The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-28
Racing at 1900 Miles Hour,
Black SWath Cut Across
Western Coast.
PLANES RACE SHADOW
Three States Are in Path of
Phenomenon; Clear Skies
for Study.
BY GEORGE ID. CRISSEY
United Press Staff Correspondent

SAN FRANCISCO, ApTi! 28.-
Racing at binding speed of more
than 1000 miles an hour the shadow
OF the moon cut black strip across
the United States today, bringing
brief period of total darkness to
northwestern California, Nevada
and Montana.
1t was an awesome spectacle as
the moon crossed the face of the
sun, throwing a cloud 235,000 miles
high which blotted out the brilliant
California sunshine.
The path of the mon was a mar
row strip across a section of Nevada
and nine northwestern California
counties and In that region roofs
OF buildings were crowded with lay
men who gazed at the eclipse
through smoked glasses.
But what was an interesting sight
to ordinary men and women repre-
sented hard work for scientists who
were stationed on hills in the valleys
and in airplanes in an effort to
photograph the phenomenon.
Sky Is Clear for Study
The sky was clear over San Fran
cisco, but an occasional white cloud
far above obscured the sun now
and then.
In the interior valleys, however,
where scientists were racing in air.
planes, the weather was clear, max
ing prospects bright for the secur-
ing of valuable information by four
groups of astronomers.
According to astronomers, the first
trace of the eclipse was visible at
9:36 (Pacif1c standard time), but in
San Francisco it was not apparent
to laymen observers until shortly
after 10 when tiny edge of the sun
was blotted from sight.
At 1918 about one-fourth of the
sun was out of sight and the circle
of blackness was creeping over
the sun.
Minute by minute the blue waters
of the Golden Gate grew darker.
The green foothills surrounding San
Francisco bay were bathed in a
shadow similar to a summer
twilight.
Detail Observations Made
The clouds were a bother in San
Francisco itself but word from
Sacramento said the clouds were
drifted away almost as the eclipse
started, permitting detailed OBJ
servation to be taken by w. w.
Garyman of Sacramento Junior
college.
Hope was high that an observa-
ton party from Lick observatory,
stationed at Camptonville, Yuba
county, would obtain valuable in
formation. DR.. J. H. Moore directed
the frantic work of this party and
desired to obtain clear picture Of
the total eclipse. DR.. Moore was
assisted by DR.. w. w. Campbell of
the University of California and the
Rev. Father Charlessramm.
-Four airplanes were used by
scientists. Two naval planes left
Reno when the eclipse got well un-
der way and clrcled over Mrs.
Isabel M. Lewis, astronomer with
the United States naval observatory
at Washington, D. G.
Mrs. Lewis was stationed at
Honey Lake, Lassen county, 1000
feet above sea level.
Armed with g. special camera, she
snapped the picture at the brief in
terval when the eclipse became
total
DR.. H. M. Jeffers Of Lick observa-
tory and Lieutenant E. B. BoSeman
of the Fifteenth Photographic Sec
ton from CrisSey field, San Fran
cisco army airport, flew above this
city and photographed several
phases of the eclipse.
At 10:35 half of the sun was hid
den from sight and it was a dull
gray, as though night were ap-
preaching.