Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-08-30
ECLIPSE
OF THE sun
TODAY
Many Scientists Study 1t Hop
ing for a Glimpse of
Little Vulcan

selldrk, Man, Aug. so.-The eclipse
Of the sun was observed here at sun
rise by nearly the entire population.
; shall telescopes opera glasses and plain
smoked glasses were in great demand
and thosewho had prepared themselves
for the event by laying in stock Of
field and opera glasses did a rushing
business during the brief time during
which the eclipse could be observed
here. The atmospheric conditions were
fairly satisfactory, but the fact that
the sun was close TO the horizon line
when the observation began and was
veiled 70 some extent by the moisture
supended in the lover strata Of the mir
made the observations here Of little
value for scientific purposes No sat
isfactory photographs could be taken.
Cape ST. Louis Labrador, Aug, 30.-I
Successful observations of the eclipse
Of the. sun were made this morning by
the scientists Of the various expedi-
tions sent to Labrador for this occa.
sion. Although detailed reports are
still lacking, 1t Is safe to say that high
ly valuable material, including ocular
observations Of the various phases Of
the total eclipse, photographs and spec
tographs Of the corona, etc, has been
collected by the scientists scattered
over a limited area Of the eastern coast
Of Labrador.
The most important astronomical ex-
pedition stationed in this region for
the purpose Of observing the eclipse
was that sent out by the Lick observa-
tory OF California. II was headed by
DIR. Heber Curtis and Prof. Joel Steb-
bins, who were assisted by large force
Of competent and experienced seien-
lists The expedition had established
its station at Cartwright, a Hudson
Bay Company's post in Sandwich Bay,
Labrador, about $50 miles north Of
Belle Isle straits. SO far as II is pos
sible to judge the atmospheric condi-
tions were favorable at that station,
but the positive results Of the observa-
tions will not be definitely known for
some time, as no effort win be made TO
develop the plates while the expedition
is in camp.
One of the most Important tasks
which this expedition had undertaken,
was the re-diseOvery Of the intramer-
eurial planet Vulcan, the existence Of
which is still doubted by many astron-
omera In the early part OF the seven
ties lie verrier, a French astronomer,
expressed the opinion that there must
be a planet between Mercury and the
sun. as that was the only satisfactory
explanation of certain peeuliarities in
the movements of planet Mercury. At
first his theory found few adherents.
During the eclipse Of 1878 two Ameri-
can observers, Prof. Watson, Of Ann
ArbOr, in Colorado, and Dr. Swift OF
Rochester, in Wyoming, observed what
they believed to be several small inter
mereurial planets, but their claims were
diseredited by astronomers in general
Since then careful research for the
planet, which was named Vulcan, was
made by astronomers in al parts OF
the world, but 30 far, without sueeess.
The proximity Of the planet 10 the sun
made il practically impossible TO see
i even with the most powerful instrur
ments, 80 long as the luminous disk OF
the sun was not obseured. WheneVer
there was a total eclipse Of the sun it
was hoped that some observer would De
fortunate enough to discover OF reds
cover the elusive Planet, but the hope
was never realized No reports have
arrived from the various expeditions
scattered along the Labrador coast 70
the present time which would voueh-
safe the statement that Vulcan has
been observed, but 4 u possible that
some o. the more distant expeditions,
fas from any point with ielegEaphie
-communieation, have been more fortu-
nate IN that respect than. the Cart