The Florida star., 1900-06-01
ECLIPSE OF THE Sun.
Most Favorable Observation OF This Re-
markabIe Phenomenon.


the most favorable conditions and the
hearts Of astronomers are happy with
the hope that the results will prove a
real contribution to astronomical science.
Within half an hour after the first con-
tact the landscape began to take on n
peculiar gloomy appearance, and a
slight chilliness was noticeable.
In every section of the southeastern
states, over which the belt of totality of
the SUMS eclipse extended, the weather
WAS ideal for tine observation of this re-
markable phenomenon.
In the southern portion of Alabama
there was some haZiness, but other than
this the astronomers and scientists, who
lOcated their Observatories in North and
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and
Louisiana. report that the weather could
not have been more auspiciOus for the
study of the suns eclipse and to secure
splendid photographs of the details
attending the passage Of the great Orbs.
From the many stations of observation
established by universities and scientific
and private parties, the reports indicate
that the taking of scientific data was eli
tirely successful and no incidents occur
red TO mar in the smallest degree the
full benefit that was expected 10 he de-
rived from the event by the scientists,
many of whom made long Journeys to
view the the eclipse for eighty-tive
seconds.
The two most notable features of the
day were the discovery by Prof Lord, of
the Ohio State university, who believes
he obtained results that tend To prove
that the mysterious matter which forms
the corona il To be found also in the
solar prominences, and the existence Of
protnberances on the sun as reported by
Prof. Pickering, of Yale.
From the standpoint of grandeur the
spectacle was awe-inspiring. The move
ments of the heavenly bodies We're rapid.
Not over five seconds elapsed from the
time of first contact until the great Shad-
Ow was seen sweeping over the earth
! from the southwest. Just ~ the mnnn
covered the fare of the sun, Mercury
came INTO prominence.
/ What constitutes the gaseous element
surrounding the sun, however, has not
been determined, and if any Astronomer
has Splvrd this problem hr has not com
mitted himself
At Griffin, ia, about fifteen minutes
before the totality batch of light clouds
surrounded the suu AMI caused the a.
EtronomcrS there some anxiety, for they
feared il would be dense enough Ia pre-
vent them from taking Spcctrnsrupi,
views To the curious observer tht
clouds added Ia the beauty nf the o,'
c:tsiun, for the dim RAYS ni the >nn falling
down upnu the clnudS caused the mos
gorgeous rainbow Imaginable.
The astronomers had everything IN
h readiness when the signal came from ia,
watrhmtn that the dark wave WAS ap
preaching. which came AT such "a rapI,
rate that the signal Was hardly given hc
fore utter darkness prevailed. The rtm
cras were opened iur the work ui the ad
vancement ui >ciencr. Twenty three see
ondS were scountrd by tine watchmen
and then, ~ If IL hnif. nad been thru
through the end Of tine moon, a brigh
sun raw shot uut from behind the darI
ltsli'ls am INV ''@'iiN ~ 'li' 49, a
eclipse had ended. the beauty Mas van
i~hing.
Dr. Humphreys, of the University "a
Virginia, gave ont the following stat,
: mrnt for publication, which r"ycrS TIA
work oi the astronomers.
The sprciru~c"pr WAS used 20 ghtai
1 photographs of tee hri-lL lines Thrr
, wa~ a Slight cloud acr"-~ the san that rN
cludcd part of the lines, >,ll they Wei
visible, and ~ hope the Pictur,.- will b
= good"
The prn.r,-- If cuii.htrum"ut and th
+ general Increase nf Intelligence Ma au
IIy Illustrated hv rhr conduct Of the pc,
pie generally during this cr.ip-... Tia
an event ui this kind occurred gru ri
, tipu ur tNua.p not al, Tie forecasts Of "a
!, thr a-,rnupmrr~ would have kept lh
:. mnr, ignorant p,rrluu If th" population
both white and black. from rr.Irdlu.
a. some dIr,. pnT:ruJ tpTtviiiuy the vrI
g,aucr If heaven upon "a wicked rartl
Now not even the ur.rur~ seem tu o.,
10 gard ta. event with ~upor~titIou~ awe
- AMI cvcryhp.y accepted IL Il simply u
interesting phrn"meuon, curious onl
hrcause Of it, rarity. However, ia
younger people vino Witnessed the tot
eclipse wiIl have something ui interest {
recall 10 their children YEAR hence .
= many generations viii pas before the liz
4. will h. y,itr,.--,..i .irtIu