Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-29
ECLIPSE AT GAINESVILLE.
OBSERVED UNDER MOST FAVOR
ABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.
tBy Telegraph to virginian- Pilot.)


(By Telegraph to Virginian- Pilot.)
News has the following special from
Prof. Otis Ashmore, Of the Naval Oh
servatory party at GAINESVILLE, Ca:
THE great total eclipse of the sun
passed off to-day on schedule time un-
der the most favorable conditions and
the hearts of the astronomers are hap
Ply with the hope that the results will
prove great contribution to astronom-
ical science.
THE first contact was observed by
Prof. Hill, of the Naval Observatory,
and Ashmore, of Savannah. In both
instruments the contact was sharp and
distinct, and both observers were in
close accord with each other and with
the computed time.
within half an hour after the first
contact the landscape began to take
on n peculiar, gloomy appearance, and
slight chillnesS was noticeable. As the
line of totahty approached every OBJ
server was In position, and nothing but
the measured beats of the electric
sounder marking off the time in unison
with the great observatory clock in
Washington could be heard. Every eye
was directed TO that position of the
suns limb where the contact was to APP
pear.
suddenly the black ragged edge of
the moon cbtruded itself upon the
bright disc of the sun. gradually steal
| ing across its surface and the eclipse
was on. For the next hour but little OBJ
serVation was or needed. During
| this time. however, the observing party
went through another drill to get ready
for the supreme moments OF totality.
Over on Il high hill one mile TO the
| north an observer was stationed to an
nouncc the coming shadow from the
southwest. The horizon was clear for
| many miles and soon the black wall Of
| the on-rushing unbra was seen APP
preaching with the velocity of a cannon
ball. In few seconds it overwhelmed
our station and the total phase was
upon us.
Instantly from all sides of the sun
there flashed Il beautiful corona of 4
wonderful peariy lustre extending it
self on opposite sides of the sun in the
shape of Il double fan. il was just such
u corona as l had expected
The solar prominences were plainly
visible, and especially were they mark
ed in extent on the western limb.
saw but few polar streamers, but these
were distinct.
In the brief space of eighty-threc
seconds twenty photographs We're OBJ
tanned on the solar axes and four in
the photoheliograph 1 succeeded in
getting u good crayon sketch of the
corona and prominences by special ar
rangement with DR.. Aiken, of Savan-
nah, and Prof. Chappell, of Nrlledse-
vile. The shadow bands were careful
ly observed and DR.. Aiken in his own
skllfu way photographed them. but
it is not yet known that this was sue
ceslsful. Ii so. DR.. Aiken Will have the
distinguished honor OF being the first
to succeed in this delicate work.
soon the flash Of the sun. as it re-
appeared, announced the end of total
ity, and the corona disappeared as
suddenly as 1t came into view For
an hour or more the moon slowly
crawled off the disc OF the sun with
out special incident. Many amateur
photographers took snap shots at the
corona. and it is To be hoped with some
success. The whole phenomenon was
most beautiful and most Impressive.
Some Of the photographs will be de-
veloped here. but most of them will he
taken to Washington Tor more careful
Imanipula ton. The observing party will
leave for Washington in few days.