P ' OBSERVATIONS OS THE ECLIPSE. 



For several weeks prior to to-day there had not been a day suitable for ob- 

 servation at this place. Many mornings dawned beautifully clear, but towards 

 noon, with provoking regularity, billows of cumulous clouds rolled down from 

 the mountains and hovered over our fair city like birds of ill omen, reducing 

 zero the hopes of astronomers, rousing the ire of many of our citizens and excu. 

 the anxieties of all. But, despite the unpromising days preceding, to-day has 

 proved all that could be desired, being absolutely free from clouds up to one 

 o'clock p. m., and substantially so throughout the entire day. The only clouds to 

 be seen were a few light ones of the cirrus and cumulous orders that hung nearly 

 stationary about the snowy range, causing little if any uneasiness. During the 

 afternoon a cool breeze blew steadily from the southeast with just enough force to 

 refresh without interfering with careful observation. 



The eclipse has been the almost exclusive theme of conversation in Colorado 

 for many days. The masses at last seem to be gaining an inkling of the true im- 

 port of such an event, for cheering interest was manifested on every hand by in- 

 telligent remarks, enthusiastic preparation for observation and sincere wishes 

 for success. It seems that intelligent interest in phenomena of this class is surely 

 becoming more general — a fact full of encouragement for our astronomers. 



In seasonable time, armed with a refractor three inches in aperture and ac- 

 companied by an assistant, we repaired to "Capitol Hill" to join the party of 

 Prof. W. E. Lyford (Professor of Physics in Colby University). Putting every- 

 thing in readiness we waited expectantly for the eclipse to begin. The Signal 

 Service telegraphed that the time of first contact would be 2:16, Denver time. 

 Some one fond of a joke posted a notice in the post office (purporting to be the 

 latest " official" from the Signal Service) to the effect that the moon had been de- 

 layed three hours by a " washout on one of the railroads. Although not detained 

 by a " washout," the moon certainly was about three and one-half minutes behind 

 the Signal Service time, during which delay we strained our eyes most painfully, 

 watching to note the second of first contact, which did not occur until 2:19.31, 

 p. m., Denver time. Profs. Lyford and Colbert (of the Colby and Chicago Uni- 

 versities, respectively) each computed the time of commencement and agreed in 

 making it 2:19.20, a much nearer approximation; in fact, within 11 seconds of the 

 actual observed time. After noting the time and point of first contact, we con- 

 cluded to prepare our eyes for effective work during the all-important totality, by 

 resting and looking about us. To the south was the Princeton party under Prof. 

 Young; to the west the Chicago party in charge of Profs. Colbert, Hough and 

 Swift ; to the north and northwest were several parties, the more noted of whom 

 were the party sent out by the Chicago Times, under Prof. Burnham ; the party 

 from Woodstock University, under Father Sistini; and the Vassar party, in charge 

 of Miss Maria Mitchell. As the light diminished, objects, from persons standing 

 near, to the city with its roofs covered by observers, and beyond to the deceptive 

 foot-hills and fickle mountains, everything, appeared gloomy, weird and unnatu- 

 ral. As the time of totality drew near all eyes were turned in the direction of 

 Long's Peak to note the approach of the eclipse shadow. The mountain was al- 



