"At 3:30 we returned on just in
time for Sir Norman Lockyer's Eclipse drill... they were guite ready for
the Eclipse if it should come a day too soon!" |
"...our attention was directed
to some large pictures being exhibited in the streets, repsenting comets
and stars, with dragons and monsters..." |
"After totality, shadow bands
were again noted, and further departing gloom and sensitometer photographs
undertaken ... after which we all returned to the hotel to tea." |
"The first contact and the progress
of the eclipse were observed by projection through the telescope on a sheet
of cardboard to avoid fatiguing the eye." |
"The sky was deep purple, while
over the sea was a strange light on the horizon, a compromise between a
thunderstorm and a sunset." |
"I found myself stretching out
my arms to that exquisite corona in a perfect ecstasy." |
|
Excerpts from
The Total Solar Eclipse, 1900
Report of the expeditions organized by the
British Astronomical Association to observe the total solar eclipse of 1900,
May 28
A Publication of the British Astronomical
Association
Chapter VII: "Elche" (Spain)
by Mr. E. W. Johnson
Leaving England on the 10th May, on board R.M.S.
"Egypt" . . . our party consisted of only three members, Lady
McClure, Miss Jessie McRae, and myself, but amongst the passengers were
some who would observe the Eclipse at other places in Spain.
Elche is an exceedingly picturesque little
Moorish town of a distinctly Oriental type, with white, flat-roofed houses,
and surrounded with palm trees. Our first concern at Elche was to find a
suitable observing station . . . almost opposite [our] hotel was a Café
Restaurant, with a large flat roof, and this we at once engaged, with a
stipulation that no one else should be allowed thereon. This eventually
proved to be a wise precaution, as several strangers on Eclipse day tried
to gain access to it.
Observers at Elche. (Click on the image
for a larger view). |
On Saturday, 26th May, we drove to Santa Pola
. . . where were established the two British Eclipse Camps, that of Sir
Norman Lockyer and that of Professor Copeland. Sir Norman received us very
cordially, and explained to us the working of some of his instruments, and
invited us to return at 4 o'clock to witness his Eclipse drill.
We then visited the Scotch camp about half
a mile distant . . . . Whilst we were at the Scotch camp the Governor of
the Province of Alicante arrived and was shown the instruments by Professor
Copeland. Another object which attracted our attention and which we duly
admired was a large wall close by, which had been freshly whitened by the
bluejackets of the "Theseus," and was to serve for the observation
of shadow bands. After being most hospitably entertained . . . a steam launch
met us and took us to the "Theseus," a mile or so out in the Bay.
At 3:30 we returned on shore, just in time
for Sir Norman Lockyer's Eclipse drill. The apparently simple way in which
it was all gone through showed . . . they were quite ready for the Eclipse
if it should come a day too soon!
The morning of the 28th broke cloudless, and
as the Eclipse would not begin till nearly 3 o'clock, we had plenty of time
in hand. Close outside the hotel and quite early in the day our attention
was directed to some large pictures being exhibited in the streets, representing
comets and stars, with dragons and monsters, besides scenes of naval battles,
etc., all evidently intended to impress the ignorant peasants, and perhaps
deceive them about the great event of the day. The day was kept as a general
holiday, and during the morning great numbers of people flocked into the
town from all the country round.
Shortly before the Eclipse began, it was a
curious sight to see the roofs, which until then had been deserted, suddenly
teem with life, being crowded with the excited populace.
We all kept quiet and cool through the morning,
and by 2.30 took up our positions on the roof, when at 2.58 first contact
was announced by gun fire. Being all of us provided with dark glasses there
was no difficulty in watching the gradually diminishing disc of the sun.
At 3.38 Mr. J. H. Willis first announced the
appearance of Venus almost vertically overhead. At 20 minutes and 10 minutes
before totality I called the times to Lady McClure to make exposures of
10 seconds each for "Gathering Gloom" photographs . . . Soon after
the second of these exposures I was able to call the attention of Miss McRae
to the rapidly moving shadow bands, and she then made special notes with
reference to them.
Time was now very close to the critical moment
of totality, to which our attention was now completely given, and I was
able to see the Corona, as it were, unfold itself some few seconds before
a second gun shot announced totality.
Miss McRae noted the appearance of planets
and stars.
My sensitometer exposure being complete, and
having some opera glasses handy, I was able to observe the Eclipse itself,
and especially noted the polar rays, and was finally rewarded with a splendid
sight of Baily's Beads.
A second or two of valuable time was lost to
us at second contact by someone on a neighbouring roof sending aloft an
air balloon which dropped fireworks as it descended, consequently distracting
our attention.
After totality, shadow bands were again noted,
and further departing gloom and sensitometer photographs undertaken, besides
photographs of our party in a group on the roof, after which we all returned
to the hotel to tea, eagerly talking over together the wonders of the beautiful
spectacle we had seen.
Chapter VIII: "Algiers"
by Mr. E. Walter Maunder, F.R.A.S.
The observers choosing Algiers as their station
were far more numerous than those going in any other direction, the ease
with which the journey could be made, and the high probability of a clear
sky and transparent air, providing a great attraction. But having arrived
at their destination, the observers were almost necessarily broken up into
several parties. The party with which I was more immediately connected,
consisted at starting of Mr. and Mrs. Crommelin, my wife and two daughters,
and myself.
Very striking looked Algiers, the "White
City," as we approached it, its white houses, climbing terrace after
terrace up the steep side of the hill, and flashing with dazzling points
of light where the sun was reflected back from glass window or conservatory
roof.
Our hotel was in the very centre of the city,
facing its chief Place, a site which in a northern clime would not be ideal
for an observing station, but which here in smokeless, fireless, subtropical
Algiers had few drawbacks and not a few advantages . . . its roof was thoroughly
well adapted for our requirements in an observing station.
Observers at the Hotel De La Regence,
Algiers. (Click on the image for a larger view). |
On one point our visitors were all agreed,
that we had very useful astronomical accessories in the great chimney stacks
that rose up to a height of about five feet from the roof, and that we turned
them to good account. They made most useful piers or stays for the telescope
stands, and their most serious defect was in the presence of the vent, down
which it was so easy to drop eye-pieces and screws and other useful or indispensable
articles. Mr. Hodge turned even this defect to a good use by making the
flue serve as a drop for his telescope weight.
The first contact and the progress of the eclipse
were observed by projection through the telescope on a sheet of cardboard
to avoid fatiguing the eye.
Observering from the roof of the hotel.
(Click on the image for a larger view). |
Another observer, Miss Irene Maunder, describes
the effect of totality: "A bell rang and we all hurried to our places,
for we knew there were but five minutes of totality. Another bell--but one
minute more. The sky was deep purple, while over the sea was a strange light
on the horizon, a compromise between a thunderstorm and a sunset. The colour
faded from the sea and trees, a shouting and wailing arose from the square
below, the light was fading; suddenly the moon slipped over the sun and
the eclipse was total. 'Go!' shouted a loud voice; a metronome began to
beat the seconds, and as its bell rang at each sixth stroke, my sister called
the time. 'One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six!' There! my photographs were
taken, and now I could look up! I shall never forget the crimson glow, and
above and below it a milk-like flame stretching its long streamers away
into the purple. The darkness, the cold wind, the silent workers around
me, and the shouting crowd below all tended to make this strange and glorious
sight still more impressive, and I found myself stretching out my arms to
that exquisite corona in a perfect ecstasy. Suddenly the moon slipped off
the other side of the sun and out he shone in a blaze of light, or so it
seemed in comparison with his eclipse. An Englishman cheered. Some Frenchmen
clapped. Totality was over!"
A drawing of the eclipse of 1900. (Click
on the image for a larger view). |
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