New-York tribune., 1900-05-29
usual disturbance would be noted. He said that
variations other than what were apparently
of usual demonstration had been observed
THE SPECTACLE AT OLD POINT.
PRESIDENT AND HIS PARTY AMONG THE
THOUSANDS IN LINE OF TOTALITY
AT HAMPTON ROADS.

Newport News Va, May oS (SpeciaD.-The
spectacle of the total solar eclipse this morn
ms beginning here at 1:41 o'clock and ending
at 1915 o'clock. witnessed by thousands
of persons many ef when came from other
parts of the country. At Old Point fully five
thousand people elbowed each other in their de-
sire to secure good vantage points. There were
many women out of doors TO view the spectacle
Army and Navy officers. too were in evidence,
all holding bits of smoked glass and coored
disks.
This morning the United States dispatch boat
Dolphin, having board President Mckinley,
Secretaries Hay and Root. with their families
and number of guests, started from Old Point
and took postioa off Primers Point. midway
between Lambert's Point and Norfolk. There.
before the period of totality, the President was
kept busy acknowledging the salutes and APP
plause from passing steamers and thousands of
passengers. Secretary Gage and his party were
on the lighthouse tender Holly, which was
anchored below the Dolphin, nearer Old Poirt.
Old Point. being further in the path of totality.
afforded of course the more desirable view of
the eclipse and many gathered there. the bulk
OF the crowd going from this city, Hampton,
Richmond and other points in this part of the
State Only few viewed the beautiful corona
with the naked eye, the majority of observers
using telescopes and other glasses. Around the
black ball hanging IN the Sky slender Dand or
gold appeared and from this burst fringe of
pearl and silver At its base glowed the ruby
prominences. Above a streamer shot out several
times in length the diameter of the black disk,
and just below two long, Jagged tongues were
seen. Suddenly there flash of sunlight.
The sound of bugle came over the waters from
the battleship Kearsarge. and the gloom was
past. Much quickly than it had darkened
the atmosphere became lighter. the thermometer
went up ; or q degrees. and in a comparatively
short time the shone again in all its
brilliance. The period of totality was longer
in this region than eXpected-long enough in
fact TO permit observers to take in all the
beauty of the corona and then note the
effect of the celestial transfer nation on the
landscape The water presented a gloomy ap-
pearance. and near the earth there a touch
of deep scarlet that resembled a sunset
The battleship Kearsarge lay at anchor in full
view of thousands during the eclipse. in her
white beauty contrasting with the darkened
earth and water.
At $40 O'Clock the Dolphin. with the Presi
Dental party aboard steamed past Old Point,
Presidents salute of twenty-one guns The Ex
eCutives flag on the Dolphin was dipped in ac-
knowledgment. The Dolphin started immedi-
ately afterward for Washington and will arrive
there tomorrow afternoon Secretary Gage and
a large party of Congressman came here this
yard and the battieship Kentucky.
To-day's phenomenon had the usual effect on
animals and fowls Horses and dogs seemed to
be stricken with fear when the darkness came
on, and many of them lay down, and chickens
went TO roost taking the fast approaching dark
were badly scared, and fear shown, indeed,
by many house servants