The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1905-08-30
. FROM LABRADOR.

Cape St. Louis, Labrador, Aug. 90
Successful observations Of the eclipse
OF the sun were made this morning by
the scientists OF the various expedi-
tlons sent to Labrador for this occa-
sion. Although detailed reports are
still lacking, it is safe to say that high
ly valuable material, including ocular
observations of the various phases of
the total eclipse: photographs and
spectrographs of the corona, etc, has
been collected by the scientists scat
tered over limited area of the east
ern 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 Obser-
vatory of California. 1t was headed by
DIR. Heber Curtis and Prof. Joel Steb-
bins who were assisted by a large
force of competent and experienced
scientists. The expedition had estab-
lished it's station at Cartwright, a
Hudson Bay Co.'S post in Sandwich
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 will 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-
culial planet Vulcan, the existence Of
which is still doubted by many astron-
omers. In the early part Of the seven
| ties lie Verrier French astronomer,
Expressed the opinion that there must
be a plant between Mercury and the
sun, as that was the only satisfactory
lexplantion of certain peculiarities in
the movements of the planet Mercury
At first his theory found few adher-
ents. During the eclipse of 1873 two
American observers, Professor Wat
son, of Ann Arbor, in Colorado, and
DR. Swift, Of Rochester, in Wyoming,
observed what they believed to be
several small intermercurial planets,
but their claims were discredited by
astronomers in general Since then
careful search for the planet, which
was named Vulcan, was made by as
| ltronomers in all parts of the world,
but SO far, without success. The prox-
unity OF the planet to the sun made it
practically impossible to see it even
with the most powerful instruments, so
Hong as the luminous disk of the sun
| was not obscured. Whenever there
Twas a total eclipse Of the sun it was
hoped that some observer would be
fortuante enough to discover or redis-
cover the elusive planet, but the hope
WAS never realized. No reports have
ARRIVED from the various expeditions
lscattered along the Labrador coast to
| the present time which would vouch7
safe the statement that Vulcan has
been observed, but it is possible that
some OF the more distant expeditions,
liar from any point with telegraphic
communication have been more fortun-
late in that respect than the Cart
wright expedition There are about
Item or twelve expeditions from the
Limited States Naval Observatory i'm
Washington, another is composed Of
several professional astronomers and
amateur observers from Hartford.
Conn. Another party is headed BY w.
King, chief astronomer of the
Canadian government.
The approach Of the observation
Iprcscnted wonderful and imposing
spectacle. From q high elevation the
IshadoW of the moon could be seen
lrusfling over the surface Of the earth
like an enormous thunder cloud with a
TERRIFIC velocity, approaching $500
lmiles hour. The complete obscura-
| tion lasted about three minutes and
| fifty seconds