Magner White

“ Today, white successors to the Indians gazed from housetops, landpoints and from airplanes at the sight. Some, calm in the meager knowledge of science, were unafraid; others trembled like the Indians of old as the earth's satellite blotted out the sun, leaving only its pearly corona flashing through the blackness like a halo in the sky. ”

“ The Indians of Pala in 1806 and we mental aborigines of 1923 are all together as much less than nothing before this sight of the heavens—and yet it is nothing in the universe. The burning of vast stars, such as the giant sun that exploded last winter and consumed itself in a space thousands of times greater than our entire solar system, was a greater characteristic of the magnitude of the universe than is this temporary darkening of a small strip of our planet. ”

“ A tiny streak shoots out from behind the blot—a solar prominence. A scientist tells us that "tiny streak" is 80,000 miles long! Blazing and glowing at a heat beyond human imagination. It is a real hell fire. ”

“ The saloons have no customers during this sample of absolute night. Painted women stand in their doorways and look out on the heavens for the first time, perhaps, in years with wondering minds. Before the spectacle they are moved inwardly with misgivings. ”

“ Clouds and fog of the early morning added 500 per cent to the inky depth of the shadow. Whatever was lost to science by the meanness of weather conditions was gained in impressiveness for the lay spectator. ”

“ Smoked glasses and exposed films by the thousands were turned toward the phenomenon. Scientists strained every eye nerve, keenly aware of the tremendous possibilities for discovery that attended the fleeting moments. ”