SOLAR ECLIPSE OF MAY 28, 1900. 151 



The assignment of the observers was as follows : Mr. Langley, in 

 g-eneral charge of the expedition, observed with the same 5-inch tele- 

 scope used b}" him on IMkes Peak in 1ST8, which was most kindly 

 lent for this special comparison by the United States Naval Obser- 

 vatory; C. G. Abbot, aid acting in immediate charge, assigned with 

 C. E. Mendenhall to the bolometer; T. W. Smillie, having general 

 direction of the photographic work, made exposures at the 135-foot 

 telescope; F. E. Fowle, jr., assigned to 38-foot telescope; Father 

 Searle, directing the assembled telescopes for the outer coronal 

 region, and for intramercurial planets, assisted by P. A. Draper and 

 C. W. B. Smith, exposed two cameras of 3-inch aperture and 11-foot 

 focus, and two of -li-inch aperture and 3^ feet focus; all four of these 

 telescopes being mounted on a single polar axis driven by an excellent 

 clock; De Lancey Gill, assisting Mr. Smillie, removed the flash spectrum 

 objective prism at second contact, and made a single long exposure 

 with a 6-inch photographic lens of 7i feet focus equatoriall}' mounted; 

 Assistant G. R. Putnam, who, by the kindness of the Superintendent 

 of the United States Coast Survey, was detailed for latitude,' longi- 

 tude,^ and time observations, also observed contacts, directed the strik- 

 ing of signals by Mr. Little, and rendered other valuable services. 

 Mr. Putnam was assisted in recording contacts by Mr. Hoxie. R. C 

 Child, observing with a 6-inch telescope of T^ feet focus, made sketches 

 with special references to inner coronal detail, and was, in addition, 

 charged with all electrical circuits for chronograph and automatic 

 photographic apparatus. Father Woodman, with a 3|^-inch telescope, 

 observed contacts and made sketches. 



The lirst detachment, consisting of Messrs. Abbott, Fowle, Kramer 

 (instrument maker), and Smith (carpenter), reached Wadesboro May 

 4, and were soon joined by Messrs. Draper and Putnam. The latter 

 returned to Washington after a short but satisfactory latitude and 

 longitude campaign, reaching Wadesboro again just before the eclipse. 

 Other members of the party reached camp on and after the middle of 

 the month. The first comers found a very satisfactor}- shed already 

 erected and piers begun. Not a day passed, from the time of the arrival 

 of the apparatus. May 7, to the day before the eclipse, that was not 

 fully occupied in perfecting the arrangements. 



The most striking portion of the installation was the line beginning 

 at the northwest pier, with its equatorial and coelostat, continued from 

 thence south of east by the two great diverging tubes of the 135-foot 

 telescope and spectroscope. These tubes were covered with white 

 canvas, presenting the appearance of two immensely prolonged A tents, 

 ending beyond the photographic house, where the 38-foot telescope 

 tube pointed east and upward at an angle of 42^ with the horizon. 

 When the equatorial, with its large special conical-tube camera, with 



^ 34° 57' 52^' N. '^ 5" 20'» 17. 8« W. 



