The sun., 1910-05-22
COMET WITH A SEAUCHLTGHT
SIGHT SEEN M 4 PARTY or
CAMPERS ON 4 MOINTIIN.
The searchlight ~ a Hudson River Boai
Duplicated IN the sky for watchers
on a CliH In the lluSlson Highlands
NR nugual View OT the omet.

NR IRusuaI View Of the Comei.
4 rarty of New York men who wanted
10 ct a view Il Halleys comet under
tho lest possible Conditions followed a
plan which was an improvement on the
suggestion to make a trip into the open
country away from the smoke. haze and
artificial lights of the city, or to make
the rDol of skysCnper hotel tho point
II view. As a result they saw the comet
under conditions widely different prob
ably from those ot any other early morn
ing watchers hsreabout.
They left town IN the early afternoon
with provisions. tent and blankets. and
established a camp on one df the noun
tains which compose the river hanks
through tho Hudson Highlands. Their
tent was pitched IN the brink II clh
which rose high above the Hudson and
commanded broad view of tho river
valley. Of the hills ol Westchester county
beyond and the distant territory Of Con-
necticut Herr. undisuayed 10y heavy
clouds which rolled overhead. they made
themselves comfortable. cooked the eve
ning meal. and in due time rolled them
selves IN their blankets on the ground
and dropped on In sleep.
Al 4. NJ. they arnse. stepped from
the tent each wrapped IN a heavy robe
to protest him frum air which had some
thing more than touch II frust IN H..
and looked mt on a sky of brilliant clear
ness. The mountain Immediately about
their point q outlook was clothed in
darkness Il Kind unknown 20 the town.
Below a dimly lighted night boat passed
down ,he river The lights of distant
towns along the Hudson appeared like
hits oG sky reflected in tho river No, in
weeks had the atmosphere heen 80 clear.
ma king conditions almost perfect
The comet ~ they saw VI was different
from the sight obtained IN the city. Afew
hours before while they were gathered
about the camp fire preliminary to turn
ing in for the first section Of their nights
sleep. a beam Of light swept across the
eastern face Of tho sky. coming from the
pilot house q one of the big night boats
rounding a headland half dozen miles
down the nver. This searchlght in size
and intensity was almost the exact coun-
terpart Of the object which they now saw
-Ianting upward from the horizon. The
tail II Halley's comet in other words
looked from this mountain perch exactly
ike the searchlight thrown by a distant
river steamer across the hills
aF.-.-ksL. sl.avr l..W-kaA gutnIur
the comets nucleus Owing 10 the dark
ness Il was not az first discovered that
the head was still hidden in a low bank
Of clouds resting along the horizon.
After a long wait 4 red object came up
out OF the mist. This vas Venus. at first
dim. hut rapidly increasing in brightness
until Il finally emerged a. brilliant
planet. About that time. some distance
away. the nucleus Of the comet also came
INTO view above the cloud hank complet-
ing the picture All about the stars shone
with undiminished lustre.
Then the finest part of the show began
with the breaking of the dawn a sight
always impressive. hut never more ~
than from the summit II mountain
With the coming n light the disappear
ance of tho comet a. seen from tho camp.
where all the sky and land was spread
out in one vide pano rama. was more
interesting a. a spectacle even than il
gradual evolution from the mist.
shortly after 3.aO clock the faintest
sort ~ change coming over the appear
ance n the eastern sky heralded the
approach oG day The stars faded almost
Imrercepiihly After the smaller stars
had quite disappeared from sight with
-rll no appreC,able Tightening oG the
ky Itself tho tail n the Comet continued
10 stretch white acro-s the heavens and
% SEEMED even brighter than before.
though Il was az no time a. bright a. the
mstre ~ the Milky Way
Meanwhile the head of the comet CON
tnued % grow more plain a. u lifted itself
quite clear ~ last II the horzon's mizts.
II shOne there like a star after the tail
had entirely faded from view and the
zky had whitened with the radiance NJ
early dawn All the stars were now
-Ntinguished There hung IN Oh" east
only the comet head and Venus. the /.
star.
ne last ~ the comet slowly ianeu I.
away. and far below the edge Of tho cliffs. /.
from the top Of a tall tree IN tho noun .
tainsida a wOOdthHish broke into song I.
and was answered by a robin Another /
answered further down the hill and shortly /.
The woods were fun of bird music The /
night was gone and the city visitors knew |
tho show was over.
They gathered about the wood FIRE /
for a moment % warmth and a cup Of /
hot cofes Then they retired once more /
10 their blankets for the second section .
NJ their nights sleep They had enjoyed
The last opportunity for soy anty-five .
years 90 see Halley's comet before sun .
-ise and they were proud of H.
Al but one He fingered In his blankets .
" hen the first call came 10 arise. Now Il .
would have been possible for all the party .
o liz back on their blankets and look out .
~ the spectacle from the shelter u the .
,pen front tent That was not a part .
II the programme. however Some one .
revived the dying embers
4 the campfire which had been kindled .
iireCtly IN front n tho tent and the leap .
ng flames while In no way interfering
With the view n those who had adjourned .
o the clin edge cut oh ali sight of the
'Omst from the lazy member Az effect
ialy a. though the sun itself had been
4 a. l.