The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-06-15
IN
SO. CAROLINA
Harry ". Buxton, Jr., Writes
Of the Phenomenon.

Residents of Augusta, Ca, Went
by Special Excursion to Plum
Beach-Smoked Glass, Burned
Fingers and Excitement.
Augusta presented rather an unusual
appearance on the morning of the
28th ult., when large number of
her citizens, with lunches in hampers
and baskets, milk and coffee in bottles,
were, as early as $50, heading for
the union station, where a Charles
ton and Western Carolina train was
to carry large excursion on special
to Plum Branch, a small station in
South Carolina, twenty eight miles
from Augusta.
The occasion of this unusual ANNA
tion was the eclipse of the sun and as
Augusta was not in the direct line of
totality, it was necessary for those
DESTROYS of seeing that effect to avail
themselves of this expedition to Plum
Branch, which place was directly in
the center of the total path.
Plum Branch was reached at 7.05
and several fires were started for the
purpose of smoking glass. The result
was some very poorly smoked glass
and very many burned fingers.
AT seven thirty, the best informed
trained their glasses on the sun and
at 80, the first of the shadow was
visible on the upper right-hand side
of the sun.
The moon moved rapidly across the
face of the sun at first, then as it
spread further, the speed seemed to
decrease. For thirty minutes, there
was no preceptible difference in the
light around us, but then the atmos-
phere took on more of yellow hue
and reminded one of the approach of
a rain on a summer day. At S.22, the
first clear Crescent shadows were
noticeable these were very pronoun-
ced, all the shadows of leaves on the
trees showing an almost perfect cres-
cent, exactly similar to the appear
ance Of the sun at this time The
atmosphere steadily grew darker,
until at eight thirty the light resem-
bled the end Of the day, sometime
after shutdown.
At S.43, the totality was complete,
the darkness being similar to that of
a late summer evening, light enough
to distinguish large objects such as
houses, etc., but impossible to recog-
nize people or any small object. Just
before the totality was complete, the
Corona was first visible and increased
in intensity, brilliancy and beauty
as the sun was entirely hidden. /
have heard that the Corona had the
| effect of shooting flames behind the
moon; in this case, the light of the
Corona was stationary, and consisted
of long points of light, of different
colors, brilliancy and length, running
out in every direction from behind
the moon. To describe this beautiful
effect as it impressed one, is impos-
sible; it would be hard to imagine
any sight more magnificent or inn
pressive. During the time the Corona
was so brilliant. the horizon and sky
on all sides was reproduction of the
most beautiful sunset effects, the
principle colors being salmon and
pink, blended with shades of red.
During the totality, the atmosphere
turned decidedly cooler, many ladies
putting on their wraps.
The totality lasted one minute and
twenty five seconds and then we caught
again the first speck of the right
hand edge Of the sun creeping out
from behind the moon. The shadow
left the sun in the same manner as
it had approached, going off at the
extreme left hand lower edge. the
moon had entirely disappeared at
about g. so.
The entire eclipse was very impress
sive and beautiful and when one
realizes that perhaps this is the only
chance of life thine to see such a
sight we feel as though it had been
time we'll spent.
HARRY W RITXTON IR