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


Wheeling people were a little unfor-
tunate, yesterday morning, in their
efforts to observe the almost total
eclipse of the sun. The weather bu-
reau made every arrangement to Sc
cure clear sky along the line of to-
tally, from New Orleans to Norfolk,
which was right and proper as far
as the scientific sharps were concern
ed, but it had no right to push the
clouds over in other folks way, and
so prevent a few dozen millions of
curious and more or less excited peo-
pie from seeing so much of the phe-
enomenon as fell to their share in the
natural course of events. 1t was
great disappointment, and yet here,
as throughout the country, there was
nothing to do but make the best
of an unsatisfactory state of affairs,
and this was done.
Locally the suns disc was not OBJ
scured to as great an extent as had
been expected, and consequently, even
in the middle of the eclipse, the dark
ness did not even approach twilight.
The early morning, just before and just
after daylight, was clear, and the sun
rose bright. Scattered clouds soon APP
peared, however, and at the begin
ming of the eclipse, at about half-past
seven, people were able to see and note
the first contact, and follow the move
ment of the moon from time to time
as the middle of the eclipse approach
ed. At the central time, about $40, as
predicted SO closely by the Register
yesterday morning, the sun was OBJ
scured by light clouds, but just be-
fore and just after that time an occa
sional glimpse could be obtained. The
observation, roughly estimated, was
about seven-eignths, whereas nine
tenths or even eleven-twelfths had
been the popular expectation. The eff
feet was wierd enough as it was, how
ever, and thousands of people turned
their faces to the heavens with deep
interest, and smoked and colored glass
was in active demand. Many bound
strips of glass over the lenses of opera
glasses, field glasses or spy glasses,
and thus made most of the oppor-
tunities, but the multitude contented
itself with the unassisted eye. AS the
SC1lpSC DCSdu W WOol III, dDOuI Al4S
O'Clock, the sky became clearer, and
when the sun was about one-half clear
there were fine opportunities for OBJ
seryation, but of but little scientific
value, as a matter Of course, even to
the properly equipped expert.
During the middle of the eclipse
several strange things were to be no.
ted, and one may be described as fol-
lows: Facing the west, on one of the
Island streets, lined with trees, the
leaves of which were still wet with the
morning dew, there was noticed a
wonderful play of colors in the most
delicate tints, over the green leaves
Splotches of pink, red, violet, purple,
and various combinations of color,
varying in size and indefniete as to
shape, could be seen, dancing here and
there, appearing and disappearing with
inconceivable rapidity, and yet mark
ed enough to leave a Kaleidoscope i'm
preston of highly interesting and
wholly inexpiicable nature. This eff
feet could only be seen when one
faced the west, with the back to the
sun, and yet it was noted by many
as one of the features of the phenom-
enon. 1t was doubtless the effect of
what astronomers term the shadow
bands, or the flaming corona, or both
combined.
E..rly reports yesterday from a num-
Der of points of observation in the
Southern States were deficient in de-
tails of the work. necessarily, but the
facts will be made known in q few days.
as soon as the data can be worked
out. The coronal observations appear
to have been perfect and of Ine utmost
value, but as yet nothing is known as
to the scare for the suppositions
inter ercurial planet, Vulcan. Sew
eral observers mention bright star"
seen near the sun, but this is too in
definite. 1t was probably Aldebaran.