The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-08-30
SCIENTISTS, OF THE WORLD
CAUGHT GLIMPSES OF THE
ECLIPSE OF SUN.
Ten or Twelve Expeditions Were Sent
Out BY the Big Observatories
of America.

30.-Successful observations of the
eclipse of the sun were made this
morning by the scientists of the vari-
GUS expeditions sent to Labrador for
this occasion. Although detailed re-
ports are still lacking, it is safe to say
that highly valuable material, includ-
ing ocular observations of the vari-
Gus phases of the total eclipse. photo
graphs and spectrographs of the coro-
ma, etc., mas been collected by the
scientists scattered over limited
area of the eastern coast of Labrador.
The most important astronomical
expedition stationed in this region for
the purpose of observing the eclipse
was that sent out by the Lick observ-
atory of California. It was headed by
DR.. Heber Curtis and Prof. Joel Steb-
bins who were assisted by large
force of competent and experienced
scientists. The expedition had estab-
lished its station at Cartwright, a
Hudson Bay company's post In Sand
witch Bay, Labrador, about $50 miles
north of Belle Isle straits. So far as
it is possible to judge the atmospheric
conditions were favorable at that sta
ton, but the positive results of the OBJ
servations 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 rediscovery of the intramer-
curial planet Vulcan, the existence of
which is still doubted by many as
tronomers. In the early part of the
seventies, La Verrier, a French as
tronomer, expressed the opinion that
there must be planet between Mer-
curry and the sun, as that was the only
satisfactory explanation of certain pc
culiarities in the movements of the
planet Mercury. At first history found
few adnerents. During the eclipse of
1878 two American observers, Prof.
Watson, of Ann Arbor, in Colorado
and DR.. Swift, of Rochester, in Wyo
ming, observed what they believed to
be several small intermecurial plan
cts, but their claims We're discredited
by astronomers in general. Since then
careful search for the planet, which
was named Vulcan, was made by as
tronomers in all parts of the world,
but so far, without success. The
proximity of the planet to the sun
made it practically impossible to see
it even with the most powerful in
struments, SO long as the luminous
disk of the sun was not obscured.
Whenever there was a total eclipse of
the sun it was hoped that some OBJ
server would be fortunate enough to
discover or rediscover the elusive
planet, but the hope was never rea-
lized. No reports have arrived from
the various expeditions scattered
along the Labrador coast to the pres
ent time which would vouchsafe the
statement that Vulcan mad been OBJ
served, but it is possible that some of
the more distant expeditions, far from
any point with Geographic communi-
cation have been more fortunate in
that respect than the Cartwright ex-
petition. There are about ten or
twelve expeditions from the United
States and Canada stationed along the
coast of Labrador. One of them is
in charge of the scientists from the
United States naval observatory in
Washington, another is composed of
several professional astronomers and
amateur observers from Hartford
Conn., Another party headed by w. F.
King, chief astronomer of the Cana
dian government.
The approach of the observation
presented wonderful and imposing
spectacle. From a high elevation the
shadow of the moon could be seen
rushing over the surface of the earth
like an enormous thundercloud with
terrific velocity, approaching $500
ton lasted about three minutes and
fifty seconds.
The Eclipse of the Sun.
SELKIRK, Man., Aug. 30.-The