The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-05-31
SEEING THE ECLIPSE
Ideal Weather Along the Line
Of Totality.
lANY SUCCESSFUL OBSERVATIONS
Across the United stntcs From Nor
folk to New Orleans. In Africn, In
dis aud spain. Scientific Parties
Well Repaid For the Trouble.

ATLANTA. May 29.-In every section
II the southeastern states over which
he belt of totality of the suns eclipse
extended the weather was ideal for the
observation of this remarkable phcnom-
mon.
In the suothcrn portion of Alabama
here was some hnzincss. but other than
his the astronomers and scientists who
located their observatories in North and
South Carolina, Georgia. Alabama and
louisiana report that the weather could
not have been more auspicious for the
study of the suns eclipse and for securing
splendid photographs of it.
From the many stations of observation
established by universities and scientific
and private parties the reports Indicate
hat the taking of scientific data was en-
tirely successful. and no Incidents oc-
urrcd to mar in the smallest degree the
iull benefit that was expected To be de-
ived from the event by the scientists,
many of whom made long journeys to
ciew the eclipse for 81 seconds.
Professor Lord Of the Ohio State uni
rersity believes he obtained results that
end to prove that the mysterious matter
which forms the corona is to be found
llso in the solar prominences. The exist
nee of protuberances on the sun was re-
forted by Professor Pickering of Har-
card. From the standpoint of grandeur
he spectacle was awe inspiring. The
movements of the heavenly bodies were
rapid. Not over five seconds elapsed from
the time of the first contact until the
great shadow was seen sweeping over
she earth from the southwest. Just as
he moon covered the face CT the sun
Mercury came into prominence.
The United States naval observatory
achieved splendid success at both Barnes
rile and Griffin. Professor Updcgraff,
rho directed the work at the government
station at GAINESVILLE, says of the obser-
cations at that point:
"The weather was very favorable, and
he conditions under which observations
we're made were good. Our programme
vas carried out without interruptions
without accident or delay. We secured
20 photographs on the five cameras
mounted on the polar axis and four pho
lographs with the large photoheiograph
The transparency of the sky was good.
and the stcadiness of the air was excel
ent, in fact it was unusually good. We
feel, as far as we can tell at this time.
hat the observations were entirely sue
cessful"
Professor w. w. Campbell. astronomer
N chief of the Lick observatory eXpedi-
ion, states:
'Forty-two photographs were secured.
Ehe corona had somewhat the appear
ince of the corona in 1898 as observed
n India. Two prominent streamers ex-
ended to the west near the line of the
'olar equator to distance equal to about
i've or six diameters Of the sun, several
million miles.
"One prominent streamer to the east
II the sun and north of its equator was
raced to equal four diameters of the
Sun. The corresponding streamer south
Il the equator was very much less prom
nent. The shadow bands were observ-
d easily at the beginning and ending of
otality.
"The eclipse occurred seven seconds
earlier than was expected"