The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-06-08
SOLAR ECLIPSE IS
PLAINLY SEEN HERE

At 4 O'Clock this afternoon (press
time) the muchly-touted solar eclipse
had not performed any particularly
interesting antics. A light haze was
noted surrounding the sun and on
terra firma things took the same ap-
pearance they do when cloud is
hiding the sun, but shortly afterwards
the eclipse was observed with growing
intensity. 1t was judged the sun was
approximately 35 per cent eclipsed at
that time, but astronomers state that
later in the evening it will be eclipsed
about S5 per cent, from the view OBJ
tanned in Winnemucea.
Many old-timers talked to today re-
member the total eclipse which oc-
CURED about January l, 1889, and
state that it really was wonderful.
Shortly after noon the sun commenced
TO get weak and soon after Winnie
mucca was as dark as it is during the
night time.
The following story. pertaining to
Colonel II. b. Maxsons camp, estab-
lished in 1889 for the purpose of view
ing the total eclipse which occurred
at that time, is of decided interest to
Winnemuccans. some of whom will
remember that Colonel Maxson wa
county surveyor here during III,
eclipse referred TO-.
The article by Dr. c. S. Brainin @
Cornell University observatory. giving
history Of eclipses generally, and g.Y
ing details of the total eclipse OF II
sun which crossed this continent to-
day, published in the Reno Gazette o.
Saturday, developed some interesting
history of the total eclipse of the sun
in 1889, when the line of totalitT
crossed the United States in a line
fro mWashington state to Louisiana.
Among the observation points at thai
time was Camp Maxson, establishe
by Colonel II. B. Maxson two mile
westerly from Winnemucca, and on
the line of totality, which station re-
ported the best results of any point
along the line in the United State
owing principally to the fact that the
altitude was favorable and the clear
skies and rare atmosphere of Nevada
enabled the operators to get the best
action possible with the instruments
used on that occasion.
The longitude and latitude were fig
ured out for point near Winnemucca
as a convenient point, and sent to
Colonel MaXson, who was operating a
government survey party near here
with instructions to establish the point
on the ground, which was done with
promptness and accuracy. The point
was named Camp Maxson by the chief
of the observation party and printed
reports were issued in due time giving
a history of their work here.
yale and Harvard and many other
prominent universities had special
operators there" said Colonel Maxon.
TWO young lady artists of Winnie
mucca were seated there and sketched
the corona as it appeared to them.
Cornell Wesley and Denver uniyer-
stiles all had special astronomers and
Professor Herbert A. Howe of Denver
was named as chief of the party,
which was known and is recorded as
the Howe party of the 1889 eclipse at
Camp Maxson in Nevada.
Time did not seem to eliminate the
memories of twenty-nine years ago,
as have received the following tele-
gram;
Denver, Colo, June l, 1913.
"'H. b. Maxson, Reno, Nevada: We
expect a special machine from Chi
cago soon which we would like you to
set up and operate if you can come
right away. If it does not come in
time you can assist in some other way.
Anyhow. you will be welcome if you
wish to come.
(Signed) HERBERT A. HOWE "