The proceedings of the Canadian Eclipse Party, 1869 [microform]

THE rROCEEDINOS

CANADIAN ECLIPSE PARTY.

1869.

BY COMMANDER ASHE.
Dlteotor Obaervatorjr, Quebao.

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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."