily accessible by rail and water. II
has been II years since similar event
was witnessed, but the advancement OF
astronomical science and the marvel
Gus improvements in telescopes Pho
tographs and electrical appliances in
sured more complete observations than
ever before known.
Costly Preparations We're Made.
The United States government and
ali great educational institutions made
elaborate and costly preparations to
get the best possible observations and
millions OF dollars were. expended In
this way. While great interest attach
cd to the eclipse itself. the object OF
the astronomers composing the eclipse
expeditions from all parts Of the coun-
try was not alone to observe the pass
ing OF the moon before the sun, but the
study Of the corona" This particular
branch OF the many phenomena gener-
ally attending an eclipse, has always
been an unsolvable problem. II Is the
belief of many astronomers that the CO.
roma Is q product Of the sun and has
nothing to do with the earth or moon,
as formerly supposed. Two spectra'
one Of bright lines and the other con-
tInu0us, have been revealed at former
eclipseS.
Helium is Discovered.
Hydrogen gas has been indicated and
A rare element called helium, recently
detected in the volcanic rocks on the
earth. has been seen. OF whatever
substances the corona may be COM
posed, and whatever may be the true
nature of its physical and chemical
constitution, It is certain that It IS Of
great tenultN So rare is It that comets
in their swift flight around the sun
have been known to pass through It
without sensible resistance. Sur
rounding the sun is a gaseous sub
stance termed by astronomers the
Tchromosphere." It is believed to be
from five to ten thousand miles deep.
Projecting through this chroniosphere
are observed with total ecllpses the
shoots or limbs. which rise often to n
height Of 100. 900 miles with amazing ra-
pidlty. To the accurate observation
OF this paramount feature OF the eclipse
every appliance Of the instrument max
ers art, combined with the astrono-
mers' knowledge was directed in the
hone OF reaching n solution Of this phe-
nomena. Generally speaking. the OBJ
ssrvatIons taken by the astronomers
to-day were confined to three separate
lines OF work-the old method Of tele-
scoplc observations; viewing Of the
eclipse with the naked eye and the pho
tographing OF the phenomena OF the
eclipse.
Path of Totally Through Mexico
The path OF totallty to-day began iE
the Pacific ocean Just west of Mexi-
20 II passed eastward across Mexico
and entering the United States near
New orleans. proceeded In northeast
erly direction until It leaves the conti-
rnnt close to Norfolk Va. Then It
crosses the Atlantic. touches Portugal
and afterwards passes across Northern
Africa, leaving the earth finally near
the northern end Of the Red sea. In
this country the cities OF New Orleans,
Mobile. Montgomery. Raleigh and Nor
folk were in the totallty path. Besides
these cities the path OF darkness includ-
ed thirty other towns which are large
enough to have their names on the map.
Few, II any. observatory parties were
located at the large cities for the rea-
eon that they lacked altitude, and an
unobstructed view for any distance was
not TO be found.
Clearer Atmosphere Assured.
The higher attitudes gave reasonable
assurance also OF clearer atmospherr
and 1t this senson Of the year less
CLOUDS are. ERueEIlly lpAllhAs csPSt'H'Ay
in Alabama. Georgia and North Carp
lima. While the eclipse was visible
alIeaver the country, It was only within
path Of about fifty miles in width, OK
tending from New Orleans to Norfolk
that the observation was complete. II
will be readily seen, therefore. that a
difference Of Ave miles Inthls belt made
a difference OF one-hfth In the matter
OF time in which the observation may
be witnessed and position near tho
central line OF totally increased In &C.
ometrlcal proportion to the stupendous
grandeur of the phenomenon.
Government Appropriated Literally
The United States government appro-
prlated literally for to-day's great
work and observation parties were cs-
tabllshed at three places in the south
and at Trlpoli in Africa. by the nava
observatory. Prof s. ]. Brown, u. s
astronomical director. is in charge Of
the naval parties in the south, which
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