The evening times., 1900-05-28
Path OF the Moons SHADOW.

guished astronomers in the world have
been laboriously preparing at FIVE stations
in Georgia, is ROW 4 matter OF astron-
omicaI history, and from what the jubIa1..
scientists say, the results have been al
and more than were anticipated At al
Of the observatories operations were con-
Quoted under ideal conditions, and the ex-
perts confidently expect that when they
have worked out and elaborated al Of the
details which they noted at the time the
sum total OF information will con t.tute
a vast addition 10 the data Of science on
features Of this rather mysterious and IN
certain phenomenon.
The greatest interest perhaps centres at
Thomaston. This was the mathematical
centre Of tOtality. The eclipse tegzn It
6:31:54 a N. and ended al S.55.46. a dura-
tion Of 2:24:12. The period Of totaIity was
minute and % seconds.
The Lick Observatory had a large ana
extensively equipped delegation here, and
perhaps the most important work Of the
present eclipse on this side was accom-
plished. The whole range of the phe-
nomena was covered, including spectre
scopic. telescope, and Photographic work
OF course II is too early as yet 10 proph-
esy anything as 70 what has been accom-
plished but the astronomers are certain
that they have secured magnificent re-
suits Many valuable negatives are now
being developed and the gentlemen in
charge Of spectroscopic work. which i'll
cludes the analysis Of the light phenome-
ena, preceding, atte- ding and folIowir <
| totality, say that they viii be able 10 add
much valuable data TO the textbooks froul
their observations Of today.
The Phenomenon Described.
The spectacular feature Of the eclipse.
Of course. is the one which attracted the
/ attention Of laymen. and which was most
startling. The description Of It at Thom-
aston will be all that is necessary, as it
duplicates that at the other stations.
Beginning with 6:22 O'Clock, a thin black
wedge displayed itself on the outer edge OF
! the glaring sun. The astronomers sprane
| to their instruments and began the work
which continued for nearly two hours and
half Gradually, almost imperceptibly,
| the inky shadow spread itself over the
/ flaming globe and so intent were the un-
| occupied onloOkers that they saw with a
| start that where the sunlight had cast
/ strong and well-defned shadows around
1 them, the lines were becoming less pra-
else and the surrounding light dimmed d
with each minute Within a few minutes
Of tOtality. and when weird twilight began
/ to descend ever the observing parties. the
/ striking shadow band, one OF the curioD,
| phenomena, appeared slowly creeping in
upon the parties Hardly had the watch
I ers ceased TO marvel at the
/ feature, when, with an. ahrupt
ness almost appalling, the last ray of sun
| light disappeared.
A more intense degree Of twilight now
| prevailed, relieved by the pearly radiance
| of the corona. The corona was in the
form Of two broad streams OF light. extend
ing on each side Of the suns equator. Fine
polar rays radated from around the suns
polar region, and the streamers were in a
fever of activity. The steady click of the
instruments sounded in the hazy stiffness
Ignorant and superstitious negroes in the
outlying districts began to be fearfuily
frightened. Some of them prayed or
shrieked Historically. The barking OF dogs
and spasmodic lowing of distressed cattle
combined TO make the spectacle one of il :
describable weirdness.
At nearly 7:40 the first ray Of sunshine
shot forth like a golden dagger, causing a
! scene of dazzling and surpasssing lowell
ness. The scientists worked on steadily.
taking large numbers OF photographs. using
their spectroscopes industTiously and max
ing observations of the shadow bands
which now made their Temperance. At
about S:56 the last vestige OF shadow had
| disappeared from the suns surface The
weary workers announced 20 the bystard-
ers that the long-looked for eclipse was a
thing of the past.
Those present at Thomaston actually en-
gagged in the work I-ere:
Prof w W. Campbell, astronomer, Lick
| Observatory. Mount Hamilton, Cal; Prof.
c. D. Perrine, assistant astronomer. Lick