Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-25
Mercury Falls
.To44, Eclipse
Is Due Tonight
Cunudiun Forest Fires
Cast Heavy Smoke Pail
Over Eastern U. S.

The Washington scene was
packed with phenomena, both
natural and unnatural today,
ranging from a semi blackoub
from Canada to a potentially total
blackout from the moon.
They were sandwiched around
the first teeth-rattling cold snap
Of the new fall season, which
dropped the mercury to A de-
grees this morning.
The sudden chill boosted fuel
business as furnaces were stocked
again. 1t also was responsible for
% minor fires attributed to faulty
stoves and chimneys, none Of
them causing extensive damage.
The cold air drifting down from
Northwest Canada hit the District
early yesterday, bringing along a
pail OF smoke from smouldering
forest fires in faraway Alberta
and the Mackenzie district.
Reported from 5000 to $4,000
feet high and 5000 feet thick,
the huge blanket f1oated south
eastward over the Great Lakes,
the Ohio Valley and Middle At
lantic regions. drifted into parts
of New England and today was
reported as far south as Bristol,
Tenn. and Raleigh, N. c., NOV
ing toward the ocean.
Sky May Clear Today.
The skies over Washington still
had the appearance Of a dust
storm this morning and the sun
was a pale, ghostly thing almost
blotted out by mixture of smoke
and clouds. Some said it had a
pinkish tint, others lavender.
Weather Bureau observers ex-
pected the skies to clear in time
for tonight's total eclipse of the
moon. beginning at 1854 pm. If
conditions are just right. the moon
likely will take on a coppery red
color. and give the sun a close
race for freak appearance.
The smoke movement was a
frightening or awe-inspiring thing
to thousands of persons yesterday.
Telephone calls flooded news
paper and radio Offices. Had the
moon eclipse arrived early? Had
an atomic bomb dropped? Had
war been declared? Was the world
coming to an end?
The sun was said to be yellow,
purple. pink and brown. In
Canada, closer to the 80 forest
fires threatening towns and farms
for a week, there were reports Of
people praying in the streets.
At Watts Flats in Southeastern
New York, chickens retired at 2
pm. When the sky lightened two
hours later, a rooster gave crow
and the chickens resumed their
normal daytime activities.
Rising Temperature Due.
Weather Bureau officials here
said the smoke cloud was not I'M
precedented. but admitted it was
about as heavy as they had seen.
An airline pilot flying near Erie,
Pa, reported the use of instru-
ments at $4,000 feet yesterday.
AS cold as it was here and
wherever the smoke was carried,
the temperature probably did not
drop quite as far as it would had
the blanket not been overhead.
Rising temperatures were ex-
pected to bring tomorrow's figures
closer to the autumnal normals.
Today's high here was pegged
for the low COS, with a low of 48
seen for tonight. and fair and
warmer tomorrow.
Tonight's moon eclipse is ex-
pected to be visible for all North
America.
The show will get under way at
1920 pm. when the moon enters
the earth's incomplete shadow, or
penumbra. At 9:31 pm, it enters
the complete shadow (umbra) and
at 1854 total eclipse begins,
reaching mid-point at 11:17 pm.
and ending at 11:40 pm.
Television fans may be able to
take it in from the less chilly
vantage point of their homes. The
eclipse will be on WTOP-TV from
11.15 To LIN n m