A N ACCOUNT 
OK THE 
Observations made at New Albany, Indiana, 
DUHIJIO THE 
Total Eclipse of the Sun, August 7th, 1869. 
BY B. S, CEOSIEE, IMI. 3D., 
Secretary Xi ir Albany Society of Saturn! Hinton/. 
\ at tin■ ini'fti 111/ liftin' Xi'ir Albany of Sat. Hintovy, f'riilay, Ant/, lit, I Stitt. TOTAL ECLIPSE OE THE SUN, 
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7th, 1800. 
The following account of the observations made at New Albany, Jnd... on the 7th of August, 1869, 
under the auspices of the New Albany Society of Natural History was published in the New 
Albany Daily Ledger of August 9th, 1869. 
Among all the sublime manifestations of 
the Deity, none, perhaps, exceed a total 
eclipse of the sun in all its manifold 
phases of grandeur. It not only displays 
in a most remarkablo manner the power of 
the Creator, but shows in a strong light the 
wondrous accuracy of man’s genius and in- 
genuity which can foretell a thousand years 
beforehand the advent of these grand celes- 
tial phenomena within the fraction of a 
second. How grandly the human intellect 
looms up when it can grasp the mysterious 
movements of the heavenly bodies and 
trace out their course with such unerring 
precision! When Le Yerrier in his quiet 
study mapped out the position of the un- 
known Neptune from the aberrations of 
other planets millions of miles distant, it 
was a triumph of grander dimensions for 
mankind than all the victories the world 
has ever known, from Marathon to Water- 
loo. Science still moves on, and man learns 
anew the lessons of his own insignificance 
and that of the theatre upon which he 
moves and has his being. How paltry are 
all his little feuds and bickerings, his petty 
ambitions, his thirst for empire, his love of 
glory, beside these majestic worlds, which 
sweep through space, snatching away the 
sunlight as with the wand of the enchanter! 
DAYS OF GLOOM. 
The Seventh of August was a day long 
anticipated by scientific men. Its revela- 
tions were to be more important to the 
astronomer than all the operations of Wall 
street, nay, than of all the changes marking 
the destinies of empires. Would it be favor- 
able? Days of gloom succeeded one an- 
other, till tho hearts of men began to fail. 
All along that band of one hundred and 
forty miles, stretching like a ribbon from 
Siberia to the Bermudas, thousands of eager 
and wishful faces were upturned towards 
the dull, leaden sky. Will it never, never 
quit raining? Was the great event of tho 
century to come and go with no other her- 
aid than a murky sky obscured by clouds? 
Friday came—the last day but one for the 
great eclipse—and still no signs of its clear- 
ing away. Rain drops pattered along the 
pavements even after nightfall. There was 
but one cheering ray of hope—the barome- 
ter kept steadily rising. That unerring 
little instrument, peering into the future 
with almost prophetic power, foretold that 
a better day was about to dawn. 
THE MORNING OF THE ECLIPSE. 
Saturday morning came, and when the 
gray dawn began to appear the sky was 
found to bo as clear and serene as the most 
sanguine lover of science could wish. A 
cool breeze was blowing trom the northeast. 
Presently the sun began to loom up above 
the horizon, looking like a great ball of fire 
through the low-lying haze. Not a cloud 
was to be seen. It needed no pencil of 
Guido to invest the scene with ineffablo 
beauty. Sweeping grandly upward it 
seemed to shake off the last misty folds of 
vapor which clung to its skirts, apparently 
unconscious of the part in the drama it Was 
to play. Hundreds of thousands of hearts 
beat happier when they rose from their 
couches that morning and beheld the bright 
rays of the sun streaming into their cham- 
bers. From Alaska to North Carolina men 
of science were all astir. Parties had been 
sent early to Sitka and were already at their 
destination. They were to have the first 
glimpse of the sublime phenomenon on this 
continent. At midday the eclipse was to 
be total. What a magnificent spectacle to 
those adventurous fellows who could brave all 
the dangers of '‘Walrussia the Blest” for one 
little bit of night at noon-day! Farther 
down the line of march one after another 
of the observing parties was brought out to 
view the grand celestial panorama. First 
came Logan and Decatur, Nebraska, then 
Lincoln, Sioux City, Des Moines, Burling- 
ton, and Keokuk, Iowa, at each of which 
were stationed well appointed and trained 2 
NEW ALBANY SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
astronomers, supplied with all the instru- 
ments which modern science could suggest 
for catching glimpses into the physical con- 
stitution of the sun. Almost as soon as we 
saw the first dent of the moon upon the 
northwestern limb, the astronomers of Iowa 
were busy resolving the glowing protuber- 
ances, photographing with wondrous ac- 
curacy the no less wondrous revelations of 
the spectroscope, or pointing out with their 
transits the meaning of the dark spots and 
aurora-like corona. Then Illinois took up 
the procession, with her hundreds of scien- 
tific groups, chief of which was at Spring- 
field, where some of the best astronomers in 
the world had gathered. Entering the State 
of Indiana just above Vincennes, its path 
was southeast, crossing the Ohio about forty 
miles below us by the river, but less than 
twenty-five as the crow flies. 
ARRANGEMENTS AT NEW ALBANY. 
The people of New Albany were early 
astir in anticipation of the long looked for 
event. Everybody could be seen running 
eagerly hither and thither in search of 
smoked or colored glasses. Many were the 
devices for shearing old Sol of his beams. 
Some enterprising genius was trying to 
palm off prepared paper, while another was 
busy vending duplicate and triplicate pieces 
of stained glass. The vast majority, how- 
ever, stuck to the traditional smoked glass, 
and the little boys of 1869, like the little 
boys of 1806, could be seen with their noses 
bearing the imprint of dusky carbon. 
The New Albany Society of Natural His- 
tory, of which that indefatigable lover of 
science, Dr. John Sloan, is President, had 
made arrangements to occupy the crest of 
the knob, just west of the city, directly in 
front of the residence of Col. Thomas G. 
Morrison. The situation was all that could 
be desired. To the west ran a distant range 
of hills, too low to do anything more than 
cut off a few seconds at sunset. Southward 
the extension of the knobs swept outward 
like the salient angle of a fortification, cut- 
ting off the horizon about fifteen degrees 
east of south, but nothing was obscured even 
in that direction save the blue hills in the 
westwardly extension of the range of Mul- 
drough’s Hill. To the north the knobs bend 
in a great crescent, coming out to the same 
angle north by east, but so far away that 
their outlines fade into the indistinct blue 
of the landscape. Directly to the east was a 
glorious semi-circle, over which the eye roam- 
ed at will for a distance of sixty miles. The 
cities of New Albany, Jeffersonville, and 
Louisville, lay before the beholder like mimic 
cities upon a chess board. For fifty miles the 
line of the Ohio could be traced northeast- 
ward by the dense smoke of the passing 
steamers, while nearly sixty miles in the 
southeast could be discerned the blue out- 
lines of Muldrough’s Hill. 
Nothing could surpass the magnificence 
of the landscape as it lay before us that 
afternoon, bathed in the yellow sunlight of 
midsummer. A stiff breeze was blowing 
up from the northeast with almost autumn 
chilliness. The few fleecy clouds which 
had appeared during the forenoon had 
entirely disappeared. The gods for once 
were propitious at their own grand festival. 
The party assembled soon after dinner 
A cordon in the shape of a stout rope was 
drawn around to keep out intruders. Two 
equatorial telescopes, three barometers, two 
thermometers, a psychrometer, a surveyor’s 
transit and a compass, besides several small 
glasses, composed the outfit of the party in 
the way of instruments. 
THE PERSONNEL OE THE PARTY. 
The following is a complete list of those 
who were engaged in the observations under 
the auspices of the Society: 
ASTRONOMICAL SECTION. 
Large Equatorial.— Prof. John L. Campbell, 
Wabash College, Observer. 
Joseph F. Tuttle, D.D., Presi- 
dent of Wabash College, Assistant. 
Reuben Daily of the Louisville 
Courier-Journal, Register. 
Small Equatorial.—Rev. A. M. Reid,Ph.D. of 
Steubenville Female College, Ob- 
server. 
L. G. Matthews, New Albany, 
Society of Natural History, Ob- 
server. 
Rev. G. P. Hays, General Secre- 
tary of Wooster College, Register. 
Gus. C. Matthews, New Albany 
Society, Natural History Register. 
Small Telescope.—Rev. Geo. B. Jocelyn, Pres- 
ident of Albion College, Observer. 
A. A. Williams, New Albany, 
Register. 
Transit and Compass.—George M. Smith, 
City Engineer, New Albany. 
Col. Benjamin Aycrigg, Civil En- 
gineer, Passaic, New Jersey. 
F. A. Pell, Student of Princeton 
College, New Jersey. 
General Phenomena.—Rev. Wm. M. Pratt, D.D. 
New Albany Society Natural His- 
tory. 
Hon. Jno. M. Wilson, New Al- 
bany Society of Natural History. 
Wm. McK. Hester, New Albany 
Society of Natural History. 
Hon. Chas. B. Laoelle, Logans- 
port, Indiana. CROSIEK ON THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN. 
3 
Llewellyn Russell of New Al- 
bany. 
Dr. F. A. Mitchell, New Albany 
Society of Natural History. 
Photography.—James A Wilson, New Al- 
bany Society of Natural History. 
C. Heimberger, New Albany. 
METEOROLOGICAL SECTION. 
Dr. E. 8. Crosier, Smithsonian Observer, 
in charge. 
Aneroid Barometer, No. 1.—Prof. J. B. Rey- 
nolds, New Albany Society Natu- 
ral History, Observer. 
S. B. Kerr, New Albany Society 
of Natural History, Register. 
Aneroid Barometer, No. 2.—Dr. W. A. Clapp, 
New Albany Society of Natural 
History, Observer. 
Alfred llofield, New Albany 
Society of Natural History, Regis- 
ter. 
Mercurial Barometer.—Dr. E. S. Crosier, 
New Albany Society of Natural 
History, Observer. 
Wet Bulb Thermometer. —8. L. 8. Smith, 
New Albany Society of Natural 
History, Observer. 
Ilermun Bradford, New Albany 
Society of Natural History, Regis- 
ter. 
Dry Bulb Thermometer.—Prof. J. C. Fales, 
New Albany Society of Natural 
History, Observer. 
Hart Vance, New Albany Society 
of Natural History, Register. 
Solar Thermometer.—Prof. F. L. Morse, New 
Albany Society of Natural His- 
tory, Observer. 
F. C. Haskins, New Albany 
Society of Natural History, Rcgis- 
Time Ke per.— Chas. H. Bradford, City Time 
Keeper, New Albany. 
THE INSTRUMENTS USED. 
The larger equatorial was one kindly 
placed at the disposal of the Society by Mr. 
David Carpenter of this city. It is a two 
and three-quarters inch glass of 42 inch focal 
distance, made by Holland, London. It was 
formerly used, we believe, in the Coast 
Light House service, and is in mo9t respects 
a very good glass. In the hands of Prof. 
Campbell it did good work. 
The smaller equatorial was a two and a 
quarter inch gluss with 3G inch focal distance, 
for which the Society was indebted to Mr. 
L. G. Matthews of this city. The gentle- 
men in charge of this instrument were ablo 
to make excellent observations with it, al- 
though by no means a powerful glass. 
The mercurial barometer was a standard 
Smithsonian instrument, made by Jas. 
Green of New York. 
The aneroid barometer, No. 1, was made 
by Beaumont of New York. Aneroid 
No. 2 was a very correct one, used for 
many years by the late Dr. Clapp in his 
scientific investigations. Both these baro- 
meters, it will be seen, were much more 
sensitive to atmospheric changes than the 
mercurial. 
The solar thermometer was a Tralle’s 
Government Test, and correct to the tenth 
of an inch along its whole scale. The wot 
and dry bulb were standard Smithsonian in- 
struments, made by Jas. Green of New 
York. All the instruments except thosolar 
were shaded from tho rays of tho sun. 
The time used was received from tho Cin- 
cinnati Observatory by telegraph, and cor- 
rected for longitude 8° 33' 30// w., with 4 m 
27 sec. difference in time. The society was 
indebted for the courtesy of the telegraph 
to Geo. 11. Godfrey, operator of the West- 
ern Union Line, in this city, and to Mr. B. 
II. Johnson, chief operator at Cincinnati. 
GENERAL PHENOMENA OF THE ECLIPSE. 
At 3 o’clock all the observers were at 
their posts, and everything worked smooth- 
ly. A crowd gradually gathered about the 
brow of the hill, with every conceivable 
kind of instruments, and all provided with 
smoked or colored glasses. Every eye was 
turned ever and anon to the sun, now fast 
sweeping down towards the western horizon. 
The breeze, which at noon was blowing 
briskly from the northeast, became gradual- 
ly weaker, marking 1.5 on the Smithsonian 
scale. Long lines of strati or wane clouds, 
such as usually precede the shades of even- 
ing appeared in the southwest, but so fine 
and delicate ns almost to elude observation. 
The landscape seemed to swim in a flood of 
golden light. The distant hills wore, 
if possible, a bluer tint. The Ohio 
looked like a line of silver, winding its way 
far to the southeast. Cattle were quietly 
grazing upon the distant slopes and upon 
the commons below us. The hum of voices 
could be heard on every side, and confused 
noises came up from the city. Many were 
intent upon business, unawed by the ap- 
proaching eclipse, and drays and wagons 
could be seen upon the streets as usual. But 
now and then there would be flashes of light 
from the house-tops, discovering eager 
throngs of people with upturned glasses. 
WAITING FOR ITS COMING. 
It was now four o’clock. A yellowish 
tinge of peculiar murkiness began gradual- 
ly to spread up from the horizon, growing 
deeper and deeper as the hands of the chro- 
nometer advanced. Less than half an hour 
remained till the dark' edge of the moon 4 
NEW ALBANY SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
would appear. The little bell struck 4.20. 
The excitement grew intense. A few min- 
utes more, every observer was anxious to 
be the first discoverer. Many saw it even 
before the time calculated. Some saw the 
sun’s disc flattening upon its upper edge. 
But no, Prof. Campbell was quietly watching 
through the large equatorial. Presently 
the announcement was made, and there 
sure enough on its northwestern limb, plain- 
ly visible to the naked eye, was the slight- 
est imaginable indenture. A shout hailed 
the advent. The mystic little bell called 
the ten minutes, and the dark segment, 
rapidly increased till quite a gap could bo 
discerned with the naked eye. A boy 
thought the gap had been bit out. At forty 
to fifty minutes past four the diminution of 
light began to be very perceptible. A 
bluish-purple tinge was observed in the sky 
towards the north. The cattle were lowing 
in the valley. The cocks crowed loudly 
from a neighboring farm house. A flock of 
geese began wending their way toward the 
city, and a solitary cow was observed quiet- 
ly jogging homeward. At 5 o’clock the 
sun was nearly half obscured. The dark- 
ness crept on apace. A peculiar ashen hue 
overspread the countenances of all present, 
investing them with the lividity of death. 
This ghastly appearance contributed very 
markedly to the awe inspired by the ap- 
pearance of the landscape. It wore a dull 
grayish hue, overhung by a dull leaden sky. 
As minute by minute wore on the intensity 
of the feelings became almost overpowering. 
The conversation, which had been loud 
among the crowd upon the hill, was entirely 
subdued, and before the totality began not 
even a whisper could be heard beyond the 
announcements of the observers. It was 
one of those awe inspiring occasions, when 
the grandeur of the universe blots out man 
in his littleness, and stamps the divinity 
upon the author of the wheeling worlds 
which sweep so majestically before us. There 
seemed to be a sense of nearness connected 
with it. We venture to say that if half a 
dozen ignorant persons had been asked, five 
of them would have said the eclipse oc- 
curred ten or twelve miles off. 
THE GRAND TOTALITY. 
All the cattle from the distant commons 
had disappeared. Birds were twittering 
among the trees near by, and we were cred- 
itably informed that at the time of the total- 
ity some of the little warblers flew down 
upon the ground almost at the feet of the 
observers. Presently the pale light of Yenus 
became visible to the naked eye, twinkling 
like some lost pleiad in the pale violet-col- 
ored sky. A peculiar sensation of wonder 
was created by the sight of the stars which 
one after another came out as the eclipse 
progressed. The excitement of the observers 
now became intense, when almost simul- 
taneously with the announcement of Prof. 
Campbell of the entrance of the total 
phase, a murmur of suppressed admiration 
ran through the assembled multitude. As 
if by magic a bright halo shot out upon 
every side of the darkened disc of the moon, 
with all the flickering motion of the rays 
observable in the northern Aurora. At the 
same instant a bright fan-like expansion of 
light swept across the northern sky, lighting 
it up with a weird brilliancy perfectly inde- 
scribable. A similar appearance was pre- 
sented at the South, but not so well marked. 
Above these bright bands hung a curtain, 
dark, gloomy, and awe-inspiring. The ma- 
jestic spectacle presented at this moment 
was truly sublime. All descriptions we 
had ever read had failed to give the faintest 
idea of the ineffable grandeur of the scene. 
The darkness was not that of night, for the 
gloom seemed to hover over us like 
some giant bird in a fairy-tale. It 
settled down upon us steadily, drearily, 
inevitably. But tor the surpassing 
loveliness of the corona, the heart would 
have sunk appalled. In another instant a 
bright star-like point appeared at the very 
bottom of the darkened disc, shining ap- 
parently through the very rim of the 
moon, followed immediately by another on 
its northern quarter. Through the telescope 
these protuberances, tor they were nothing 
less than those remarkable mountains of 
hydrogen, presented a most exquisitely beau- 
tiful appearance. From the bright one at 
the bottom to the one on the north limb, a 
series of rose-colored projections studded the 
entire crest. Now they turned to purple, 
and again they were mingled with rose, green, 
and blue, and so enchantingly lovely that 
expressions of admiration could be heard on 
every side. It was only lastyear, at the time 
of the great eclipse in India, that the true 
nature of these prominences was satisfacto- 
rily demonstrated. Bet it be remembered 
that these bright sparkling little points are CROSIER ON THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN. 
5 
nearly ten times the diameter of our earth. 
Is it any wonder that astronomers, from the 
time of their first discovery, in 1733, have 
regarded them with intense interest? 
LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS. 
After a lapse of nearly two and a half 
minutes the first gleam of light broke forth, 
suddenly as if by the fiat of the Almighty, 
flooding the landscape with its radiance. 
The first point had all the purity and bril- 
liancy of molten silver. The effect was 
perfectly electric. A shout of applause 
came up from the assembled thousands in 
the city, and the murmur of voices was 
heard all around u«. Only the astronomers 
were now busy. The long pent up impres- 
sions of each person now broke forth. Every 
one was jubilant. The great event of the 
century had been observed with perfect suc- 
cess, and we now only awaited the reports 
of the different observers to complete the 
work so auspiciously begun. 
REFORT OF PROF. CAMPBELL’S OBSERVATIONS. 
Each member of the party remained in 
waiting patiently until 4:24. Mr Bradford, 
the time keeper, with his watch in hand, 
having the Cincinnati Observatory time 
corrected for this locality, had called out 
4:20. Prof. Campbell at the large equatorial, 
Mr. Matthews at the small equatorial, seem- 
ed to grow nervous as the decisive moment 
approached. Four twenty-four arrived, 
but the limb of the sun remained untouched, 
but two minutes later—four twenty-six— 
the announcement by Prof. Campbell that 
a small indenture was visible on the lower 
north limb of the sun sent a visible thrill of 
joy through all the spectators. “Isn’t that 
a triumph of science,” said the professor, 
with his face aglow with great delight. If 
possible the sky was still clearer, and every- 
thing appropriate and favorable for the ob- 
servations. The disc of the sun presented 
a number of well defined spots, one very 
lrrge on the lower portion of the disc, with 
a sharply defined nucleus and umbra. Two 
small spots developed themselves above, 
and upon the upper centre was to be seen 
a group of three, and still another elongat- 
ed spot near the upper remote cage. The 
first contact of the moon with the sun’s disc, 
as above stated, was at 4:26 p.m. 
The outline of the moon was sharp and 
clear. A stiff breeze, a little east of due 
north, sprang up immediately after the 
moon's shadow commenced to obscure the 
face of the suri. At 4:40 the eclipse came 
in contact with the first spot, when about 
one-fifth of the surface of the sun’s disc was 
obscured. • By this time the breeze had veer- 
ed eastward about sixty degrees. At 4:50 
the first mentioned spot suddenly disappear- 
ed. At fivo o’clock the sun was not quite 
one-half hidden, when the dark outline of 
the moon, which, at this time, presented a 
sharp, clear, nicely defined convex line, 
presented a slight waving motion. At five- 
three the diminution of light was quite per- 
ceptible. 
Tbe air was now considerably cooler, the 
countenance of the spectators looked slight- 
ly pallid. At 5 10 the breeze slackened. 
At this time the central group of spots 
disappeared, the darkness gradually increas- 
ing. At fifteen minutes past five the ther- 
mometer sank to 70°, the decrease of light 
grew fast, a strange, weird, ghastly hue fell 
on every human lace and deepened on the 
grass and trees, which gave a mysterious, 
awe-inspiring sensation, and seemed to im- 
press every body prof* undly with astonish- 
ment at the mighty and mystical powers of 
nature, and gave a longing, fixed gaze that 
seemed to ask for some miraculous explana- 
tion of the incomprehensible causes creating 
the phenomena. Shadows now lost their 
distinctness and showed three or four 
quivering shades, gradually passing from a 
tbin, gauzy shadow to the deep black. 
Louisville began to grow dim, a pall seem- 
ed to settle down upon her. At five-twen- 
ty the glow increased on both edges of the 
sun, the atmosphere was now quite cool, the 
ladies gathered their shawls around them, 
and those having cloth coats buttoned 
them up. The elongated spot on the upper 
edge of the sun disappeared at 5:24-27. 
The glow of the sun on both edges of the 
sun was still well marked. The excitement 
now ran high, and at each advance made by 
the moon’s shadow the intensity increased. 
The darkness seemed to crawl gradually, 
quietly, inevitabiy, like a dread monster 
about to destroy his helpless prey, but 
delighting in prolonging the life of his 
victim. All was silence, deep, unbroken, 
impressive silence. Every lace was turned 
upward and had a look of anxiety, of awe, 
of mysterious influence, as if about to be 
initiated into unknown mystery by Deity. 
5:22 p.m. had arrived, 1'he horns of the 
sun became blunted—only two minutes re- 
mained until the ineffable splendor of the 
sun would’ be entirely obscured with the ex- 
ception of the corona. In an instant after 
5:25 Venus appeared, then Regulus and 
several other stars of less magnitude. The 
hornsof thesun grewstill blunter. Dark lines 
appeared across the horns as they disap- 
peared, causing the edge of the moon to as- 
sume a very ragged appearance, crossing 
and vanishing outward. “Still more blunt,” 
cried Professor Campbell, almost in a frenzy 
of enthusiasm. “Lines of light broken into 
fragments as the total phase comes on.” 
“Total!” exclaims the Professor, still more 
enthusiastic. The timer announced 5:26. 
“Mercury appears six degrees to the north 
and east” was the next announcement, fol- 
lowing close upon the totality. “The corona 
is beautiful, very brilliant, especially east 
and west. Corona still very beautiful, 6 
NEW ALBANY SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
accompanied with corruscations of light. 
Rose-colored protuberances very prominent 
on the lower limb of the sun, extending 
about one-third upwards along the lower 
north limb. The lower point especially 
prominent and well-defined, color exquisitely 
beautiful. Three especially prominent rose 
protuberances, one on the eastern limb, one 
on the southern limb, and one midway be- 
tween them.” A heavy, dull, cold, leaden 
shadow obscured everything. As the total 
phase came on, it was a sudden transition 
from heavy shade to the peculiar darkness 
already described. A mighty pall seemed 
to lower suddenly upon the three surround- 
ing cities, producing a grand and somewhat 
dramatic effect. In the horizon two dis- 
tinct twilights were to be seen, one in the 
south, the other in the north, partaking 
of the appearance of an aurora bore- 
alis, or of two beautiful sunsets. 
The first appearance of true light came on at 
5:28a moment alter theshouts of theNew 
Albanians rent the air for the return of 
sweet daylight, and the observers breathed 
freer, and some rubbed their hands, which 
they now discovered were quite cold. The 
sight was ineffably grand to see the light, 
fleet as an archangel, sweep across the val- 
ley. flashir g into the river, sparkling against 
steeples and windows, and, as if by magic, 
clothing the sombre cities in their native 
and genial hue. The thermometer had 
fallen to 76 by this time. The first appear- 
ance of the sun’s disc was blunt—a ragged 
line. Mercury disappeared at 5:26. At 
5:30 the crescent was well shaped. Then 
moving lines appeared again. At 5:37 the 
horns became sharp. At 5:41 the first large 
spot reappeared. At 5:52 the second spot 
reappears. At 6:20 the central group of 
small spots on the sun are visible, and at 
6:18 the elongated spot reappeared; at 6:20 
but a slight indenture coubl be distinguish- 
ed, and at 6:21 54 the last lingering, trem- 
bling, shadow of the moon parted regretful- 
ly from the disc of the sun. and the great 
total eclipse of August 7, 1869, was ended. 
REPORT OF MESSRS. REID AND MATTHEWS’S 
OBSERVATIONS. 
The first appearance of the eclipse was 
observed at four h. twenty-six m. p.m., 
and came suddenly on the lower side at an 
angle of about 36°. A small irregularity 
was seen on the disc, growing more like a 
notch. At 4:30 the edge became smooth 
and even and quite clearly cut in the out- 
line. At 4'34£ on the outer edge of the 
moon there were little flashes of light, lighter 
shades on the upper edge; on this shade 
a purplish tinge was seen varying in in- 
tensity. At 4:37J slight irregularities 
were seen on the moon’s limb. On the 
lower part the irregularities were more 
distinct than on tho upper. At 4:42 
the horns of the sun do not seem sharply 
defined, almost square at the extreme point. 
At 4:45 there appeared a flash of light, 
just at the upper corner, somewhat ob- 
scuring the horn of the moon’s shadow. 
Quite a decided decrease of light was observ- 
ed at this time. At 4 47& the rim of the 
moon was perfect, without anj’ irregularity 
whatever, and apparently moving at an 
angle of about 45° across the sun. At 4.49 
a slight luminosity appeared on the upper 
disc of the moon, as if the rays of the sun 
lapped over the moon. At 4 50, about one- 
fifth of the way up the lower horn of the 
sun, a dark spot appeared quite distinct a 
little within the enlightened part of the sun, 
just beyond the moon’s face. It immediate- 
ly disappeared, seeming to fall behind the 
moon. At 4.55 the horns became quite 
sharp and well defined. At 4.57 a depres- 
sion on the margin of the moon, one-third 
of the way up the lower cusp of the sun, the 
edges quitejagged. At 4 59 the jagged appear- 
ance has gone up the edge of the moon. At 
five a quite perceptible yellowish or buff tinge 
in the atmosphere, especially noticeable on 
the faces of bystanders. 5.04 a purplish 
tinge on the face of the sun about two-thirds 
the way down. 5.05 the sun appeared about 
as large as the moon in the first quarter. A 
purplish tinge was observed, exceed- 
ingly beautiful, on the enlightened part of 
the sun; vanished in a moment; reappeared 
once or twice. 5.06 the irregular appear- 
ance continues on the edge of the moon 
5.12 the edge not clearly cut, in appear- 
ance somewhat jagged. The lower cusp of 
the sun very sharp — the moon's shadow 
apparently depressed or drawn in, thus pro- 
longing the cusp. 5.15 the coolness in the air 
very perceptible. 5 16J the edge of the 
moon adeeper black and tinged with a green 
light about one-quarter the distance up. 
The horizon took a somewhat velvety ap- 
pearance of purplish tinge—a strange, 
weird appearance. The chickens were heard 
to crow; the people looked ghastly pale; the 
aurora of light around the sun grew very 
small; the city was covered with flashes of 
light from the glasses in the hands of people 
in the city on the house tops; the cows 
start home from the common. 5.24 it be- 
came very dark and the horizon took an ap- 
pearance of a gathering storm. The lower 
horn became very sharp. 5:24| Venus ap- 
peared, and Mercury almost at the same mo- 
ment. Brilliant lines of light flash out. 
Two bright, irregular, purplish beads of 
light—almost square in appearance, much 
alike,the lower one more brillianton the mar- 
gin of the moon—yet rather a depression 
than projection. The lower one of a beau- 
tiful, purplish color, a bright spot just be- 
low it. 5:26, begining of total eclipse. 
Two spots continue on the right. A third 
one appears on the lower margin. The 
corona perfectly splendid. Streams of light 
flow out all around the margin of the 
moon of a yellowish purplish color, varying 
constantly. Some streams larger than 
others. Something very grand and im- 
pressive to the sight. All became still. Oc- CROSIEll ON THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN. 
7 
casionally an exclamation from one of the 
observers when something very striking 
and brilliant was seen. 5:28£, total eclipse 
closes. A little irregularity with upper 
corner of the moon’s sur ace, like a small 
notch, makes tho cusp of the sun very sharp. 
6:30 the line of moon’s margin more even 
than when coming on. 5:40 Venus disap- 
pears from the naked eye. 5:41 the large 
spot on tho sun reappears, grows larger and 
gradually moves off, still increasing in size, 
showing in its umbra the additional spot. 
At 6 another spot on the sun reappears. 
At 6:06£ two other spots are seen. 6:18 the 
elongated spot appears toward tho north. 
The margin of moon now quite irregular, 
jagged, gradually narrowing, and then dis- 
appeared at 6 h., 21 m., 54 sec. As the 
rugged edge slowly shortens it assumes a 
tremulous motion, and then disappears with 
a vibrating motion, like that of the string 
of a musical instrument. 
REPORT OF DR. CROSIER’S METEOROLOGICAL 
OBSERVATIONS. 
The following meteorological observa- 
tions were made by the corps employed in 
behalf of the Smithsonian Institution: 
that rny nephew, F. A. Pell, and myself, 
arriving from the North and West on a 
tour of pleasure and general observation, 
selected this neighborhood to see the eclipse, 
as combining more advantages than wo 
could find elsewhere within the scope of our 
knowledge of the neighborhood, after being 
nearly two weeks in this vicinity, and after 
thrice passing the central line of the eclipse. 
From the point of observation in front of 
the residence of Col. Thos. G. Morrison, at 
the estimated height of 240 feet above low 
water, I observed the horizon cloar to the 
estimated distance of 60 miles, between N 
10 E and S 3(J E, or 140 degrees, and the 
various cities in full view. 
G. M. Smith, your City Engineer, and 
myself agreed that the eclipse had no 
sensible effect on the needle of an ordinary 
surveyor’s compass. 
My pocket thermometer in the shade 
gave 76 degrees at 3:30 p.m., 74 at 4:26, 
71f at 5:0, 71 at 5:10, 69£ at 5:20, 67f at 
5:45. 69 at 6:6; the atmosphere being cloud- 
less throughout, 
At 4:20 p.m. the wind was N 60 E and at 
7:03 it was North. 
At the time of total eolise, there appeared 
to the naked eye a circular spot of about 
one-twentieth of the diameter of the moon, 
as if a bole, touching the lower edge, cover- 
ed with a red glas.?, through which the sun 
could be seen as a coal of fire. Several 
others agreed as to this appearance, but the 
instruments showed this red light as a pro- 
jection beyond the moon. 
Surrounding the moon was a white circular 
corona, and beyond this corona were rays 
from the centre, projecting beyond the moon, 
in the direction of the motion, about £ the 
diameter of the moon, and nearly the 
same, at right angles to that direction; the 
whole lorming nearly a square with the 
sides horizontal and vertical. Then from 
the centre of the upper side, undulations 
flashed to the left, resembling the corrusca- 
tions ol an ordinary aurora passing in about 
half a second from the centre of the angle. 
Several agreed as to the square form, but 
differed as to the corruseations. I am in- 
clined to the opinion that this square was in 
the atmosphere of the earth, and caused by 
electricity as an ordinary aurora. The 
angles ot the square corresponding with the 
line ot motion and at right angles to the 
same may arise from the general luw that a 
current of magnetism is always at right 
angles to a current of galvanism or elec- 
tricity. 
During the total eclipse, the light redact- 
ed Irom the atmosphere about 50 miles to 
the "North, had the ed'eet of a hazy half 
twilight; while that from the South, about 
90 miles distant, appeared as the last rays 
of twilight. 
In conclusion, I beg to return my thanks 
for tho hospitable manner in which we have 
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F. C. Haskins, Register. 
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REPORT OF COL. HENJ. AYCRIGO, CIVIL ENGI- 
NEER, OF PASSAIC, N. J. 
Dr. E. S Crosier, Secretary Society Natural 
History: 
Sir: In answer to your request I report, 8 
NEW ALBANY SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
been received by yourself and other mem- 
bers of your Society. 
Very respectfully, 
B. Aycriqg of Passaic, N. J. 
New Albany, Ind., Aug. 9, 1869. 
REPORT OF MR. PELL OF PRINCETON COLLEGE. 
Dr. E. S. Crosier, Secretary Society of Natural 
History. 
Sir: The following observations of a gen- 
eral nature were made by me during the 
occurrence of the total eclipse of Aug. 7th, 
1869. 
At 4:44 all the shadows cast were blurred 
and somewhat indistinct. 
At 5 the landscape appealed to be tinged 
with a hue of green. The effect of this tint 
upon the complexion was to give it a jaun- 
diced and ghastly appearance. 
At 5:15 the cocks in the neighborhood 
began to crow, about the same time swallows 
twittering in the air, were heard close to the 
group of observers; cows were seen slowly 
moving as on their way homeward, and I 
saw one near the bars of a fence, evidently 
waiting to be let into the barn-yard. 
Total obscuration came instantaneously 
and had much the effect of a pall dropped 
suddenly over every thing. Objects ap- 
peared comparatively distinct, although in- 
vested with an air of gloom and with a pe- 
culiar, inexpressible depth of shadow. 
As seen by the naked eye, the corona had 
a general rhotnboidal (almost square) out- 
line, but the rays projected irregularly. 
A very bright bead appeared to hang 
from the bottom of the moon, and another, 
not so bright, about 20° distant to the left, 
seemed resting on the moon’s outline. 
During the total obscuration Venus, Keg- 
ulus, and Mercury could be plainly seen by 
the unassisted eye. 
A band of faint light stretched along the 
northern horizon, as was also the case along 
the southern. That to the north was much 
the brightest. The bands were unevenly 
illuminated, horizontal streaks of fainter 
light appearing on them. 
The flash of light as the total phase be- 
gan to pass off, had a most beautiful effect. 
A faint light gradually increasing in inten- 
sity, swept over New Albany and Louis- 
ville. chasing before it the dark shadow. 
Very respectfully, F. A. Pell, 
Passaic, N. J. 
OBSERVATIONS BY L. RUSSELL OF NEW AL- 
BANY. 
4:26—Moment of contact with western 
limb; 4:37—About one-fourth surface cov- 
ered; the luminary surface assuming that of 
a crescent; 4:35—Horns of sun very bril- 
liant, bright jets of light shooting out from 
these in the line of the moon's surface; 4:47 
—Lower limb covered edges of sun; very 
bright; 5:03^—About half covered; 5:05— 
Line of contact much brighter than body of 
sun; 5:09—Sickly hue on objects around, 
particularly faces of persons—growing dark 
rapidly; 5:13J—Upper horn of sun remark- 
ably brilliant—bright jets of light shoot out 
from it; 5:15—More than two-thirds cov- 
ered; 5:21—Brilliant red light along the line 
of contact; 5:23 — Dark hazy appearance 
over everything, resembling twilight; 5:25— 
Saw Venus, then Mercury, then liegulus, 
then Arcturus, nearly south of the zenith. 
5:26—Sun totally obscured. The red 
hazy appearance around the horizon extend- 
ing up toward the zenith 20° or 25°, resem- 
bling a heavy twilight prevented Procyon, 
near the horizon from being seen. At this 
time the corona was so magnificent as to 
forbid looking for smaller objects. Bright 
rose-colored spots on the margin of the 
moon resembled brilliant stars, the brightest 
one noticed was on the lower or western 
limb, though lesser ones could be seen on 
the southern and eastern limb. The corona 
seemed to give as much light ns the moon at 
full; 5:28J—Sun reappears in a bright ray 
of light (which seemed the brighter from its 
previous absence) which almost instantly 
assumed the crescent form—the stars soon 
disappeared, the planet Venus remaining in 
view till 5:45; 5:47—Sun about half ob- 
scured; 6:22—Moon not seen. 
PHOTOGRAPHY. 
Arrangements were early made with Mr. 
Jas A. Wilson for photographing the ap- 
pearances presented by the eclipse. With 
the imperleet apparatus at hand for taking 
impressions without an equatorial move- 
ment, he was able to make twelve very well 
defined, and in many respects most admir- 
able pictures. One of the corona is ad- 
mirably defined. The rose-colored protuber- 
ances are easily discerned with a lense, and 
when properly developed we hope to have a 
good representation of this interesting period 
of the eclipse. 
Mr. C. Heimberger of this city also suc- 
ceeded in making nine good pictures, very 
sharp and well defined. He also has one 
negative taken during the total phase, which 
will prove valuable to scientific men. 
OBSERVATIONS FOR MAGNETISM. 
The magnetic needle, so sensative to rays 
of light, it was supposed would be effected 
by the phenomena of the eclipse, and ac- 
cordingly the Society had two good instru- 
ments placed in charge of the city engineer, 
Mr. Geo. M. Smith, and Col. Benj. Ayerigg, 
Civil Engineer of Passaic, N. J. They re- 
port that no sensible deviation of the needle 
was observable, though more delicate tests 
might have discovered it. 
ELEMENTS OF THE ECLIPSE. 
From these observations we may deduce 
the following elements as data for future 
calculations at this point: 
H. 
M. 
s. 
Beginning of eclipse 
4 
26 
Beginning of total phase — 
26 
End of total phase 
28 
15 
End of eclipse 
6 
21 
54 
Duration of total phase.... 
2 
15 
Duration of eclipse 
1 
55 
54