The sun., 1900-05-29
ECLIPSE OF THE sun.
Fair Weather Along the Path Of To-
..-,,....a tality.
MOON TABLES PROVE WRONG
Successful Observations Made mt Va
rious Points and Some Excellent
photographs Taken by
Jealous Scientists.

Atlanta, May 2s.-The eclipse of the
sun visible throughout North America.
Europe and Africa, but total only i'll
some parts of Louisiana, Alabama, Geor-
gia, North Carolina, South Carolina and
Virginia in the United States, was an
event of first importance not only to as
tronomers, hut to the world at large. Its
path of totality, instead of extending
through sparsely settled regions, or run
ming over expanse of water, crossed slX
states in a populous part of the country,
all of the region being easily accessible by
rail and water. Ii has been IL years
since similar event was witnessed, but
the advancement of Astronomical science
and the marvellous improvements in tele-
scopes, photography and electrical ap-
plianccs insured more complete observa-
tions than ever before known. The Unit
ed States government and all great edu-
cuti0nal institutions made elaborate and
costly preparations to get the best possi-
bic observations.
While great interest attached to the
eclipse itself, the object of the astrono-
mers composing the ECLIPSE expeditions"
from all parts of the country was not
simply to observe the passing Of the moon
before the sun, but TO study the corona
Two spectra, one of bright lines and the
other continuous, have been revealed at
former eclipses. Hydrogen gas has been
indicated, and another element, called
helium, recently detected in the volcanic
rocks of the earth, has been discovered.
Surrounding the sun is u gaseous sub
or nna tniuna1 hv St thp phrp-
mosphere. 1t is believed to be from
5000 to 10000 miles deep. Projecting
through this chromosphere are observed
with total eclipses shoots or limbs which
rise often to height of 100000 miles with
amazing rapidity. To the accurate OBJ
seryation of this feature of the eclipse
every appliance of the instrument max
ers, combined with the astronomers
knowledge, was directed in the hope OF
reaching solution of this phenomenon.
Path of Total Shadow.
The path of total shadow began il
the Pacific ocean west of Mexico, passed
eastward across Mexico and entered tn,
United States near New Orleaps, pro
ceeding in northeasterly direction unit
it left the continent close to Norfolk
Then it crossed the Atlantic, touched
Portugal and afterward passed across
northern Africa, leaving the earth finall.
near the northern end of the Red sea
In this country the cities of New Or
leans, Mobile, Montgomery, Raleigh AM
Norfolk were in the totality path. Be
sides these cities the path of darkness
included 80 other towns large enough t
have their names on the map.
While the eclipse was visible all owe
the country, it was only within a pat
of about 55 miles in width, eytendin
from New Orleans to Norfolk, that tn
observation was complete. A difference o
five miles in this belt made d dilfcrenc
of one-tifth in the matter of time i
which tho observation might be wit
messed.
A branch Of the naval observatory PAL
ty was stationed at Griffin, Ga, i
charge of Professor G.. A, Hill. Th
' Temporary observatory is on the estut
of icorgia's experiment farm, two mile
and half from the center of Griilii
This is a high point Both to the en-,
8 and the west the country is open an
5 afforded splendid view, not only of til
eclipse itself. but the shadow as it al
peared from the west could be distinct
scen for miles. Tho station was selecte
lbI llit tNpItHS IlIppEt VI llluklllS spt'
e troscopic analysis of the various phenon
ena of light. In this particular the wor
Of Griffin station differed widely froI
that ut Barnesville, Ga, where ProfessC
s. j. Brown, United States astronomic;
director, had his headquarters.
r President Views Eclipse.
The president and party watched IL
eclipse from the Dolphin near Lambert
point, Fort Monroe, Va, and Secretal
: Gage and party from the lighthous
tender Holly. The Dolphin came ov,
;, from Norfolk and after a salute from IL
= Kearsargc passed on up the bay fl
- Washington.
. . The eclipse of the sun was viewed
Wadesboro, \. c., without cloud
;, mar the spectacle. Observations wei
made by scientists from the Smithsoniu
Z institution at Washington the Engli>
4 Astronomical society of London, tt
1 Yerkes observatory, Princeton unive
8 sity. the Charleston Is. % Military il
!, stitute and by representative from IL
Il Toronto Astronomical society. The eclip
:. - furnished beautiful sight. and the o
y servers united in pronouncing the cond
tions perfect. Professor Barnard
Yerkes observatory stated that the t
q lhillH pNllpu wac SilEHAiN III
q q calculated, which proved the moon tab
q TO be slightly incorrect. All the princip
- work was photographed, and the pr
gramme was completely carried out.
:, Many photographs We're taken at inte
:. walls by all the parties and especially
=, the corona. Several telescopes we
:. used in trying to discover planet
satellites between the sun and the plan
,s Mercury. OF the actual results nothil
y can he told for some time.
y A special train from Charlotte broug
/ 400 persons to view the eclipse.
- A dispatch from London says that Il
conditions of the suns eclipse were fa
m The day was somewhat cloudy, but
2:I5 p. m. the sun shone out bright
and the circular shadow over the di
H. was remarkably clear cut The sun W
> internationally obscured, but the observe
4. had ample opportunities to obtain val
r. able results.
- Looking For Bubonic Plague.
I. San Francisco, May 2S.-The house
n house inspection of Chinatown is beil
= nnntinund hv tho insnnctOrS Of tba Ina