The plot of my
upcoming book, Mail Order Blythe, revolves (no pun intended) around a total
solar eclipse that took place in 1878.
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1878 Solar Eclipse
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A solar eclipse takes place when the moon
passes between the earth and the sun, temporarily obscuring the image of the
sun from the view of those on the earth, which creates either partial or total
darkness for a short period of time. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon’s
apparent diameter is larger than the sun’s and thus, for its duration, which is
normally two to three minutes, it blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the
earth. The areas on the earth where complete darkness occurs is called the path
of totality. In areas surrounding this path, the celestial event will appear as a
partial eclipse.
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Path of Totality - 1878 Solar Eclipse
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Not only was there a solar eclipse that would be seen on
the lower portion of the North American continent, but its seventy mile wide path of totality—the
time of total darkness created when the moon fully blocked out the sun except for a faint solar corona circling the dark orb visible—crossed
the dry, high altitude peaks and plains of the Rocky Mountains. The path started in
southwestern Canada, moved through Montana and Wyoming Territories, Colorado,
Texas and a bit of Louisiana, and ended on the western tip Hispaniola.
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Draper Expedition in Rawlins, Wyo., Edison second from right
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One of the most famous people of the day to come to Rawlins,
Wyoming to view the eclipse was Thomas Edison of Menlo Park, New Jersey. He
was thirty-one years old and already the world-renowned inventor the of
phonograph which he patented the previous year. In recognition of his
achievement, the national press called him “Professor Edison.” He traveled
to Rawlins with the Draper Expedition, which hired a special train passenger coach
for the journey. They stayed at the Railroad Hotel, a small inn that barely had
enough room to accommodate the expedition members.
While most scientists traveled to the expected path of
totality to view the eclipse, Thomas Edison joined the Draper Expedition which
traveled to Rawlins, Wyoming, for other reasons than the astronomers in the
party. He brought with him a device called a tasimeter. It was his intention to
test it by measuring the infrared heat that came from the sun before, during ,
and after the total eclipse.
Thomas Edison designed the tasimeter, or microtasimeter,
or measurer of infinitesimal pressure. It is a device to measure
infrared radiation. At that time, other American scientists in addition to Mr.
Edison needed a highly sensitive instrument that could be used to measure
minute temperature changes in heat emitted from the Sun's corona during the
total solar eclipse.
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Tasimeter invented by Thomas Edison
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In 1878 great advances were being made in electric arc
lighting. Although he had not done so yet, Edison already declared to the press he
was inventing the incandescent light bulb, a safe, mild, and inexpensive
electric light that would replace the gaslight.
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Another view of the Tasimeter
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During the solar eclipse expedition which Edison
accompanied, the men discussed the practicality of subdividing the
intense arc lights so that electricity could be used for lighting in the same
fashion as with small, individual gas burners. The basic problem seemed to be
to keep the burner, or bulb, from being consumed by preventing it from
overheating. Edison thought he would be able to solve this by fashioning a
microtasimeter-like device to control the current.
Edison decided not to patent the device. He felt it was only
of interest to scientists. That allowed companies in London and Philadelphia to
manufacture tasimeters royalty-free. The scientists who tested it found it too
erratic to be of use for quantitative measurement purposes. The device was soon
abandoned.
However, Thomas Edison knew none of this at the time he
traveled to Wyoming to test the device. While the astronomers and other
scientists—and the newspapermen who trailed them—climbed to the heights surrounding
Rawlins for an unobstructed view of the eclipse, Thomas Edison sought refuge
from outside sources of heat and infrared radiation in a chicken coop on the
hotel property.
Does my retelling of this story involving Thomas Edison in
which I insert my heroine, Blythe Greenly, move my plot and romance forward?
No. For some writers, they would declare this unnecessary fluff, a chapter that
should be cut. However, I wrote it and added it for my own amusement and,
hopefully, the entertainment of my readers. Like Nancy, a secondary character
in the book says to her boss during the other scene involving
Thomas Edison, “I know, sir, but this is too good to miss.”
Here is the chapter for your reading pleasure:
Blythe could
feel the vibration of excitement that coursed through Rawlins as if it were a
living, breathing being. Just as dawn broke, Eli and his friends left that
morning to claim the spot on Mount Rawlins they chose for viewing the eclipse.
She knew others chose places along the parallel narrow range that included
Mount Cherokee.
The members of the Draper expedition
had spent the previous ten days surveying the surrounding countryside to
determine the best place to set up their telescopes and cameras. Like Eli’s
friend, Dr. Poechet, one member also brought the most advanced camera to date
so he could photograph the eclipse when it reached total darkness. Even the
townspeople who had no particular interest in the science behind astronomy
waited anxiously for the event that would throw their world into total darkness
during the middle of the afternoon. After frequent warnings to look through a piece
of smoked glass instead of directly at the sun, many town residents had
prepared so they could stop work long enough to witness the spectacle.
Starting the day after the
expedition arrived, Mr. Draper arranged for a photograph to be taken of all the
members of the party in the fairly open lot next to the hotel. There they were
able to set up the telescopes they would be using for their research. Then, all
of them, dressed in their best, lined up against the wooden fence.
Taking care to stay unobserved that
day, Blythe peeked over the fence at the scene. She smiled at the thought that,
between the clothesline, the chicken coop, and the pair of necessaries in the
yard where she worked, such a photograph behind the hotel would not have been
desirable.
Today was a different matter. The
telescopes were now scattered on the hills behind the town so that they could
capture the event unimpeded by trees or buildings. The two wives waited
anxiously in the hotel lobby for the arrival of someone to transport them to
the site where their husbands had labored to get everything ready. Even Mr.
Fox, the newspaperman, followed the crowd out of town. The only one who
remained close by was Thomas Edison.
Blythe found him outside wandering
around the yard. Upon seeing her, he strode toward her and pointed at the
portion of the yard fenced in by chicken wire. “Do these chickens stay outside
during the day?”
Her lips parted, Blythe’s gaze
scanned the fenced-in portion of the yard full of chickens. “I believe so. Frankly,
I’m not well-versed on their habits.”
Inside the wood fence to the north
that separated the hotel property from its neighbor, the other three sides and
top were constructed of a wood framework covered with chicken wire. A chicken
coop, where she knew the fowls entered to spend the night, took up almost an
eighth of the space. Nancy had taken her inside the hutch—twice—to
show her the nests where the hens roosted and how to gather eggs. However,
after living in the city all her life, the entire process of caring for
chickens and collecting eggs struck her as being alien and uncomfortable. She
encouraged Nancy to do the feeding and egg-gathering while she stayed outside
the wire fence and washed the outside of the egg shells before taking them in
to Mary.
“Hmm.” Edison unlatched to gate and entered the chicken
run.
“Be sure to close the gate behind you, sir. And watch
where you step. Chickens have a way of…ah…”
“I see what you mean.” Edison bent one knee and twisted
his ankle to inspect the sole of his shoe. With lips pursed, he shook his head.
Tip-toeing gingerly across the short distance to the chicken coop entry, he
stuck his head inside and twisted his neck side to side. He brought his head
outside once more and stood up straight. After he stepped several feet away, he
inhaled deeply. “It is definitely aromatic in there, but no chickens.”
“No, sir. Miss Howard says we don’t have any setting
hens, so in the daytime, all the chickens spend as much time as they can
outside.”
“This will do. I’ll watch the eclipse from in here.”
Blythe wrinkled her forehead and she canted her head.
“Would you not wish to be out in the open so you can see the full effect, Mr.
Edison?” Those of us at the hotel, upon hearing where in the sky the eclipse is
expected to take place, have been searching for the best spot to view it. Mrs.
Hayes said we also want to be able to see as much of the sky surrounding the
sun and moon as possible. It should be a wonderful celestial display.”
“I appreciate that, to the average man and woman, it is a
marvelous spectacle worth seeing, Mrs. Greenly.” His hands on his hips, Edison
looked off to his side, and then he returned his gaze to her. “However, as a
scientist, for me, this is a rare opportunity to test the capacity of the
tasimeter I invented. Depending on how sensitive this instrument proves to be
in measuring the infrared radiation coming off the sun before, during, and
after the eclipse, this experiment will determine how useful it will be as I
invent my incandescent light globe. Therefore, I need to eliminate, to the
greatest degree possible, outside heat sources, such as direct sunlight on the
instrument. I also need to stay away from heat coming off of living bodies and
heat-generating fuels, such as a kitchen stove. The empty chicken coop appears
to be my best option. I’ll be able to see the eclipse and take my readings from
inside while standing in the shade.”
“I see.” Except, Blythe did not really understand
everything he spoke about, especially something he called an incandescent light
globe. “The eclipse will take place in the heat of the day, so I imagine there
is that you must take into account—”
“And mitigate as much as possible. You are picking up on
this rather quickly, Mrs. Greenly.”
“Oh…um, thank you.” In response to the praise, Blythe
felt heat rise in her face. “I believe it is a good thing Miss Howard cleaned
out the coop this morning. She tells me the waste from the chickens creates
heat, which is why she turns it over in soil not currently planted so it will not
burn the roots of those vegetables that are growing.”
Edison, his eyebrows raised and an expression of disgust
on his face, turned and placed his hands on either side of the doorjamb to the
coop. He stuck his head inside. After he briefly studied the interior a second
time, he again stepped away and turned to Blythe. “That is a clean coop?”
“Yes, sir. If there is anything I can do to help you get
ready, Mr. Edison, please let me know.”
“No. I think I’ll leave my feathered friends behind until
the eclipse is ready to begin.” He kicked out with one foot to dislodge a hen
that sat on top of it. The motion sent the bird squawking and flapping her
wings as she scurried several feet away. He turned to face Blythe. “Perhaps, if
you have cool water available, that would be appreciated.”
“Of course, sir. I’ll bring a cup out to you. Either
that, or I can meet you in the lobby.
However, before you come into the building, please wipe your feet really well
first.”
“Make it the lobby, please. You may be sure I’ll clean my
shoes thoroughly. I have no desire to track this into my room. After I drink my
water, I’ll make sure all is ready with my equipment.”
After serving Mr. Edison his cup of water, Blythe
returned to the kitchen to find an ecstatic Nancy and a pursed-lipped
Mary—hands on her hips—facing each other.
“Please, Mrs. Hayes, just this one time.” Her fingers
interlaced and held before her in an attitude of begging, Nancy leaned toward
Mary. “I know it is a weekday and a workday, but it’s also a special day like
no other we’ve ever known. Herbert—I mean, Mr. Walker—said he made a special
trip all the way into town so, for the rest of our lives, he could say that he
saw the eclipse while standing at my side. Blythe and I have already emptied
slop jars and refilled the water ewers in all the rooms. I promise I’ll be back
in time to help with supper and take care of the chickens.”
Mary rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh. “All right,
Nancy. Go spend the afternoon with your young man.” She raised a finger and
wagged it. “But, no shenanigans with him. I don’t want rumors of anything
improper getting back to me and people warning me I’ve hired the wrong kind of
woman.”
“Maybe one kiss, Mrs. Hayes.” Nancy held up her forefinger
and demurely batted her eyes. “I’ve been hoping for weeks that he’ll kiss me.
But I promise, other than that, I’ll see that we behave.”
Mary rolled her eyes. “All right. One kiss. Go view the
eclipse with your sweetheart.” She made a shooing motion with her hands, and then
stopped. “Wait! You do have your smoked glass with you, don’t you?”
“I sure do.” A wide grin on her face and with eyes that appeared
to sparkle, Nancy pulled an irregularly-shaped piece of smoked glass from her
pocket. “I’ll see everyone later.” She again tucked the glass in her pocket as
she spun around and almost ran out the back door.
Several hours later, a spirit of anticipation still in
the air, people had settled into wherever they selected to view the eclipse.
For most businessmen in Rawlins, they continued working as the sky grew darker.
The few Blythe had overheard while sweeping the boardwalk in front of the hotel
or while shopping at the mercantile indicated they intended to step outside
their places of work long enough to view the darkened sun for a few minutes
before they returned to their labors.
Fortunately, the Hayes’ had decided that, with all their
present guests long gone and busy with viewing the eclipse and recording
whatever findings they found important, it offered all who worked at the hotel
the opportunity to take an hour or so away from their usual tasks to view the
entire eclipse. The couple chose to view it from the street in front of their
hotel so they could visit with fellow business owners on the block, as well as
be available in case a potential customer approached.
On the other hand, Blythe chose to view the eclipse from
the alley behind the building. She found a spot away from the clothesline,
chicken coop, garden, and necessaries where, from peeking through her lashes at
the daytime sky, she could tell she would be able to see the overhead sun about
the time the eclipse began.
Shifting from one foot to the other, Blythe waited
impatiently for the eclipse to begin. Unable to see the moon in the light of
day, she had no idea how close its position was to the sun. She repeatedly
closed her left eye and held her smoked glass over her right for several
seconds. She sucked in a breath when, finally, she saw a thin crescent block
out one edge of the sun. The eclipse had started.
Blythe kept her eyes on the ground, noting the gradual
darkening. Periodically, she raised her glass to see how much of the sun was
covered by the dark globe. Before long, the sky grew as dark as dusk. She
watched in awe as stars appeared, as if they celebrated the meeting of the two
celestial bodies that dominated earth’s skies. I wish Eli were here to see this with me. Then again, she knew Eli,
along with Prof. Sewell and Dr. Poechet, had traveled to the mountains west of
Rawlins where they had set up their telescopes and a base camp to observe and
record their findings. She recently learned the bulky black case Dr. Poechet
carried onto the train and babied during the trip west was a camera. He had
taken photographs of the region and planned to take some of the sun and moon
during the eclipse.
Blythe immediately felt a stab of guilt. Why did I wish for Eli Morgan, and not Sgt.
McGilvey, to be here? She tightened her lips. Deep down inside, she knew
why, even though she had been forcing herself to avoid thinking about the
matter. It had taken two weeks for her letters to turn around between Chicago
and Ft. Steele. Now she was in Rawlins, Ft. Steele was only thirteen miles to
the east. She sent her letter informing him of her current location over a week
ago, but she had yet to hear from him.
Then there was the other issue she dared not look at too
closely, especially considering her plans to marry the sergeant. She felt drawn
to Eli. Even after months of correspondence, she never developed those feelings
about the sergeant. She knew deep inside her, she wished it was Eli, not Sgt.
Peter McGilvey
she had agreed to marry. How wrong it was of her to be committed to one man but
yearn for another. Yet, she found it difficult to control what her heart
wanted.
A male shout of annoyance followed by an indignant squawk
from at least one chicken prompted Blythe to turn toward the chicken coop. “Mr.
Edison, is everything all right?”
“No, everything is not all right! Somebody get these
chickens out of here.” Thomas Edison’s demand rang across the yard.
“I’m coming, sir.” Blinded by the darkness akin to that
of a night with a new moon, Blythe carefully stepped in the direction of the
voice. She raised her arm to be sure she did not strangle herself by running
into the clothesline. Once her forearm made contact with a length of rope, she
paused long enough to turn around and raise her smoked glass to watch the progress
of the eclipse. She sucked in a breath at the sight of the blackened sphere
surrounded by a glimmering circle of light. The eclipse was total, and in her
lifetime, she had been able to see it.
“Get away from my tasimeter, you blasted fowl!”
Edison’s voice snapped Blythe’s attention back to the
struggling scientist. Using her free hand, she followed the line to the pole to
which it was attached. Using the two as a guide, she faced the direction she
must walk in order to reach the chicken run. Her hand outstretched once more,
she carefully stepped forward until she felt chicken wire give beneath her
palm. “I’m almost there, Mr. Edison.”
“I can’t believe this is happening. Off! I am not here
for you to roost upon.”
A new series of squawks and clucks assaulted Blythe’s
ears. Allowing her hands to guide her along the outside of the wire fence, she
sidestepped and rounded the corner until she reached the gate that opened into
the chicken run. After entering, she latched the gate behind her and turned toward
Edison’s voice. “Sir, I’m almost there.”
“What are you doing here?” A note of panic entered
Edison’s voice.
“As you requested, I came to help you with the chickens.”
Blythe bit back the frustration beginning to rise within her. What is the matter with this man?
“No! Stay away. If I asked for help, it was a figure of
speech. The heat coming off the bodies of these chickens is bad enough. No
offense, Mrs. Greenly, but you have a larger physical mass than these hens. The
heat radiating from you will throw off my readings even more.”
“All right, sir, I’ll wait right here. I don’t see
anything that looks like it could be a chicken moving around outside the
building. I can do nothing to help you with the ones inside if I must stay
outside the coop.”
“No, I doubt there are any outside. They’re all in here
with me.” Edison’s voice dripped with acid. “Just stay where you are, Mrs.
Greenly. If possible, please move so you are nowhere in front of the door to
the coop.”
“Yes, sir.” With her hand held behind her, Blythe stepped
backed until her fingers encountered the chicken wire. From there she
side-stepped away from the opening to the coop.
Sensing a smidgen of light now filled the sky, Blythe
raised her glass once more toward the eclipse. With a sinking heart, she
realized the moon had crossed the sun and it now began its journey away. Soon
it would disappear in the daytime sky until later tonight after the sun sank
below the horizon. And, here I am, stuck
in a chicken run. She decided to stay where she was until it was light
enough to see what was below her feet.
Several minutes later, Thomas Edison, with a piece of
equipment tucked beneath his arm, emerged from the chicken coop. “Waste of
time. All this money and effort spent, and my experiment was ruined by a bunch
of chickens.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Edison.” Light enough that Blythe could
faintly see the ground, she carefully walked toward him. “You were unable to
get the readings you wanted?”
Grim-faced, Edison shook his head. “I was fouled by all
these fowl. They kept getting in my way. I’m pretty sure most of the heat
signatures I picked up came from the chickens, not the rays of the sun.” He
narrowed his gaze at her. “Why didn’t you warn me chickens would do that?”
Her lips parted, Blythe shrugged her shoulders. “I had no
idea. I was raised in Chicago. We didn’t have chickens.”
“Chicago, huh? That explains your accent.”
Blythe blinked. I
was unaware I had an accent. “I guess, when it got dark, they thought night
was coming on and it was time for them to find a place to roost.” She forced
herself not to laugh as she noticed two chicken feathers sticking up in his
hair. Without thinking, she reached forward and, without touching him, plucked
one feather from the side of his head.
Edison jerked his head away. “What was that all about?”
Blythe held up the feather. Even in the light which had
not returned to its full strength, the white fluff almost glowed. “I didn’t
think you wanted others to see you wearing that. In fact, there is another one
on top of your head, if you’ll allow me—”
“I’ll get it.” Edison rubbed his hair until his hand came
away holding the other feather. He glanced down at his dark clothing and shook
his head. “It appears my hair is not the only part of me that had acquired
feathers. I need to return to my room and give my suit a good brushing. Then
again, if it is only feathers that ended up on my clothes…”
“I’m sorry, but
there’s more. On your left sleeve, you have a spot of…um…it came from one of
chickens. There’s another streak on your…” Knowing it was impolite to speak of
a man’s trousers in mixed company, she pointed at his pants leg and waggled her
pointer finger. “That’s all I can see for now. If you’d like, I can bring a
damp rag and a brush so you can repair your clothing before the others return.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Greenly. I have my own clothes brush and
soap. However, the damp rag will be appreciated. If you’ll excuse me, I’m
headed for my room.”
“And, Mr. Edison—”
“I know, I know!” Without turning to face her, Edison waved
his arm as he made his way out of the chicken run. “Watch where I step and wipe
my feet extremely well before I enter the hotel.”
Mail
Order Blythe, Book 8 in the Secret Baby Dilemma series, is
currently on preorder and will be released March 19, 2021. To read the book
description and find the purchase link, please CLICK HERE.
Sources:
Wikipedia:
Tasimeter, Thomas Edison, 1878 Solar Eclipse
https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/edison-light-bulb-and-eclipse-1878
