The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-28
RIFT i'm CLOUDS GAVE
BRIEF VIEW OF ECLIPSE.

Quite a number of people arose early
this morning and proceeded 10 prepare
smoked glass through which to observe
the eclipse of the sun. but the cloudy
condition of the sky made their labors
practically useless, and there was gen.
eral disappointment, although few
persons had a brief view of the eclipse
at few minutes before o'clock.
A RIFT IN THE CLOUDS.
At $3.50 in this city there was a sud-
den break in the clouds, large. patch
OF clear blue sky was over this city
and in the centre was the King o. LAY,
AS this was within IL minutes OF the to-
tolity OF the eclipse, the sight was a
grand one. There was just small cres-
cent like a new moon, and IL was not
painful to gaze at the spectacle with
the naked eye. Then the cloud curtain
closed and the sun was not visible un-
til about 10:30, when he peeped through
the clouds ana at that time there was
a small half-disc on the border nearest
the east
According to the calculations of the
astronomers the sun rose tota2y eclips-
ed this morning at a point in the Pa
cific ocean SOME 300 miles, more or
scientific observation of the event,
therefore was in Mexico. and the
eclipse was first seen officially at Mon
temorelos and Santa Helena, both near
Monterey. Mex, by observers sent out
by the Mexican governments. The as
tronomers who nad the first scientific
view of the phenomenon were Francis
co Rodriguez Rey, Manuel Morenoy
Landa, Manuel Pasirana. Fernandez de
Lindro, Augustin Aradon and Pedro
Sanchez.
AS far as this country is concerned
the totality of the observation covered
a strip about "a miles wide. il is esti-
mate5. this strip extending from Cor
pus Christi, Tex, TO Norfolk. Va. and
II is here that the astronomers assem-
bled in force. In Providence "a per cent.
of the suns surface was obscured,
leaving only narrow band for few
moments on the top or northern edce
OF the luminary. about 9:12 a. m. The
first invasion of the suns disc came
at 1853 a. m.. and the shadow left 1t for
good between 80 and 10:31 a. m. The
maximum observation was nearly mid
way between the two moments. The
first contact came on the lower western
border. and the last on the lower east
ern border.
TRAVEL THE SHADOW.
1t is estimated that the shadow trav-
eled at the rate of about 1000 miles an
hour for the first 700 miles, AMI that
crossing the Atlantic the speed was
about 1900 miles an hour, the average
rate being 200 miles in go minutes, the
eclipse being visible from the Nortn
Pole 10 below the Equator. The path
OF totality left the land on the eastern
shore OF Maryland and then ran rough
ly parallel with the North Atlantic
coast, diverging slightly away from
the land, the western edge OF The path
ne,.,ly touching the sol ~ r.imost poiut
of Newfoundland. The western edge
of the path of totality passed about 81
miles southeast OF Nantucket island
AT it's nearest point, and about the
same distance from Chatham on Cape
Cod. The path itself was about so
miles wide.
HAD TO WORK WITH SPEED.
The astronomers who were prepared
to examine the total eclipse had to
work with considerable speed, Tor at
Norfolk, Va, 1t continued for not quite
a minute and a half, while at Virginia
City Ii lasted for one minute. Al sec
onds. The place where the totality con-
tinued for the longest time was far out
in ocean between Norfolk and Spain.
Here II continued for two minutes
seconds.
At a point of observation near Nor
folk was stationed the party from
Brown University, including Prof. Wins
low Upton. DIR. Frederick Slocum and
Instructor John Edwards of the Brown
department, with Mr..
Kenyon OF Pawtucket. and other former
students Of astronomy The Brown par
ty has three telescopes, several came
ras and other apparatus. The chief OBJ
servations planned are photographs or
the suns corona with different instru-
ments and time of exposure. In addition
were made OF the times OF
contact.
END OF THE ECLIPSE.
when the eclipse ends at sunset not
far from ancient Thebes the shadow
will have Travelled over path little
more than 1000 miles iu length.
Probably the last scientific observa-
tion OF the eclipse will be by American
at Tripoi in northern Af-
rica. The Amherst eclipse expedition
consisting OF Prof. Todd and Mr.. Per-
cival Lowell Is now iofated there. The
English consul general has offered
them tho roof OF his consulate as
place from which To make their obser-
vatiOns.
CLEAR SKY AT BELFAST.
Belfast. Me-. MAY 2s-The eclipse Of
the sun was plainly visible here this
The sky was clear and prac-
ticaily the entire population was out Of
doors watching tho nrogress OF the
phenomenon. At s o'clock II was very
dark and at 9:3O n star east Of the sun
was observed without the aid OF glass.
IN THE PATH OF ToTALITy.
Atlanta. Ca. May 2s.-Dispatches 20
the Associated Press at o'clock this