The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-05-08

volcano gave tremendous roar; il was +,
like the crash of long line of artillery,
and was Instantly succeeded by such a
discharge of stones as we had never be-
fore seen: at the same moment the wind,
which was very high; gave an irregular
gust, which directed good part of the
stones towards where we were posted
our situation was for minute or two
very perilous, but there was no shelter
near, and we stood still, looking at the
descending shower which fell around us
we however happily sustained no other
injury than short alarm, and having
some ashes dashed in our faces by stones
which fell near US. Two or three gem
tfemen who were ascending the cone af-
ter us, were not quite SO fortunate, for
many of the stones falling outside of the
ridge, rolled down the side with great
velocity, loosening and carrying with
them Jumps of cold lava, Sc some of
which struck those persons on the legs
with great violence, and nearly precipi-
taled one of them headlong to the foot
Of the cone. After this, we thought we
had seen enough, and turned 10 go
down; the descent is as easy as the as
cent is difficult the cinders and the ash
es slide away beneath the feet; nothing
is necessary but to step ont (the quicker
the better) to keep ones equilibrium,
and to avoid the fixed or large stones
and pieces of lava. We were not more
than ten minutes in reaching the point,
whence it had taken Us an hour and a
half to mount. In coming down we
were struck with the strange appear
ance of the torches of companies ascend
lag and descending; they formeda pale
wavering line from Resina to the her.
mitage, and thence to the cone they
were scattered about in thick and fan
tastick groups. On reaching the her
mltage we found it SO crowded that we
couldnot enter; the large fat around was
covered like crowded fair by people
OF all natiens and Of all ranks from the
beautiful and accomplished Countess of
] FiquelmOnt, wife Of the Austrian Am
bassador, TO the Austrian sergeant and
his wife who had come to see, that blaz-
ing mountain. Numbers of people had
come from the towns and villages below
with bread and wine, and fruit and aqua.
| vita, all OF which articles seemed in very
great demand. The motley scene was
LIT by the sifvery moon, and the red tow
erlng tlames at the summit Of the volcano.
We took some slight refrcshment, and
repaired homewards in the midst of as
! gay groups as ever returned from scenes
OF festivity and joy. When we got low
er down, we found that the lava had ap-
preached very near to the road, and had
already seized upon fine vineyard.
which was blazing very brilliantly. AZ
Ter our retreat, we learned that the lava
traVersed the road. On Wednesday, the
! 9th, the eruption was in great meas
ure tranquillized; still, however, crowds
OF people continued going up the noun.
tam; and an Austrian officer, who had
come from Capua to see it, was unfor-
tunately killed on the ridge of the cone.
by large Stone striking him on his
head On Thursday scarcely any thing
but smoke issued from the crater, and it
has continued in this peaceful state ever
since.
The news of the eruption reaching
Roner induced crowds of Englishmen 10
set eH Immediately for Naples; on Sat-
urday and Sunday above 90 carriagesar-
rived here, where, to the no small NOR
LITIGATION of the travellers, all the bust
ness was finished.