378 
SIR NORMAN LOCKYER AND OTHERS 
Santa Pola lies very near the central line of the eclij^ise, and good anchorage was 
available, protected from the North and West winds. 
Before leaving England, I communicated with Professor Fraxcisco Ixiguez e 
Iniouez, Director of the Madrid Observatory, and Mr. Jasper W. CuMiNriXG, 
H.M. Vice-Consul at Alicante. These gentlemen, together with Dox Jose Eoxmati 
Mas, a large landed proprietoi', and father of the Mayor of Santa Pola, very kindlv 
made all tlie necessary preliminary arrangements with the local authorities, who had 
also been instructed 1)y the Spanish Government, after representations had been 
made by the Foreign Office, at the request of the Royal Society. 
As a result of the Ptoyal Society’s application to the Admiralty, H.M.S. “ Theseus,” 
commanded by Captain V. A. Tisdale, R.N., was told off to meet the expedition at 
Gibraltar, and convey the observers to Santa Pola. 
The expedition consisted at first of Dr. W. J. S. Lockyer, from the Solar Physics 
Observatory; Mr. A. Fowler, the Demonstrator in Astronomical Physics, from the 
Royal College of Science; and Mr. Howard Payx, who joined a.s a volunteer. I 
subsequently received orders to accompany and take charge of it. 
As the interval between the arrival of the expedition a,t Santa Pola and the day of 
the eclipse was somewhat short, owing to the dates of sailing of the Orient Line 
steamers to Giliraltar l)eing once a fortnight, it was considered desirable that some¬ 
one should go on in advance to select a site for the camp and arrange matters 
generally with the local authorities, and also find the necessary accommodation for 
the party. 
Mr. Payx therefore proceeded to Alicante overland, and on his arrival j)laced 
himself in communication with Mr. Jasper W. Cummixg, the British Vice-Consul, 
who had previously been apprised of his mission. Mr. Cummixg afforded every 
assistance in his poAver. 
From Santa Pola, a small seaside town of about 5000 inhabitants, the shore 
stretches away nearly due west for many miles in a flat sandy plain covered with low 
scruli, the open sea being to the south. 
After a very cordial welcome l.y the Mayor, Mr. Payx Avent over the sites Avhich 
had previously been offered for the use of the expedition through the Vice-Consul, 
and finally selected a spot on the open shore about half a mile Avest of the toAvu. 
The reasons for the selection of the site Avere that the south and Avest horizons 
AAnre unobstructed ; that the ground Avas slightly higher in eleAurtion, and consequently 
drier ; that it Avas at a sufficient distance from the toAvn to be Avell clear of the houses 
and their surrcAundiiigs ; tliat it Avas close to a large bathing establishment built on 
piles in the sea, Avhich could l)e used as a lauding place for boats from the ship and so 
avoid the toAvii pier (Avhich Avas some distance UAAny) ; and also because there Avas a 
coast-guard post on the spot, and the men stationed there could keep an eye on the 
camp until the arrival of the civil guards promised Iw the authorities. 
With the assistance of the municipal authorities, Mr. Payx Avas enabled to make 
