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THE rROCEEDINOS
CANADIAN ECLIPSE PARTY.
1869.
BY COMMANDER ASHE. Dlteotor Obaervatorjr, Quebao.
/
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<l|urbrc :
PRINTED BY MIDnLETON k DAWSOhf, AT THE " OAZETTK- UENEKAL I'KINTINfi KSTABLISUMENT.
1K70.
koyjl A'.tinr.omical Society V/ITH DRAWN
THE
CANADIAN ECLIPSE I'AR TV
18«!>.
Helorc giving ;iii Account of my pnuri'din^K in rffi-rcncp to the ocli|);<o, I lliii'k it only rii;lil, in jiifiic« to our |>:jrty, to stale that tiio arriinm-incntr* vvi-ro inmle very liiiNiiJy, as it was not until tin; lii'«l inoinunt tlint wonld admit ol my reacliiii!^ lliu station ulloitcd to m> by ilio Aiiu'riciin ii-^lronomcr.'*, viz., .li'llcrrJon City, iliut I wms itirornicd iliat iiUK) had been appropriated fur tlio purpose of taking my tclC8ro|)e to Iowa
The party consisted ol Mr. Douglas, Mr. Kalconer, and
MlVSci/.
As \\(! had only lhrt;e days to gnl ready, tlu-rc was iniicli to be done, dismounting liio tclesco|)u and makiii;,' iiis<;rt for the several parts, and cart>|idly packini,' |)lioi()i{rapliic materials, instead of the stone support (or teli'sco|)c (ei<,'ht inches aperture and t) feet focus) I had one made of woo<l, but as the centre of (gravity was railed so hii,'h by u-iiii,' wood, I had to take great care in the formalion ol ilie buse ; however, the stability was excellent. Our arrangomi'nls were all complete by the 2Gtli of July, and we started that evening by the Montreal bout.
For the benefit of those who may undertake an e.xpedltion of a similar kind, it may be well to menlion a few incidents that occurred during our journey, which, ulthoiigh trilling in ihcmsclves, may prove uscliil o future ecli|)se parties. I may mention that two of the oases, containing parts ol the telescope, were directed " Hclipse Kxpiditioii," with three i's in Kx|)edition. This was pointed out to mo at Montreal, but the mistake is excusable, for evidently the more eyes we have in an astronomical expedition the better. With regard to original spelling, I ,. ill relate the following anecdote, which would have suited " ArtemuB Ward."
Till' Ih«:iI«wiiiii ot n man-of-wur lias to kppp ;i roiii^li «>x|M>n«e iHiitk ol llif tlilliTont ■•iiirc!! that he iwcit, and iliift i* rliroked by llii* ina^lor, who nn onr ocrminn xfM for Mr. I'lirki, anil wlu-ii lin iviriip, lip <iaiil : "Oli, Mr. I'.irks, you liiivf rx|«'ii'li-i| tiiii inucli ri)|«' for llio««! ' jil) ^iiy.s ;' il will iiiiti'ly Ix' lomiij hiiili wiiti ; you had holler rodiicp ilif •(iianiity ;" and on handing him the bonk, he iinid : " Hy ihe byo, l>-l-i>-\ !•« not llie way li> xiwll hicK'k*." Tli<' boatswain tiH<k llu' book very sulkily ; ami afliT lie liml takrn Uvo i-lpps loWMrd-" ill-' door, lie liiriii' I round, anil itaid : " WrII, sir, if b-l-o-x don't ii|)oll bliK-k;", what do it cpcli '"
\Vi' siHricd on our joiiincy hy the rvonini; train. When wc Rrrivi-d al I'orl Huron our lirtt dilliciilly occurred ; llie Ciistoin- lloiiv olliccrs would not iiassonrbaimaj^riaillioiii;!! \vp poinled out ilic^rcal iiujioriaiR't' ol our parly, and also, that the moon would not wnil an instant for u.h. Thuy did not »ee it; so our bnt;^'ai»i' was locked u|» for llii> nii,dil. We took rooms at a 8iiiall inn, and then Mr. Douglas and I went by rail to Hqioo, lo sec the head of llic Customs. After going up two (lights of stairs, we were shewn into a rooiu which two gentlemen occupied. The chief was smoking, with the chair resting on its two hind legs and his resting on the table. We told our siory, and shewed liim a certificate from the American Consul at (iuebfc He looked very hard at me, took the cigar out of his mouth, wrote a pass which he handed to me, and then resumed his cigar and lormer |H)siiion. We began to iliank him, but as he hid himself in smoke, we retreated down flairs.
I never was more struck with the kindness of our ,\merican ci>iisins than I wa.' during this trip. On all occasions, ihey did all in ilieir power lo promote our convenience. In the morning we had time to see Mr. Muir, the director of the railway, who kindly gave us a free passage over his line, a kindness that was shewn to us by all the directors of the dilferent lines that wo travelled on. I may remark that the cases with the heavier parts of the telescope were broken, and I much feared that the instruments would be seriously damaged. Mr. Muir very kindly had outside cases put on, and I carried the most valuable part (the object glass) in my hand. Alter we left Chicago, and before going to bed, we left word to be called bi lore crossing the Mississippi. It is not fair to judge of scenery from a view taken through the window of a railway car, but I must say that I was disappointed, — shallow, sluggish, and muddy ; but then '
(iii^lit i<> remember ihal I live on the banks of one of tha litu'>l and iiioni bcaiililiil river;) in tbe wiirlil.
Ill ilic morning wi- were on the prairie, which i» not so (Int as I hn<l cxix'tMiMl to ^ec it, but it i" a iMMiiiifiii undulating rounlry, and it llicro were trees ujmn it ruiihini; more could be ilosired. It \v:\* expl.iined to rue liy ii j,'i'nlleMi:m who was travelling with us, the reas'jn why tri'cs do not >;row on this beautiful laud. It appears that on tlie eastern bank of all rivers and streams only do tree* j^row ; now without onleriii;5 into the caii-e of the prairies caleliinj; lire, I will only say that in Si'|ileinl»er, wlieu ihe loiii; t;rass is ((uite dry, they do eateli fire, and then burn until it is stopped by a rivcr, ami as it always burns to windward, and a» the wind f^enerally blo« s in one direelioii, we have a solution why llm trees only ijrow on one si le ol a river : and onee the primeval forest is reinovcd, it nevei his a ehauce ol ^rowin^ aj^ain, us the youni{ trees are sure to bi.' burnt, and llic beatitilul black soil of the prairie is enriched by the deposit of burnt f^rass.
At one station wliercr we stopped to water our engine, I saw two children of the soil ; they have tjood reason to complain at their lot. The buffalo and antelope; driven away, and if they are hungry they are told to go and dig ; dii^, how can llu'y dii^ ■ let us reverse the pieture. Suppose that our cities and towns were by Ihe Indians turned into a pmirie, and when we were huniiry they told us to go away and oaleh a buli'alo, a pretty hand I should make of catching a bullaio. The sooner the poor hdlows are shot down or killed- by smaM-pox, the sooner they will go lo their happy hunting grounds.
As the Norway rat kills all oilier rats that it meets, so the savage must disappear, and the Northern races of Kuropo will e.xlerminale iheiii.
There is one oxeeplion, the African negro, and no matter what you do to him he thrives under the treatment ; whether free or in slavery he multiplies and is happy. Strange that rum whic:i kills the Indian, oiilj makes him fat.
But the king ol savages— ihi> \ow Zealan<ler — has the fairest island, in the most lavored clime, taken Irom him, and civilization forced upon him.
There is no getting away f.oiu tiiis civilization now. Hut I am thankful to say that I was at San Francisco before it
arrived llirrc. Wlicii out .sliooiiri^' I suw ilic frc*h l'i)()i-))rini9 of a grizzly Iw'ifi '•"'I •''<'""' loiow hcuv f;ir the ^I'litli-innn nii(»lit liav'' lii'i'n fnirii tun at llial iii'iiiii-nl. Now, I xlioulJ liki- til know liiiw fiir you wonl.l lia'c to Iravi-I, and liow iniicli you would Irive to s|)iMid, buloru you could px|M.'rienoe llie iiainu delightful sensation.
1 have nr.i-n real Indians with real bows an<l arrows, in Vaneoiiver's l»laii<l ; and the |)lace where I then saw 'hem, now has become the hea<l-(|uartors ol tlio Pacific g(|uadron ; and the Indians, instea I of llattcning their heads, no doubt liave put oil the CSreeian bend. Where is all this to stop '
It was pointed out tome thai most of the lele;,'raph posts were •iriiek by li;^hlning; no wonder; for that kin",' of natural fori'es, tha' lor so in uiy thou- mds of years has reii^tied supreme -spliltini; the yrauite rock, ami shiv rin;,' the mighty oak at lii.s will — now to be brought into existence at the will of au apothecary boy, placed in two cups and locked up in a cupboard, and then made travel day and night, over hill and dale, and under the vast ocean, to carry messages at the bidding of man,— no w.>nder, I say, that he should try and knock the whole concern into a coekeil iial '
" Boonsboro ! twenty inintiles for dinner ! '" Now, then, .v« shall have something in keeping with the prairie, — I suppose a deer roasted on a stake. Nolhingof the sort. I went into a nice <lining-roo!u ; saw a cpianlily of jirelty girls, or rather young ladies, with short sleeves and low dresses. " Soup, sir ! chicken, sir ! peas, sir !" The station at Kugby is iiolhing to it. After twenty minutes of capital feeiling, we hoard, "all aboard! all aboard!'' and as we left, the father of these young ladie-> was standing at the door, and obliged us by taking haKa-dollar, a great iniproveiiieni on the English system, where, on asking the waiter for your bill, he asks: " Willi '^ve you 'ad .'" and begins to add ai;eordiiigly. The next sialic n was .lelii>rsi,ii, I, ;5!)S miles from CJucbeo. Here the boxes were again thrown oiil, and llie train left lor Sail Francispo. The boxes were -left at the station, and we drove up to the hotel, about half-a-mile from the station. As this was Saturday, July ^Jlsi, we had exactly a week to select a site and to liuild an observatory — mount the telescope and lake preliminary observilions. The American parlies were several weeks at their sialion before tiie day of the eclipse, and found it not loo long to prepare.
Ji'tU'rson city it llir«i" y<>ars dIcI, Irn uboiii oiiflit tliiiii«nnil inhiihilMnl^i, nml lnoki a lliriviiii! pliicp. TIk' ih'XI il;iy, nftcr cliiiri'li, Mr. I)()ti,'l:|s :\ni\ I rwdi- rirr.is« ihi! prrtirii- In ii i>liitiiia i>ilual(*il nliDiil i'i){lit iriilfs oil tli<' rixllwny rrniii .li'lloirti'ii. At it wni« neariT to ilic crntral lini' of <'nli|>tp, \vp w.mti'il lo ■•••e il it woiiiil di> for the sili? of our ob«prvator_\
I for:»ol to iiKMilioii tli:il tlii' (i.iy lii'f.ir • I li'ft Qni'lx'o, ia pulling oil inv Ijooi 1 lirokc tin- lonlon ofilii' pl.iiiiins iim«clr, wliioli mndc mo ijiiiii' lainu. Ilnwcvcr, ilii* ci\ iluy»' cotitpiirn- live rest made it iniidi bcllcr, but "till it was ( ir Irorii well.
\Vu started for our ridi! lurross tin- iiriiric about iwoic'clnck, and rcaelicd tlie ijt.ilion in about an liour and a-liilt. \Vi> cro?nt!ti several strc;iiii-< anil some inarsliy ground, an I -lartecl several |)rairie ciiii'licn*. Alter exainiiiiiig ilie place, and finding timt it would be very ineonvenitMii to gei the uialerial lluri', \vu lliouglil llial it would be belter to remain at Jeirernoii, and \vf inoiuited lo relurii. Alter we bud lell some lime, and us I was suliering from my leg, and could not ride last, I pers-uaded Mr. Doh^'Ijs U) ride on, luiJ get ba k before sunset to keep an appointment with a carpenter, and nut to mind me, as I could ride slowly bank. He very reluctantly did HO, aii'l vvlieii I wa> li'll iloiie, I leUi|iii;e at liouie, sle<'ring my horse across the boundless prairie by the selling sun. Now, my horse had crossed many streams, and soli wet places in going out, so I took it for granted that he knew mi>ie aboul tl><' |)r:iirie iha.i I did, ami would nol allow me lo gel iiilodililiMillies, and eonsei|ueiitlv -leered a siraiglit rotirse for ihal point ol the compass in iln' direction ol Jellerson. The sin had jiisi iMuelu'd the h'lri/ in. I was crossing some marshy ground with reeds up to my shoulders, when I saw my burse's no-trils (li-<ieiiilcd, mid liis cars forward. I iinmedialely put my helm down and brought him round, and just as I had done so, down he sank ; I found myself up to my ankles in luiid, and up lo ihe calf of the leg in waler ; the horse was li\iil immovable, no struggling, but snorting and driadfiilly frightened. I have been in various situations ol dilliculiy ; but vvhen I looked up an I saw the tall reeds far above my head, and the sun selling, I must confess that I thoiighl my ease a serious on^'. I reuienbored ihe fate of a young Kri nch oliicer ol the combined Heel ilial was at anchor at the entrance lo the " Dardanelles," who went on shore to shoot, and as be ilid nol relurn thai night, we landed in the morning to b.ok foi liim, and iioi far from the ship, we found him in a bog up U) his waisi, his gun a lew leet in front of
H
liitn, and li<- •|uiip ili-iul. I knc-w iliiii if a innn once kpI» up to his waiM, ii woiiM bo iininioxibln to pxiricaif himiH-lf; howeTcr, wlipn I (liMiioiinli'd I snnk up to niy ktlcpji, and bIiIioiil;)! l!ial \v:l■^ iiiil the pirirc Id pliiliiMophizF, Kliil I (li<l Ml, ami I lifL'nn to tliink wlial i^ tlic rcii-mn llial a man in ittriiijKlin^' w<irk^ liiiii»'il <i<>wii, nixl i imiiu-diaii-ly diKovrred tlmt un raiMin^ llic heel I priHliict>(l a v:i<-autn, as tlie mud provrnii' ciiliiT uuii'r or air f^i'llini? unJcnieaih liie tiKit, and so with |.'>lt)!<. lo ilic xijuaro inch, in ndilitioii to yiinr Wfi^hl you -oon (li«iippi'itr 'rijiil liclni; the case, I did not ntleiiipt lo raise ilio (ool, but moved il backwards and lorwards in a hnrizoiilnl |)ositinn until I made the hole so bi^, lliHl Water i("t under the (odl, when I (toiild lilt it up with the Kreate-ii ease. Alter extriealini» tiiyelll tore down dome reeiN and made n platform r(Miiid my liorse, then I putted his* neck, and sp.ike good-naturedly to him, and then went astern, and by meatiM ol hi.i tail worked him backwards and forwards with u roilini^ kind of motion to let the water well round liis feel, and la.-tiy went ahead, pasM'd the bridle ovor III!* neck, and sat down with il in my hands ri^'lit ahead. Now, then, old boy, "up she rises," the horse bei^an lo Btrugi^le, I kepi the head-rope laul, and he was freeing hiiiiiielf bravely. Il I lei go the briille too soon, he would go back ; il t held on loo long, he w<>uld be upon me, and not only kill me but bury me, so at the erilieul niomcni I lei go, and rolled ovct and over amongst the reods, and the horse floundered past me. When I gcjt on my feel no horse was to be seen, l)ul only the lops ofllie ri-eds moving as he was making lii.^ way out. I Ihoughl I had not improved my siliialion much, for wiih my leg I eould not walk a mile, and, of course, lhehor.se had shaped his course for the stable. However, when I emerged from the reeds, I saw the dear old fellow standing as still a-- if he were in his stable, liul now came anuthvr dillieiilly wiih my lame leg, I could not put a foot into the stirrup, perhaps he might have l>een in a circus and taught to lay down, so I begin kicking his forelegs and lilting up one and ihen the other — but no — he had no i<lea of it : then I thought I would l.sh his Icet logelher with ihe bridle and throw him down, but there might be some ditliculiy in my remaining on his back when he lloiindered to get up, well, il the worsi comes to the worst, I will lash myself to his tail and make him tow me home ; but an idc.t struck me, I lengthened the near slirnip lo about a loot and a-half of the giound,and then lengllu'iied the olher and brought it over on the siimo side, and here I had a nice little ladder to walk u|>, which I did, and iheti knell on the saddle und dropped into
J.
my 9ca\. I could not help shnking hanils with myself, wl patting my stood on tlio nock, I thon commenced my jonrnoy home, which I reached just before dark.
We hafi a^rood to erect the obMcirvalnry abniit half a mile from the station, on a rising part of the pr.iirio ; carponlcrs were engaged, and an arrangement mailo with a liimbor mcrclianl, who would supply what I wanted and take it back when I had done with it, only charging us for the dainage done to the stull'. Ivirly on Monday iiiDrning, iho instrumimls were carted out and unpacked ; and at sunset th<! (our walls of the observatory were up. Now, as wo thoughl it t. it advisable to leave all these things open on the prairie, it was agreed that some one should sleep there — and, of course, it was uiy duty to remain. Tlioy soni down a m iltrass, pillow, and blanket ; there was no woo.l to build a largi- lire outside, but I collected .some chips, and lit a small lire inside, and placed my luatlrass alongside. A little after sunset a tnus(|uito looked over the wall, and then sounded the assembly ; on they came, and I with niy head in the smoke kept blowing the lire, putting on wet grass to make a smoke ; bul, iiltor half an hour at thia work, I found out the fact that man was not intended for a pair of bollow.s, and although I assisted the action by compressing tuy sides with my hands, still al the end ol the half hour that I blew I found that I was blown. When once my head was out of the smoke, tiio muscpiitoos (lew at me ; I stood up to tight them, but in so doing I had lo light myself also. NoiVan army was drawn up in contiguou.'j columns* on my cheeks, the skiruiisliers ailv.uicing through my eye-brows ; at their first volley I loll as il 1 was struck with a hackle. I really think that they work iheir simgs like the needle of a sewmg machine. Maddimed, I siriiek myseK a fearful blow with both hands in the face, an(J hi I the satisfaction ol making them " leave that," and so I fought myself and the mustpiiloes lor some time: still they atlai:ked me with an impetuosity truly marvellous, ami where one fell two took his place 1 was getting weak ; a storming party had now taken possijssioii of my right oar ; I clenched my fist, and with a swinging blow, cleared the ear, but knocked myself down. Exhausted and worn out, I put my hands into my pockets, andgavetliem my head. In that hall-dreamy state, the long, long hours were passed ; and after they had breakfasted, dined and supped, they began lo discuss me. " Ah," said one, " if you want a good drink, strike between the corner ol the eye and the nose." " No, ao," said a large party; " if you want a draught of good sparkling aslronoincr, sink your pump
c
10
in Ins temple." " V'ou .ire wronq," said a ilissip.ited ol<l fellow will) frayed wings; "justcrei^p nj) his cuir, and harpoon hi» wrist, and there you will drink until you lift yourself otF your legs." Then they sung the following
" Tbi' lilooi! of tbc Inilisn i* durli and Bit,
And Ibalol the Imlfdlo bitrd l<< oonic at ;
Uut Ibc bliiiid i>r tbe iiclnin imur in clear and bright :
Wf will dauov and we'll drink Ibe liru-long nigbt.
Cborua — '■ n>iw jolly wc aro with fliithts «o airy ;
Happy if tho mn^iuitu Ibatdwi'ila on the pr&lrle."
And then they (piarrelled and (ought witli each other, and made speeches, — and so ihe dreary hours dragged along ; but when the eastern horizon was tinted with beams of light, they staggered olf to their rejipcclive marshes — some to die of apoplexy, itlhvn of dilirimn tremins. Verdict — served them right, h'roin dawn until six, I had a refreshing sleep, and when my relief came, I awoke up, and began to think whether I had heanl all this, or only dreamt it. I suppose 1 dreamt it.
The work now made rapid progress : doors with locks, dark room settled, platform for teleseopd support tirinly laid. The next day, began to mount the telescope, but when we came to screw in the objecl-glass, we found out that the brass M-at in the tul)f had been pressed inio an oval. What was to be iluiie .' .\o one in .lellerson that knew anything abom ii ; too 1 iie to send it anywhere; hero was a great break-ilown. However, a .Mr, Kelly said he would try ; and al'ler some hours' hard work, he got the object-glass screwed home, but could not be unscrewed ; so the nuts that hold the bolts that secure the objecl-glass to tho telescope could not be put on, but we secured it as well as we could.
It is important to mention that before arriving at Jefferson, we made the accpiainlance of a Mr. Vail, from Philadelphia, who was going to Des .Moines to observe the eclipse, and as I had a l.J-inch telescope by Dolland, without an observer, I asked him to join our party and observe the eclipse with it, which he kindly consented to do ; and his report is of the very greatest conseipienco, as it confirms, in a most striking inauiier, the details that are seen in the negatives.
by h'riday night, all preparations were made, and we retired to rest wiih great doubts about having a fine day.
y.
H o
11
ir)'.vi'ver, Siitunlay caini.- al last, and the morning w n hazy and overcast ; bul about eight, the clomls bt':^an to bn- ik and Mr. Vail and I look some observaiiotn for " tiiiii'." The allernoori was cloudless ; but still a haze near llie horizon. At lialf-|)i»t three, we " Beat to ijiiarlers.'' Mr. Dou^lai shut himself n|) in the dark room ; I took change of the telesnope ; Mr. Stanton, with a liglil cloth, covered and uncovered the " object ijlass ;" Mr. Vail had his telescope nicely adjiiited; and Mr. Faloonei was sealed in a very yood position to observe the dark shadow crossing the country, and to note any other phenomena. At 3h. 3rtm. 40s., local mean lime, llie first contact look |ilace, and the first photogram taken, showiiii,' a slight indentation on the sun's limb. We look the partial eclipse with an eye-piece, giving a ;5-inch picture ; but as it was hazy, I removed it before totality, and took the photograins in the |)rincipal foniis.
I may remark that no one could have had a bstti.-r view of llio eclipse than I had. .\s I stood in rear of the telescope, I had only to count the double beats of ihe pendulum o( the " Driving Clock," which I did without taking my eyes olf the moon.
I exposed the plalcs of totality for ten seconds, then wilhdrew Ihe holder, and handed it to Mr. Douglas. We look several photograms of llic partial eclipse before totality, lour during totality, and two after ; bul the weather had become so hazy, immediately afler the sun made its appearance, that we c mid hardly get a pioluro. As all the reporis arc |)ublished, it only remains for the Jellerson party to give theirs, and the eclipse of ISO!) can be fully discussed. There are one or twt) points that the negatives ol our party will throw a light upon.
With regard to the bright band on the sun, bordering the moon, in the pictures of the partial eclipse, il is well known that there is nothing surrouniling the moon that could produce that elfoot ; and also, that the photograms taken at Burlington, shew, beyond a doubt, that it is no optical illusion. Dr. Curtis has suggested that it is caused by diflVaction ; still, I very much doubt if difFraction could produce such a uniforrn dark broad band, so well defined, as is seen in those photograms. Due of the photograms of the partial eclipse that we took before totality, shews the cusps and edge of the moon to be double, giving the appearance of a band surrounding the moon. This is caused by the rellection of the inoou from the second or underside of the
12
i^lass, which happens when the fiin is not in the centre <>f the field; and by holding tho negative of a partial eclipse to that ilie light will fall obliquely on it, yoii will nee a dark bond surrounding the moon's limb, irom the same cause.
" BAILBV's BGAUK."
In the pclipsc of I860, I had the honor of being attached to tho Aiiit'ricaii Kx|KHlilion that wriil lo the coa.»i of l/ibnulnr. Prolcssor Alexander, Dr. V. A. Barnard and myscK, who were obiwrving wiih lelesco|)es, all exclaimed at the same time, " Uailoy's lieudx !" Il is very true, that at ()lii:nvva a picture at Ihc last instant, just before tolalily, wn* laken, "shewing the sun's edge cut by the peaks of the lunar raouniaiiis into irregular spots;" but these were not the Bailey Beads that I saw in Labrador, and I am conli'lenl that neillicr Professor Alexander nor Dr. H:irnard will accept that solution. In Ilie report ol Mr. \V. >S. (lilman, junr., who observed the eclipse at Sioux city, Mr. Farrel gives a description and drawing of Bailey's Beads; and what ho saw in I8(ilt, I saw in 180O, the filtn of light broken into rectangular pieces, which np|)cared to swim along the edge of the moon like drops of water,
A crowd had followed us from tho town, and took a position near the observatory, as, no doubt, they tliouglil that we would select tin.' best place for observing the eclipse.
On the last glimpse of day-light vanishing, the crowd never fail to give expression to their leeliiigs with a noise that is unlike aiiylhing else lliut I have ever heard. It is not like the noise that a crowd makes on seeing a lovely rocket burst, or that wliieli ihey make on seeing some acrobat perform a wonderful feat. No ; there is an expression of terror in it. It is not a shout ; it is a moan
Before giving a description of the photograms of the Total Kclipse, it will be necessary to refute some opinions that have gratuitously been given respecting them. After I had carefully examined the negatives, and made drawings, I had the drawings and the negatives compared by Mr. Langton, who expressed liis opinion that they were faithful copies ; and when 1 found that it would be many months before I could got funds lo print my Ke|)ort, it was agreed upon, after consulting some friends, that the negatives of totality should be sent to England. Unfortunately, 1 selected Mr. De la Kue
18
as the fittest pe/son to examine them. lie never ftoknow- ledged llio receipt of lliem, and, after many month*, Mr. Falconer, who hud returned to KnglanJ, sent 'ine a copy of .1 letter to him, from Mr. De la Rue :
" The Observatory, Crankord, MiunLE-iix,
" Dec. 27ih, ISGD
" My Dear Sir, — I am very sorry to have caused any uneasiness to Commander Ashe ; but one circnmstancc and another have delayed my writini; to him. I liave rcceiveil his pa|)or», which I sent to the .\stron()mi('al, and later on, the original negatives, which arrived safely, allliougli Commander .\slie had neglected the precaution of protecting them with a covering of glass. There is evidence in these negatives o( the telescope having moved, or, perhaps, followed irregularly, during the exposure of the plates, and lhi-< renders the dealing with the negatives very dillutult ; moreover, it contradicts the theory set forth by Commander Ashe in respect to a certain terrace-like formation in tlie prominences, and also the rapid shooting out of a certain prominence. The American photographs arc very much more perfect than thosi- sent by Commander A>he ; in fact, they leave nothing to be desired. To correct the defects of duplication in Commander Ashe's photographs, would entail some expense,* and much trouble ; and it would bo necessary for him to re-write his paper.
" I have only returned to my house (after an absence ol a year) a few months ago, and have had Major Tennant's paper to see through the press ; so that my correspondence has fallen greatly into arrears. Wishing you the compliments of the season, I am, with best regards,
" Yours sincerely,
" Warrbn De la Ri.'e. " Alexander Pytts Falconer, Esq., " Bath."
Here is a very serious charge, f am accused of foisting on tlie public a marvellous account of the eclipse, which my own negatives contradict; bull .shall have no difficulty in shewing conclusively that Mr. De la Rue has made a blunder, when he says that "there is evidence of the telescope having
• I understand lliat Mr. De la Rue lias spent £300, in p,itoliing up Major Tennant's pbotograma.
M
moved, or, pcrhnp«, follnwod irroc^nlnrly." It would have been betler had Mr. I)e la Itiie |)n)ilniv-,| his cvidcnci' hi'l'ore he takex u|>on liiinself to assert that the nc<>utive8 contradict my statements.
But the crimes I am charqcd with are, that on the 7lh of Augn^it last, some person or |)ersi)ns did, aocldi'niMlly or inalicloiisiy, disturb the telescope, diirinij the e\posiire of plates Nos. III. and IV\, and that the said plates mislead, and are not faiihiul representations of the phenomena seen ; and ;il.so, that they contradict the slateiticnis of Commander Ashe, with regard to the " rapid shooliny out o( a certain prominence."
In clearing myself of these heavy charges, I shall divide my evidence into two parts — negative and positive.
In the first place, the telescope was firmly placed upon a platform made by the heavy slei pors borrowed from the railway station, and surrounded by boards, as may be seen in the photograms ; and Cominander Ashe has been too long at si'a to travel 1398 miles with a heavy telescope, and then not to be able to give it stability. There were four persons inside the building— Mr. Falconer, seated some distance from the telescope, obnerving the general appi-aranoe ol the eclipse with the naked eye ; Mr. Stanton upon a platform, ready to uncover and cover the object-glass with a light cloth ; Mr. Douglas in the dark room, and myself al the telescope, which was firmly clainprnl in iiour-angle, and declination. The peojjle ouiside wi>re at a distance upon an elevation, and were cjuilo still. The telescope, if it moved, must have moved in hour-angle, or declination, or in both ; if it moved in hour-angle, the endless screw uiust have tripped upon the driving-wheel, which it could not do without making a noise, which would have been heard by me. /f it reoved in declination, Mr. Stanton must have moved it in uncovering the object-glass ; but in so doing, he must have given the telescope a pretty hard blow, of which he must have been aware. I5ui neither Mr. Stanton nor myself are aware of any disturbance of the telescope. There was no wind, which would only have caused a vibralii)n, and given a blurred image. In examining .\os. I. and II. phologiains, the limb of tiie moon may be clearly traced, and there is not a shadow of suspicion of any relative motion in the telescope. Here we have proof that the driving clock was performing its duty well for the first half of lolalily ; and no one will have the hardihood to say that it altered its rate in the next
\\
u
minute anii a-haif. In looking at \o. IV. phologram, wc see iliat a point of llglii is doiil)lL>. Now, we will Niippow this (iMpliciiliiin was cau-cij bv ilm telescope reccivini^ a 8in;irt blow ; tlicn, by drawing a lino tliroiigli the two positions of tho same ol)ject, wc get the direction of the motion. Now, look to ttie li'^lit and we see a protuberance Willi a triplicHle form. Here, tlii-n, llie telescope ninsl have receiveil two blows ; and by drawini,' a line along the top of the three li^ure.'*, wc get the direction of tiie motion, or disturbance ; and on looking at the dillercnt directions of the two motions, wo see that the telescope moved two ways at once, and also, that one part of the plate was di>turbed once, wliilsi anollier pari of llii^sniiu' pliile was disturbed twice — which is absurd; and laslly, Mr. Vail who had not seen the photograms when he wrote his report, gives a description of certr'in lines and cracks that an- to be seen in the negatives) when they are exiiiiiined by a len.'. How is it possible to get over this.' Here, an American genlleinan sees wiih a telescope exactly what is photographeil. IJut this is negative testimony ; I will now prove, conclusively, giving geometrical evidence, that Mr. I)e la lUie has made an egregious mis- slalement. 'I he reader will have it in his power to corroborate this testimony. Place a piece of |)aper behind the piiolograms III. and IV. (taken in the principal focus), and with a needle make holes in four or five dilierent places, taking care not to mark the bottom of a protuberance, which is a notch, but where yo\i can see di.'-lincUy the limb of the moon; then remove liie paper and find the centre of thtee holes, and draw a circle ihrongli them ; and if it passes over the oihcr holes, yon have positive proof that the centre did not move iluring the exposure. N'ow, look at the lilliogrn|)h, and you will .<ee a circle drawn lliroiigh five marks made upon the liiTibof the moon of No. III., and through four marks made upon the limb of the moon of No. IV. — Q. E. D.
Having proved tiiat the very remarkable piiolograms taken at Jcllerson are correct representations of the phenomena seen at that place, I will proceed to describe the details of the four negatives that aie to be seen when examined with a lens.
The moment the sun disappeared, out flashed the corona, which resembled an aurora, and no doubt belongs to the sun, and not to the mnon. No. I. shews the conlinuous mass of red uialier with the lliine-like appeirance of the so-called " Ear of corn;" a litilo to iIk; left are seen two detached red
le
lnni|m, like glowing coals ; and iindemeaih ii tK^n the nlii;liieNl Iraca iif a prominence that is to play a con^picuoua part in the eclipse. No. II., the limb of the moon, is seen coiripiftcly round, and a little more is »pen of the prominence nndcrneiith. .Now, it is limi- to roriiarli ili:it the (l;imf-likf tiiiitu in No. l.,andthcdeiiiclifdpromint'iici>?in Noh. I.suxl ILiiipiwar to cut in U|)on the limb of the moon. Dr. Curtis, after trying several ex(>erimcnt!», is firmly convinced thiit ihi;* iipix-uranre is entirely due to u pholo^^'raphio elli-ot, l.y i'Xff!<r»ivi' over- exposure of the pliiles. I huv« to remark, tliiil ncilliini^ was more conspicuous than the indent:itions of the ijlowini; mas-'t-s upcm the limb of tho moon. ilcmeinber that these protuberances were not dazzling lights, but could bo conlemphited with the greatest comfort ; and the eye is st> fastidious, that in running round the limb of the nionn, it immediately detects the sudden break in the circumference. But I have a theory, and it is dangerous to trust the eye of a man with a theory, without good support. Oireclly alter the eclipse, some of those outside joined us, ami the conversation was upon the extraordinary shouting-out of the prominence, which they were all describing. In tho midst of the conversition, a carpenter touched mo on the arm, and ■aid: " Hut what were the notches on the moon.'" Now, this is conclusive evidence, and would be taken in any court of law. Remember, the word " notches," (the language of a carpenter) is his own, and no other word do I think so applicable. I answered that I did not know, and that noiliing puzzled me more. On examining the negatives with a lens, I saw the limb of the moon distinctly through the prominence ; and further, that the part on the moon was a similar and inverted figure to the upper part, and I was convinced that the " notch" was caused by rcllectioa of the protuberance on the surface of the moon.
Let B F be the height of the protuberance, and L B the line of sight, tangent to the point B, and let the lines of sight, both direct and reflected, be considered parallel to each other ; now, through the point D draw a tangent, and let the incident ray, F D, and the rellected ray, O 1), make equal angles with it ; then, the exterior angle, O D C, is equal to the angles D A C and A C D ; take away the right angles, D and A, and we have the remaining angles, ODE and C, equal ; and B A (the depth of the notch) is equal to the versine of the angle of reflection.
enrs, fic"v^'t'-Oi_co l'Tm Mnvrxti
IT
In rripasuring the pnlararfd photogram, B C w\« 1.^7 inrtip^, and H F, 0 07 inrlu's; and u-" H '', tlio inoonN senii-diniiiclcr on iIk; 7i!) Aiiijiist, sublinided an nngle of 16'.2t)"= a Let C F subtend an angle •= i/.
1.87 col. a I /I
Then cotaii. // = = 17. o4 = //.
1.94 1U.39 =a.
Angle subtended by protubera icm- = 1.25.
As Mr. Douglas had no one to help him in llii; dark room, there was some delay in getting No. III. plate ; but vvhiUl I was wailing for it, out shot an enormous (lame from die bright point before meiilioned. It shot out in al)<)Ut three seconds, not imliUi- a jet of gas from a coal in the grate ; and when it reached its greatest height (about one-third higher than that seen in photogram), it was blown oH to the left, just like a flame acted on by a " bhtw pipo," and came to a point. The part blown oil was a brig'it while (lame. (See lithograph.) >fow, us my veracity, after Mr. De la Uue's letter, is doubtful, and as this phenomenon was not seen any where else b'siiles .lell'orson, I tnust subslantiate the fact. Mr. Falconer, in his report to me, gives a dr.iwing which is very similar to lig. So. 2 ; he says : " It assumed ihe shape of a red-hot crooked b.ir of iron ; ihis, resting on llu; dazzling silvery coronal light, gave a sirango and wonderous addition lo the glorious scene we now beheld." But it was seen by all, and can l)e allosted to by lumdrods.
When No. III. |)lale was ready, it had lost about one-third ol its heiglu, an I ils llame-like appearaiiee.
When No. 111. plate is examined with a lens, all the lines that are shewn in fig. 3 arc seen ; and here I must make an e.Ntrael from the report of Mr. Vail, who was observing the eclipse Willi an c.vcellent 42-incli telescope, by Dollaiid, and who made his report long before I had exainined the negatives with a lens. In speaking of this protuberance, he says: "Its outlines were perleetly well defined, and were not curves, but rather irregularly broken straight lines, and throughout it seemed inarkoil by similar lines. It reminded me of the appearance one sometimes sees on the face of a clilf, where llie rock is broken by horizontal and vertical lines." Now, it is most evident that Mr, Vail saw will) a telesco|)0 what I pliolograpiu'd ; and lurllier, it would be impossible to have these deiicaie lines in a photogram, if there was any
c
18
relative motion. VVitijout entering into any tlisctissiion abo. t what the protuberances are, or are not, I will only say thai when the flame burnt out, the residium was a einiler, and which is shewn in photograin So, III ; tiiis (luicLly tumbled down into a great lieap, as seen in No. IV.
But the fault of the Canadian party consists in not having photograms similar to lliose of the .\inerican astronomers, which all more or less agree with each other. Tliia is extremely hard, and although I congratulate those giMillemcn on their well earned reputation, still I trust that our photograms, instead of contradicting one another, will be found consistent.
I believe thai JefFcrson City was the most westerly place where photograins of the eclipse were talien, and tlirectly totality finished with us, it commenced at Ues Moines, 80 that the photograms taken there must bo compared witli ours.
There is a general belief that the protuberances do not change their form, at least but slowly, so it is of great conseciuence to substantiate my slatemeiu, which is, that whilst waiting for No. III. plate this protuberance shot out, and when No. ill. pliulogram was laluMi it had lost its (lame- like appearance, and al)onl oni"-lliird its height. No IV. photogruin shews the great prominence much reduced in height and increased in breadth, as if it had tumbled into a heapiil burning matter. I caiinolsay whether all proniinences are formed by the shooting-out of a llaiue, and then tumbling into a heap, but I do say that the great [jroluberance was formed in that manner. In looking at the Ues Moines photogram, taken near the end of the eclipse, (I don't mean the engraving,) you see a great heap, not very unlike that seen in No. IV. ; and L)r. Curtis remarks " that there is the Bame appearance of vast volumes of matter tossed up into an irregular heap by the ejecting force, and sinking back again on all sides in long vertical rolls." This is a very good description of what actually took place. Unfortunately, the long expo-ure of sixly-si.x seconds gives a soltened appearance, anil what should have appeared as a heap of cimlers, now looks like a fluid.
I now come to the most remarkable photogram that has ever been taken of an eclipse. No. IV. was taken as near
II.
IV
TIT.
19
the limb of the sua as it is possible to take one, for oa shutting down the slide, out burst tlie sun. In this photogram you cMii Moe two luminous concentric hands running from A to E, sc|)uralcd by a d.irk space, or rather a dark band, which takes its origin on a pari of the |)roiuberance A. (Sco fig. 3.) The.se baniU are crossed by numerous bright rays, all parallel to themselves and to ihe protuberances A and I'., There are two bright beams, and both, together wilh tiie bright rays, are divided by this dark band. At K is seen the protuberance Willi a triplicate form, and appears to be three parallel planes of light; upon the upper one there appears a dark line, similar to those seen upon fig. 3. Now, on Kioking at the Des iMoines phologram, you actually see llie slumps of these three parallel planes ; could anything be more satisfactory ? 1 will leave it to others to discuss iliese various phenomena, which will throw iiuudi light on the physical constitution ot the sun, but will r>'capiUihue some of the facta deduced from our observations. I'hee oroiia bi'loiigs to the sun, and not to the moon. Souie of the protuberances are formed by the shooting of a llame, which burns out, leaving something that looks like a cinder, which crumbles into a heap, and then retains that form for some time; that there me luminous gases lliat surround the sun in eoi. centric strata divided by a non-luminous layer ; lliat thi? notches on the liinb ol the moon are the rellections of the upper part of the protuberances from the surface of the moon ; that at a great distance from the sun there is a violent current of gas in an opposite direction to the motion of the sun upon its axis ; that the light band surrounding the moon's limb in photograms of the partial eclipse, may bo caused by the rellection from the second or under .«ide o' the plate.
In conclusion, I congraiulaio those gentlemen who so kindly assisted me on our complete success, especially tny dear friend and old ship-mate. Professor Stephen Alexander, without whose assistance no Ciiiidian party would have been formed; and also, Mr. Vail, of I'hila lel|>hia, who kindly joined our party, and whose annexed report gives such ample proof cl the value of our negatives.
K. D. Ashe, Commander, Ko , . Vavy,
Director Observatory, Quebec.
June 22ud, i870.
20
BErnnT OK MB. VAII,.
"Bof.r().N, AuHusi 21, 18G9.
" Comnuinder \^\ir., Quehrc Observatoiy,
" Dkah Sih, — I owe yon an apoln^y for not wrilin;^ earlier, and P()riiiiiiinie:iiiii;» my iil)-erv,ilioMs on the ci:li|)se ; but «inpc I parle<l (nun you nt Dclioil, I li.ive Leen s-o constantly on the move, ns lo -ieein to Irive no opportiinily. I will "ow »l!ili> briefly u few plienoniuna that I nolitted at llie lime of llie eelipso, most of wliicii I think were coiuinunicaleJ to yon verbally before.
" After the cloti'U tint partially olisoureil the ^nn on the tnorniiitj of the 7tl) had passed away, f ob-^erved that llioiiLjIi lilt! alinospliere was hazy, and llio >liy by no mems bine, there was ati unusual stillness and freedom fiorn a^ilation in the air, so that the outlines of iIk; spots on the sun were clearly delined in the small Dolland telescope that I had under my charge, and this saiisfaelory condiiiim of the air for telescopic observation continued until after the end ol totality. The first contact was at 3h. 3Siu 10s local lime. It was probably about 3s. after this, before you wer(^ noiified that Iho eclipse had begun, two or three seconds l)ei!ig lost in determining whether it was the limb of the moon, indenting the edge of the sun, or not. Your first pholograiih was therefore probably five or six secontls after ihe beginning, 'I'he passage of 'he edge ol the moon over the larger s])ol on the sun, 1 noted as loilows : —
H. M. S.
C \iacl with the Penumbra 4 3 34
" Umbra 4 3 5G
Complete obscuration of Umbra 4 4 34
" The lime both of the beginning and end of totality, for reasons verbally state I to you, I failed to note. Of the phenomiMia during totality, those which I most noied were, first, till! disappearance of the last rays of ihe siui in an irregular broken line of light, succeeded at or near this point by a band or corona of a silvery white light almost as bright as the fa(!e of ftill moon. This though much wiilerat this point than elsewhere, was soon observed to o.\tend in an eulire ring around the dark body of the moon ; from this luminous ring, rays of light seemed lo shoot out at right aiigies on every side, diverging as it were from the centre of il. In some places they seemed lo extend out nearly half the diameter of the moon from the bright ring ; in others, not one-
21
foiirlli so far. But Ihe tno-'t romarknblc appearnnce of all, and that which aitracle<l thu attention o( every one who wiinesised Ihe eclipse, whether seen with the naked eye or with the telescope, were the red protuberances thiit shot up immediately on the disappearance ol the sun, from varioim places, on the edge of the moon ; their position your photograph will fix better than I describe. The largest was on the lower edge of the moon, and was by my estimate, when highest, not less lli;in two luitiules in altitude Iruiii the edge of the tnooii, or about 5.), 000 miles, lis colour was a bright pinkish red, its onlliiies wore well defined, and were not curves, but rather irregiilarly-bmken straiglit lines, and throughout it seemed marked by siinilar lines. Il roiuiniled me of the appearance one sometimes sees on the faee (if a cliff where the rock is broken by horizontal and vertical lines. The same or nearly the same appearance would be presented if one were to view coluuui;d basaltic rocks, from a point where Ihe rocks in the rear would rise above those in front. I would therefore suggest whellier tliese lines may not have a similar origin, and each be the outline of a vast column of luminous matter thrown up above the atmosphere of the sun. There was a constant (luclualion in the height of these coloured protuberances during Ihe total eclipsi' ; the large one was the only one that was seen throughout Ihe whole lime, and that remained visible for some time after the edge of the sun appeared.
The general phenomena, such as the darkness, ihe shining ol Ihe stars, &;e, I had less opporliuiily of noticing than yourself and oihers, who were wilhout a telescope, and will therefore say nothing about them. 1 have iriade no attempt to put my observations into any regular form, but have hastily written such as 1 thought might be of use to you, leaving it entirely to you to make any use of them.
" Very truly yours,
" Hugh D. Vaii.."
MR. falconer's observations. " To Captain Ashe, R N., SfC, Obscrvalonj, Quebec:
" Dear Sir, — As requested by you, I now g'ivo you the resulls ot such observations as were made by me on the 7lh of August last, during the progress of the eclipse.
/ The limbs of the moon could be clearly defined beyond the S. and S.E. limba of the sun. Shortly before totality,
F
98
there appparpcl oa the sun's northern limb several watery*
looking globules, whicih iiut^'ciI into r h:\\ olhcr us llicy prtHSCil from Wfsl to Ivi-*!, uml thou iliMnpiH-.irt'iJ. At this instant, also, uppeared cii.ttinet Ion;*, l)rllliant, yt-lhiw, rays <if light, running Kast ami West, ami lar away, and at straight as if ruled ; others again ran Nortli an>l South, anil romiiuloj inc of the glory anfiiMit painliTs ili'plct around thi; lioads of Saints. On thu Southern linib appi'are I, just at totality, a lurgu circular opening, or ring of bright silvery light, which assumed the shape of a rud-hot crookcil bar of iron. Thi:', resting on the dazzling silvery coronal li:^lil, gave a strango and wondrous addition to tin- glorious scone wo now tioln-ld. Sovoral conslollalions shoiio brighlly forth, and a star or two low down on thu W'oslorn horiz in. I must not omit lite strange proluljorancos soon at this inomont : on llio Kaslortl side was one like a tongue bout upwards, widi streaks of a reddish hue; the others the shape of knobs, dark and colorless, and rugged in outline.
" I now come to the general appearance of the land and sky, and thu changes that took place over thu vast prairie,
streloliiiig far and wide, upon which you hid erected your observatory. It was long before any appearance of gloom or darkness occurred, not till Jli. 22m., when a hazy gloom grailually spread over the broad expanse which surrounded us. Al4h. 3tin. was seen a dense cloud approaching from the N.W. and S.W, rolling along in its course and obs(!uring every:hing around. Indeed, it had the appearance of a coriiiiig storm, anil seemed in part to issue from the prairie. It did not roach or onvolopo the observatory. In front of this was a lurid, unearthly glare, clear and bright, of a greenish tinge; the dense prairie grass around might have contributed to this elloet. Presently, when totality took place, all buoame comparatively dark ; every tongue was hushed amongst the groups of persons who had coino out on foot, or were seated in their waggons, from Jellerson and the country around.
.■\iid what did they behold .' A wondrous sight ! At the moment of totality, burst forth the beautiful coronal light of the brightness of burnished silver ! Upon the Southern portion of this ring of light, rested that curved, elongated priiliiberance, of a fiery redness, rendered more ruddy in contrast with the dazzling silvery light of the corona.
"Several constellations shone bright and clear; several stars also were observed above the Western horizon. All there gave the scene a magnificence and grandeur. Wonder
and adtniration sat upon every face uplifted to the sky. Every voice was liii!<lieil. Sublime, indeeil, was the scene presented. In reverenlial awe llie f^'roiips slooil mute. lOiich one seetneil to pi>nder within himself over the glorious scene in front of him.
" Presently, the light of the sun suddenly bursts fortu ; the clouds which covered the vast prairie lift, and tjradually roll aw:iy. Then ulon;; the Western liorizon are displayed long bright streaks of light, as seen at the approach of coming day. The purple hue upon the distant |)rairie vanishes. The stars also disappear, and the momentary night is turned into day !
" A murmur is now heard, and voices arise, proclaiming the subliiuily of the scene they had just witnessed, one of the most wondrous and imposing sights presented to the human eye, in the firmament of heaven ! The words of the Psalmist involuntarily fell from the li|)s: 'The heavens declare the glory of (Jrod, and the firmament sheweth hia hantliwork.'
" At the approach of totality, the station-master informed me his poultry quietly went to roost. In Jefferson City, the swallows flew down upon the ground, amidst the granite boulders, and remained till the ligiit returned, when they arose and flew wildly about.
" It remains only for me, in conclusion, to thank you and Mr. Douglas for inviting rue to join this highly-interesting expedition, and to congratulate you and Mr. Douglas upon the great success which attended your photographic operations.
" I have to thank you for beholding the wondrous and vast prairies west of the Mississippi. ' IIa;c oliin meminisse juvabit.'
" I remain, dear Capt. Ashe, yours very faithfully,
" Alex. Pytti Falcojiks. "Qlckilla, Qckbec, August iSth, 1869."