Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-29
VIEWS TAeIo1AI ECLIPSE
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY'S
LONG-DISTANCE EXCURSION.
Account of the Itinerary and the Re-
suits of observations Made
Points Visited.

cluded view of the total eclipse and a
visit to the points of interest in the vicinity
of Hampton Roads. was the most success
full outing in the history of the society.
About $50 members left Washington Sum
day night the Newport News, each with
desire to contribute to science report of
the observations. Briefly, the itinerary was
as follows: Left Washington on the steam
Newport News Sunday at I pm; ar
rived at Norfolk navy yard Monday at Z
am; viewed eclipse from beginning at TAI
am. to totality at Sol am; viewed Ports
mouth navy yard until 10 am; left for
Newport News, arriving at II am, and
viewed the Newport News shipbuilding
plant, the incomp,eted warships Kentucky
and Illinois and torpedo boats; left New
port News at 1890, arriving at Yorktown
at 3 p.m.; visited the famous backgrounds
and monument: left at PM, arriving at
Old Point at $40, and witnessed dress pa
rade at Fortress Monroe. and left Old Point
at pm, arriving at Washington at $50
this morning.
The committee in charge consisted of
Henry f. Blount, c. j. Bell and E. w.
Parker, and from the expressions of those
aboard the boat this committee will proba-
bly, get an engrossed vote of thanks and
anything else it wants from the society
The steamer was under the personal care
of Capt. John Callahan, who was indefatig-
able in his efforts to insure the comfort of
the party.
Gave Their Views.
The party included astronomers and me-
teorologists of wide reputation, and during
the evening some of them were called upon
to speak briefly of the phenomena to be
witnessed and to explain how to best view
the progress of the eclipse. Prof. Willis
Moore, chief of the weather bureau, had
promised perfect weather and fulfilled the
contract to the letter. The professor also
gave brief resume of the wonderful pro-
greSs America had made in meteorology
and it's value to commerce and agriculture
Prof. Simon Newcomb gave brief Illus
trated talk on the phenomena of the eclipse
He asked that many take observations
as possible, and suggested that all watches
be set to one standard time and that the
party split into groups and take observa-
lions and views, and note the periods OF
time for comparison later
Dr. Edward Everett Hale made few
witty remarks about a story. that when
those at Exeter Academy had made plans
to view an eclipse the villagers at Hamp-
ton came up to Exeter to see it, because
Hampton was such small place they did
not believe the eclipse would come there
He then remarked that he had come from
Boston to Hampton to see the eclipse be-
cause Boston was such a small place he
knew the eclipse wouldn't come there.
Prof Holmes was the official photog-
rapher for the society and large number
of most successful views of the various
periods of the eclipse and the corona during
totality We're obtained.
Prof Newcomb appeared somewhat dis
appointed because. according to the com
puted time, the total eclipse was four sec
ondS late.
Colored People Not Posted.
Mr. John Joy Edison wandered a short
distance from the crowd a few minutes be-
fore the totally and found the Portsmouth
colored people has not been posted as to the
event and We're in great alarm. Some of
them We're crying and in fear that a dire
calamity was at hand. He also noted that
some chickens had gone to roost.
One of the workmen on transport at the
navy yard was heard to say: Uncle Sam
would be obliged to give them n holiday
today because 1t was to be too dark to
work.
Yes" said another you can take
leave of just one minute and twenty sec
onds and any more than that will be
charged against your pay.
Probably the point of interest most en-
ioyed by the excursionists was Yorktown.
Many did not know of the splendid monu-
ment which Congress has erected to com
rnemOrate the victory OF the colonial troops
and their French allies over the English.
which stands on hill and may he seen for
a considerable distance. Most of the trav-
eers walked up the hill. but the few vehi-
cles at the wharf, including two-wheei
carts. which might have seen service in the
time of the revolution, We're pressed into
service much to the amusement of the
pedestrians. AT the place Is located the
first custom house established on United
States soil. General Nelson's headquarters
were visited and the wish was expressed
that some patriotic society would buy That
place. also the old house near the town
where the treaty papers were signed
List of the ExcursiOnists.
Among those who took this trip were
H. A bar Misc
Bell, Mr. and Mrs c. j. Bell, Col. and Mrs
Henry F. Blount and Miss Blount, DR.. and
Mrs Edw. Everett Hale. Prof. and Mrs.
Simon Newcomb, MIR. and Mrs Gen. c. H.
Grosvenor, Prof B. w. Evermann. Prof.
and Mrs w. B. Powell. Senior Don ]. B.
Calvo, Senior Don L. F. Corea, Prof. and
Mrs. Willis F. Moore. Mr.. and Mrs. John
Joy Edison. r. X. Tyler. A. w. McCurdy
S. w. Fountain, Mrs. c. F. Chabb, Mrs.
nett. Misses Alice and May Garnet, Mr.
F. ]. Walz, f. E. Howell c. P. Townsend
W. w. Curry, Mr.. and Mrs. George H.
Judd, w A. Richards. Corporal James Tan
ner. Miss Anna S King, J. P. Reed, DR.. W.
s. Overton, Miss Jennie lowering, Miss
Katherine Bourgreen, Geo. A. King, Mr.
and Mrs. W. f. Roberts, Miss Tanner. F.
NJ. Cleaver, DR.. F. H: Wines, DR.. H. NJ.
Stokes, Mr.. H: G. W. Upper, e: w. Parker,
Prof. Edgar Frisby, l.. P. Williams, Miss
Tisdell DR. Geo. b. WEIGH. H. B. Hedrick
Mr.. ana Mrs. MOTIFS ben, MI. ana Mrs.
w. T. MCGEE, Mr.. and Mrs. Marcus Baker,
B. R. Green H. NJ. Watts, w. II. Holmes.
Mrs John Hyde and Miss Hyde. F. Ii.
Newell, James Fraser, C. C. Curry. E. A.
Pratt, Carl Kattleman, Miss Sarah E. Gar
nett. John H. Magruder ]. B. Bottineau,
DR.. F. r. Rutter, w. s. Campbell, Mrs. J.
D. 3. Chany, G. B. Hunt, j. w. .Reisner,
F. H. Bailey. Mrs. Sara Spencer. Miss L.
Tracy, T. s. Palmer, C. K. Wead. Mr.. and
Mrs. William A Hungerford, Mr.. and Mrs.
James Jirdinston. Earl Nicols. W. Dixon,
E. H. Bon Durant. T. ]. Taylor, Miss Con-
ard Messrs. Glass. Whitney, Doeve Stew
art, Wagner, lott. Flynt Reisner. Whipple
Howell, c. l.. Hale. Rev. and Mrs. r. S.
Hamlin. Miss Edison, Miss Carrie Baker,
Miss Maud Moore, Messrs. Pratt. Paccard,
Hamlin. Miss Roberts ]. ]. Edison, jr, G.
II. Grosvenor Messrs. Cystic, Wilson, Ben
nett. Shaw, Upper, Whitney. Savary
Clark, Bum, McCerary. Swygitt, Auten
Kelsey. ]. johnson. G. II. Matthews, E. A.
Bessey, E. B. Hamlin and H. L. Baldwin, tr
EX-CONFEDERATEs AT BANQUET.
Speakers Voice Affection for the
South and Loyalty to the Union.
In,