ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19676, 30 June 1927, Page 9

ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

EXCITEMENT IN ENGLAND. BUSH TO VANTAGE POINTS. UNIQUE PREPARATIONS MADE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received June 29. 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, June 28. The township of Giggleswick, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, is overcrowded by strangers wearing smoked glasses and carrying blankets, who desire to witness the eclipse of. the sun tomorrow. Even the summit of Mount Snowden is crowded. Trains, motor-cars and char-a-bancs have streamed endlessly to various vantage points. Nearly 50,000 people travelled by 120 special trains from London and seven aeroplanes have flown from Croydon. The scene last evening in the township was akin to that of a bank holiday. Dancing went on until sunrise to-day at hotels, in halls, and even in the streets. Early this morning the cinema theatres were open and there were midnight picnics and campfires and all the fun of countless fairs. The Prince of Wales made a special journey by motor-car for the purpose of viewing tho eclipse. Elaborate preparations are being yade in London, where the eclipse will be 96 per cent, of totality. All the parks a£e to be opened early to-morrow morning and West End parties are to extend throughout the night. WEATHER UNSUITABLE. RUSH OF ENTHUSIASTS. PRINCE OF WALES LEADS. (Received Juno 30, 1.15 &.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, June 29. Observers of the eclipse were disappointed, as the weather at the time was overcast and it was raining. The Prince of Wales, who was in Westmoreland this morning, led the rush made by half a million eclipse enthusiasts who made for the totality belt. Twenty thousand persons went from London alone. Hundreds of them spent last night in climbing Mount Snowden. Two hundred motor-cars were parked halfway up the mountain. Other people used the mountain railway which was working throughout the night. London residents arranged for an early rising, after making preparations which placed alarm-clocks and screened glasses at heavy premiums. There was special demand for tickets for Blackpool Tower, which is 500 ft. high. A few members of a north country society of religious zealots improved the occasion by uttering lurid warnings about the last judgment and reciting passages from the Revelation of St. John in reference to the opening of the Sixth Seal.

In anticipation of yesterday's solar ecflpse ari English journal stated recently:—Early on the morning of June 29 the sun will be completely hidden by the moon for the first time in this country for over two centuries. It is an event of considerable scientific and popular interest. Not only are astronomers organising observing parties to visit the area m which the eclipse will be total, but large numbers of holiday-makers are booking accommodation in the same districts.

The shadow path, or track of totality, may be taken to be about 30 miles in width. Its northern limit stretches from the extreme southern part of Anglesey to just above Fleetwood, and then right across tiie North Country to the southern outskirts of Sunderland. On the south, the boundary of the totality track extends from a few miles north of Barmouth, on the coast of Wales, to the south-western suburbs of Liverpool, and across England to about three miles south of Saltburn, on the Yorkshire coast. Within these two boundaries the sun will he seen totally eclipsed. For how long ? That depends upon the observer's, position in the area. If. for instance, he is stationed on or close to a line running from Criccieth, on the Welsh Coast, to Hartlepool, on the Durham Coast, he will set}, the sun totally eclipsed for about. 23 to 25 seconds. If he is situated a few miles north or south of that line, the total eclipse will last only 10 or 12 seconds, and if the station is just within the northern or southern boundary of the shadow path there will be only a second or two of totality. The totality area is called the shadow path because the eclipsed sun casts the shadow of the interposing moon on the earth. The blackness will sweep over the countryside nt a tremendous rate, as those who are stationed on ground will .be able to see for themselves Naturally, the near neighbourhood of the central lino from Criccieth to Hartlepool will be specially favoured by holidaymakers. It runs through an interesting expanse of country. Close to Hartlepool there is Seaton Oarew, with old-time villages like Elwick, Hart, Greatham, and Wolviston not far away. " Darlington, the Quaker town, is almost on the centre line, and so is its neighbour. Croft. Picturesque "Richmond is right on the line and will have 24 seconds of totality. Then, farther south-west still, there are thoso delightful spots so attractive to lovers of Wensleydale, to wit, Leyburn, Middleham, Redmire, Carperby, Wensley, Bellerbv, Aysgarth, all bordering on the 23 or 24 seconds totality line. Settle and Giggleswick arc on or very near the centre line. Durham City is just inside the northern boundary of the shadow path, and Morecambe 'is just outside it. Lancaster, Bishop Auckland, and Barnard Castle are nicely within. Stockton, Middlesbrough, Stokesley, Guisborough. Northallerton, Catteriek, Yarm, Blackburn, Clitheroe, Darwen, Chorlev, Ormskirk, Preston, Accrington, and Skioton are all in the totality area. Pateley "Bridge is just within the southern limit, but Ripon misses totality by a few miles. The great event is to happen shortly before half-past six in the morning. Given favourable weather, it will present the most wonderful sky picture ever seen in this country bv anyone now living. 'The reference in the message to the opening of the. Sixth Seal is explained by the following extract from the sixth chapter of the Revelation of St. John: — ' And 1 beheld when He (the Lamb) had opened the Sixth Seal, and lo there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair and the moon became as blood. And the stars of heaven fell into the earth even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men. and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains'; and said to the mountains and locks, 'fall on us and hido VP from the face of Him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.' For the'great day of His wrath is come? aad who shall be able to stand/'