204 Reports on Special Researches 



The Annapolis, under the command of Lieutenant C. S. McDowell, left Pago Pago at 

 9 p.m., Tuesday, April 25, and after stopping the next morning at the islands of Ofoo and 

 Oloosiga to pick up natives and Queen Vaitupu, in whose house we were to be quartered, we 

 arrived at the northwest end of Manua Island at about 3 p. m., Wednesday, April 26, and 

 anchored in Faleasau Bay. Lieutenant McDowell, who was to be my chief assistant, and 

 L with some others, landed at this jioint and went overland to the village Tau, 2 miles dis- 

 tant. The instruments were taken around the northwest coast in a boat and their safe 

 landing through the breakers was intrusted to Captain Steffany, an experienced pilot in 

 these waters. The remainder of the day was spent in selecting suitable stations and lui- 

 packing and assembling the instruments, which took almost until midnight. It was found 

 that the instruments had sustained no injury during the long journey. 



SOLAR OBSERVATIONS ON APRIL 28. 1911. 



The follo\nng day, Thursday (April 27), was more or less cloudy and showers fell repeat- 

 edly, considerably hampering and retarding our preparations for the morrow's work. I 

 had to tm-n the photographic work over to selected officers of the Annapolis, supplying 

 them with Abbot's directions^ and establishing for them the azimuth and altitude of the 

 S\ui at the time of the total eclipse the following day so as to guide them in setting up the 

 photographic apparatus. I was, fm-thermore, obliged to train an inexperienced man in 

 taking readings of the magnetic declination. By thus dividing up our labors, it was pos- 

 sible to carry out the program in a general manner, at least, if not with the elaborateness and 

 detail of an especiallj' equipped eclipse party. 



The Samoan inhabitants of the island did everything possible for our comfort and were 

 eager to render every assistance. At 4 p.m. they served their native drink the kawa^ 

 and in the evening at 7 o'clock the Samoan chiefs gave us a native feast, followed by a 

 native dance the siwa arranged for by Queen Vaitupu, our hostess. I was obliged to 

 leave before the dance was over in order to complete the computations and preparations 

 required for the next day's work. Retiring about 1 a. m., I arose at 6 o'clock and found that 

 the weather on the eventful day, April 28, was apparently all that could be desired. 



Final preparations were immediately made for the eclipse observations, the photo- 

 graphic work being placed in charge of Lieutenant McDowell , aided by Dr. Connor and Messrs. 

 Steffany and Reed, and the times of contacts were to be observed by two independent par- 

 ties, one aboard the Annapolis in Faleasau Bay, in charge of Lieutenant Baker, and the other 

 ashore by Dr. Connor, aided by Chaplain Pierce. The magnetic declination readings 

 were intrusted to Quartermaster Urle and the general charge of the entire work was reserved 

 for mj'self, as also the necessary astronomical observations for approximate geographic 



'These were as follows: 



"On the night before the edipse fill the plate-holders. Put two Reeds ortho non-halation dr>' plates in one, two Seeds 

 27 dry plates in the other. This must be done in complete darkness. The fibn side of each plale ynust he oulside. In other 

 words, the two glass sides of the two plates in a plate-holder must be back to I^ack (i. c., nearer together than the two film 

 sides). To make sure of this in the dark, u'et the end of the finger and try it at the edge of each plate. The sticky side is 

 the film side. Keep the plate-holders wrapped in dark cloth, and as cool as can be, until nearly time (witliin 15 minutes of 

 time) for totality. Then insert the plate-holders at the lower end of the tin tubes. Wrap the cloth around the end till within 

 two or three minutes of totahty; then it can be removed, if desirable. 



"Make a shutter to cover the lenses mth; a pasteboard box about S inches or 10 inches wide, 16 inches or more long, 

 and of any convenient depth, will suffice. Fasten to it a bamboo or other light pole about 8 feet long. Before totality, put 

 this box over the lenses, t^ing the pole wTth a string to the tubes at the bottom, or better, making a little wire hook project- 

 ing from one of the tin tubes to hold the lower end of the pole. Have an assistant handle this box during totality, holding 

 it in place in his hand ready for any movements desired. 



"When totality has come, draw the upper sUde from each plate-holder. Lift off the box-cover from the lenses. Expose 

 15 seconds, folIoTving the Sun during the exposure by unscrewing the right-ascension screw siowly. Then put on the box- 

 cover. Push in the slides. Draw out both plate-holders, turn them over and reinsert them. Draw the new upper slides. 

 Lift off the box-cover. Expose until the totality is within 30 seconds of ending. Follow the Sun as before. Put on the box- 

 cover. Push in both slides. Turn the brass hooks to prevent either slide from being withdrawn by accident. Remove the 

 plate-holders and wrap them in dark cloth. Keep them cool as possible till developed. 



"It will be well to have two assistants: one to call out the minutes elapsed and tell you when to cover first and second 

 times, the other to cover and uncover the lenses as directed." 



