Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-29

ATLANTA, Ga, May 2S.-Dispatches
to the associated Press at z o'clock this
morning indicate clear weather through
out the totaIity path with the exception
of Union Springs, Ala. Wadesboro, n.
c., reports Perfect observation wealth
err Sloan, Ca, clear and bright"
From Prof. Updegraff, at GAINESVILLE,
comes the dispatch: Weather fair, but
not perfect; slightly cloudy" In At
lanta the weather is clear.
The eclipse of the sun to-day, visible
throughout North America, Europe and
Africa, total only in some parts Of
Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, North
Carolina and Virginia in the United
States, was an event OF first import
ance, not only to astronomers, but the
world at large. 1t was unprecedented
in more than one report. Its path of
totality, instead of extending through
sparsely settled regions or running
over scant eXpanses of water, crossed
six States in populous portion of the
country, all of the region being easily
accessible by rail and water. 1t has
been II years since a similar event was
witnessed, but the advancement of as
Economical science and the marvellous
improvements in telescopes, photo
graphs and electrical appliances insur-
ed more complete observations than
ever before known.
The United States government and
all 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
ed TO the eclipse itself, the object of the
astronomers composing the eclipse ex-
petitions" 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 corona. This particular
branch of the many phenomena gener-
ally attending an eclipse has always
been an unsolvable problem. 1t is the
belief of many astronomers that the
corona is q product of the sun and has
nothing to do with the earth or moon,
as formerly suspected. Two spectra,
one of bright lines and the other con-
tinuous, has been revealed at former
eclipses. Hydro gas has been indicated
and a rare element called helium, re-
Gently detected in the volcanic rocks
on the earth has been seen. OF what
ever substances the corona may be
composed and Whatever may be the
true nature Of It's physical and chem
ical constitution, 1t is certain that it
is of extreme tenuity. So rare it is
that comets in their swift flight around
the sun have been known to pass
through it with sensible resistance.
Surrounding the sun is a gaseous
substance termed by astronomers the
"chromesphere" 1t is believed to be
from five to ten thousand miles deep.
Projecting through this chromosphere
are observed with total eclipses the
shoots or limbs, which rise often to a
height of 100000 miles with amazing
rapidity. To the accurate observation
of this paramount feature of the
eclipse, every appliance of the instru-
ment makers art, combined with the
astronomers knowledge was directed
in the nope Of reaching a solution of
this phenomena. Generally speaking,
the observations taken by the aStron-
omers to-day were confined to three
separate lines of work-the old meth
cd of telescope observation; viewing
of the eclipse with the naked eye and
the photographing of the phenomena
Of the eclipse.
The path of totality to-day began in
the Pacific ocean just west of Mexico.
1t passed eastward across Mexico and
Dntered the United States near New
Orleans, proceeded in a northeasterly
direction until it leaves the continent
close to Norfolk, Va. Then it crosses
the Atlantic, touches Portugal and af-
serward passes across Northern Afri-
CO. leaving the earth finally near the
northern end of the Red Sea. In this
country the cities of New Orleans, Mo-
bile, Montgomery, Raleigh and Nor
folk were in the totality path. Beside
the path of darkness included 80 other
towns which are large enough to have
their names on the map. Few if any
observatory parties were located at the
large cities for the reason that they
lacked the altitude, and an unobstruct-
ed view for any distance was not to
be found. The higher attitudes gave
reasonable assurance also of clearer
atmosphere and at this season of The
year less clouds are generally found,
especially in Alabama, Georgia and