The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-05-24
THE ECLIPSE.


morning, May %, promises to be
an event of transcendent interest
to the people of the United States
generally. The first occurrence
of its kind since eleven years ago,
it will also be the last till eighteen
years later. And, as children
not born at the time of the former
will see and appreciate this
eclipse, so many who see and APP
preciate this will have passed
away before the next eclipse.
While the path of totality is Il mar
row band running across u GER
tain part of the country, the par
tial eclipse will be seen from
ocean to ocean and from Canada
to the Gulf.
While this eclipse will be of
particular interest to men of
science, a large number of whom,
from this country and others, will
repair, with their instruments of
observation, to the region most
favored, yet it will also be of ex-
treme interest to all men of aver
age intelligence. Ifone possesses
a telescope, of even moderate
power, he will find 1t helpful in
maklnghis observtions. But, with
or without a telescope, one must
not expose his eyes directly to
the suns glare, lest he be tenn
porarily, or even permanently, in
jured thereby. A piece of glass,
evenly smoked, should be prepar-
ed in advance, and the sun OBJ
served through it, to see if it be
sufficiently dense. Then, as the
eclipse begins, one may steadily
watch It's progress, note its cul-
mination, and follow it's decline
to the very last. If one be with
in the path of totality, his obser-
vations will be particularly in
teresting. The momentthe moon
cuts off the last beam of light, the
suns corona will burst into
view, marvellous halo of radi-
ance, extending millions of miles
into space; this will completely
crown the moons dark body, and
present animposing sight. Close
to the moons body will be seen
red flames leaping up from the
sun to the distance of thousands
of miles; these are the burning
hydrogen of the colossal furnace
But one will have to make quick
observations, for only a minute
and a half will expire before the
moon will pass on, and the suns
light will break out afresh.
Yet another method of obser-
vation pertains to watching for
the shadow as it comes acrss the
landscape. The path described
by the moons shadow will lead
up from the Pacific Ocean, across
Mexico and the Gulf, then take
northeasterly course across
this country, taking in New Or
leans, Mobile, Montgomery, Mac
ON, Columbia, Raleigh and Nor
folk; thence it will strike across
the Atlantic to Portugal, Algiers
and Egypt, and its end will be at
the Red Sea. One should stand
upon an elevated point where he
will have broad view toward the
southwest, whence the shadow is
expected. The partial shadow
which precedes the total eclipse
will make only a limited impress
sion. But the deep shadow
which accompanies the totality
will try the nerves, as it is seen
coming from afar. Away in the
distance the landscape will be
seen suddenly to disappear as if
in IA process of annihilation. An
awful pail falls across the country
blottiug out hills, valleys,
streams, forests, buildings. ST.
lent as is it's approach, there is
an impression of terrible energy,
inasmuch as it sweeps forward
at the rate of 1000 miles an hour,
and apparently etfaces every
thing in it's path. In an instant
it has enveloped the observer,
and he stands in the midst Of
what used to be regarded one of
the most awful of the phenomena
of nature. But now, in the same
direction whence came the shad-
ow, he sees the light again break