The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-01-24
MILLIONS WATCH
ECLIPSE IN AWE
Continued From Page y

derful and we had a perfectly clear
mage of the entire eclipse
Success crowned the efforts OF
other scientists in the East.
Prof Philip Fox, professor OF
astronomy at Northwestern Uni
versity, reported that his observa-
lions at Evanston. Ill, failed to show
anything OF an unusual nature.
1.-THE clouds completely disrupted
our plans" Prof. Fox said.
Standing out to sea, off Nantucket
lightship, the Navy dirigible Los
Angeles, at height. OF 5000 feet,
furnished scientists with their east
ernmost observatory.
Atop the giant airship photo
graphs were taken and a record
made Of the progress OF the moon
across the face OF the sun.
Thrill OF Life
So much for the scientists. IN the
path of the eclipse millions to whom
it meant nothing in scientific way.
got thrill Of lifetime as they
watched the flaming phenomenon.
Out in the farm countries, dogs
howled dismally as darkness descend
ed. Fowls went back to roost and
horses and cattle in pastures showed
terror.
On Park Row and in City Park in
lower Manhattan, hundreds OF hard
boiled news hustlers and huskies Of
all descriptions. Their manner was
skeptical Their bets changed as to
whether the event would occur as
scheduled
Suddenly, like the fall Of curtain,
gloom swept down the canyons of
lower Manhattan. At the same in.
slant the noises with which the hard.
boiled gentry had sought to hide
their embarrassment at the heavenly
miracle ceased. Scores OF unshaven,
weathern-beaten faces were turned
up to the murky sky in awe and
wonder. Then a murmur ran
through the crowd. a low voice NUT.
tering, like people whispering in
church.
Suddenly one voice rang out over
the rest-its; accents almost indig.
nant--somewhat aggrieved.
For the love Of cripes, Jack
look at them stars. Amt that the
blamest thing yuh ever saw in yer
1fe?' ~ sieo
The parks and open spaces in
Eastern cities were thronged with
thousands gazing slyward. while
roof tops, windows and ships at sea
were other observation points for
iaymen.
To these, through larkened glass,
the sun when in eclipse.s appeared
like flashing, inverted diamond in
slate colored sky. The streaming
corona shot out from the edges Of
the moons black disk for period
Of several minutes.
Then what appeared to be g ball
OF fire showed in the lower right
corner Of the eclipse and the sun
gradually came into view again.
Gradually day returned and
groups of observers broke up, re
turning to work, snatching eagerly
at extras" run off the presses to
confirm their impressions of the
eclipse.
Before the sun had completely re-
appeared airplanes came dropping
down from the skies with first re-
ports of the successful aerial pho
Biography. Thirty-five planes went
up from airdomes around Man
haitian.
Professor Emeritus "Davey" Todd
who taught astronomy to President
Coolidge at Amherst was at Mitchell
Field. 1t was his eleventh eclipse.
The noted astronomer, nearly so.
so forgot himself during the prog
ress OF the eclipse, that when It
was over he discovered his face and
hands were nearly frozen
Millions Watch -
Estimates showed that between
ten million and twenty million per-
sons were in the path of the total
eclipse. There were millions of others
in cities throughout the eastern part
Of the United States for whom the
spectacle of partial eclipse was
available.
In the zone Of totelity, however,
which conferred in a curying path
stretching between Duluth, Mimi,
and Montauk Point, N Y. lights
began to wink on as the darkness
gathered.
In upper New York street lights
came on and every member OF the
police force was held in reserve
against possible emergencies.
Special precautions were taken In
many eastern cities against robbery
ard crimes of violence.
Millions, warned that staring at
the phenomenon would endanger
the naked eye, had provided them
selves with automobile goggles, col
ored glasses, or bits Of glass smoked
and with the aid of these watched