Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-03-27

towns Oh foTllCl, heSIud, AUTO uSi vic
CO, Tore dell Annunziata, sc. situated
on the bottom of mountain on the side OF
NapIes, as we'll as all the inhabitants on
the other side Of the mountain, sought
refuge in the city. The Court has eau
sed all tie valuable effects Of the Palaces
of potici and Xesina to be removed -
they have likewise ordered relief to be
given TO the poor who have left their
homes. The whole day, yeterday, was
passed in CONSERVATION the mountain
did not emit much fire but a prOdigious
quantity Of ashes the shower ceased at
Naples last night, but they still coatin-
ue to be thrown up by the mountain
We have not seen the sun since the day
before yesterday, the sky being still Oh
scared b. the ashes canied about by the
vinf. T.e theatre will be closed this
evening. Yesterday the professions
commenced in honour Of st. Janurlus
The ashes prevent all communication at
the foot of tie mountain, for In some
places they are six feet deep; they might
BE- compared TO snow, if they did not
cause such an intolcrable dust We
hope soon TO be freed from this scurge,
for no one who Is net witness OF tie
disaster can conceive the terror which 1t
inspires
''Happlly we have not had any earth
quake but our fears are not yet dispei.
led. | send with this letter some Of the
ashes which fell at Naples and which |
picked up in Ky own house These
ashes are an almost impalpable powder
of bright violet c0lur the dust is very
hard, and when spread upon leather Il
penknifc may be sharpened upon it; we
may Suppose it to be Of the nature oil the
pumice stone"
"NApLEs, Nov. 5. 1922.
"rhe eruption OF Vesuvius, of which
! / before wrote, has been one OF the most
f; striking aud remarkable On record. 1t
much resembIed Out on smaller scaie)
that of the year 70, Of our era; aud We
Shave experienced part OF what Is rela-
> ted by Pliny the younger.
GOA the evening of the date of my
Z last letter the fury of the volcano ap
peared to be considerably increased /;
the torrents of lava burst forth in all di-
rections. Towards ii O'Clock the APP
Apearance was terrible ! an enormouse
: column of black ashes rose from the era
Ter, in the form OF cone, to an extraor-
binary height the iightnings darted
from the mouth of Vesuvius traversi ing
the immense clouds of ashes in all direc
tons; and in infinite ramihcations. Is
ssuing;thence, they s. ruCk the sides OF the
mountain, or the surface of tie sea |
cannot give you better idea of the sur
prisipg effect, than by comparing it with
sparkling magic picture. exhibited i'll
electrical experiments. The cloud was
really gigantic work of this kind being
composed Of volcanic and floating in the
air. Every thing passed in the same
manner, except that this magic picture
was several miles in extent. Wien
there was superllu.ty OF electrical fluid,
it discharged with a great noise; where
AS the currents of electricity, which eros
esed it in every direction. did not occa
:sion any sensible defamation The con-
ssternation was general the inhabitants
of Tore del Greco, Annunziata, Bosco !
ire Case, and Ottajano precipitately for
:sook their dwellings,. Day light came,
tbut all the environs OF Nesuvius were
involved in darkness. The shower of
ashes carried by the wind was scattered
to a great distance. At Naples no one
could 90 out without an umbrella to keep
of the coarser ashes. The appearance
OF the city was most moar nfuI. and the |
news We received from the places threa-
tened was very alarming. The furni |
ture of the Royal Palaces of Portici and
of the Favourite was removed with the
utmost speed and four or FIVE thousand |
iugitiyes, who had fed TO the city, in
creased the alarm. The professions
marched through the streets; the chur-
ehes were filled with supplicauts, who
implored all the Saints to put an end to
this calamity.
Sat length the lava stopped in its
progress. 1t has done but little mischief,
having only covered ancient currents
proceeding from various preceding
eruption but the shower of volcanic |
substances and ashes has caused, and
still occasions incalculabIe damage. All
the country is covered with them, and
the communications are interrupted In
many places they have fallen to the depth
OF five or six feet, and Pompeii is, as it
were again buried as it was in the year
70
81 have collected several pounds of
these ashes, which fell in my balcony
I ey are of reddish brown in the begin
ming then whitish. The first appeared to !