American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-01-24
FROM LATE ENGLISH PAPER.
TERRIBLE ERUP1IONOF MOUNT YESUYILIS.
[Pn1vATE LETTER.

mentioned in my last that the volcano was in
great activity, and shall now endeavor to give you
ia slight description of the grandest eruption have
ever SEEM & except that of 1894, SO well described
by Sir William Hamilton, the graDdest that has
happened within the memory Of man.
Since the eruption Of February last, the mountain
with the exception OF few trhing discharges has
been very quiet; observed on Sunday evening that
| good deal OF fire was issuing from the top of the
cone, and that small stream of lava had been
thrown out; on Monday it seemed rather quiet, but
in the middle OF the night the people in eighbor-
hood were awakened by tremendous explosion,
and the volcano presented to their afrighted eyes,
! the spectacle OF an immense body of fire, arising
| high IN the air from the summit of the mountain,
and broad and an unusually rapid stream of lava
rushing down the hill towards Portici and Resina
The scene was so appalling that many people hur-
| ried into Naples, and orders given to remove
the most valuable objects from the Royal Palaces of
Portici and the Favorita.
| On Tuesday morning the mountain was enveop.
ed in smoke, and intermitng volleys were dischar-
ICED from the cone; but it was about two O'Clock
that 1t displayed the most wonderfu full picture; hap
lpened to be on the open terrace of Santa Lucia
Mare about that time; on sudden heard long
roar, like thunder, and saw body OF smoke Of i'm
mense volume rise from the crater; presently it
extended itself over the city and presented for some
minutes spectacle OF unparalleled GRANDEUR
spectacle OF which the pen can give no idea, and
which the boldest pencil would scarcely attempt to
lpourtray. All the mountain yelled with dark
grey smoke, and the atmosphere behind it was al
most black, but this body Of smoke was OF silver
white, and took the most beautiful forms. When
lit rose up from the cone, it had very much the f.
gure OF those curious pine trees, with long stems,
the branches OF which spring out from the summt
as it rolled over towards Naples, it was if such
thing may be supposed, like the pillows of the stor
my Atlantic Invested OF their fury and rapidity, but
preserved in their shapes. This extraordinary and
beautiful spectacle lasted for several mnutes the
smoke then spread itself in the atmosphere, and
soon veilec from my view all the opposite coast and
mountains. About four O'Clock rode some way
along the Portici road to observe the eruption; but
the smoke prevented my distinguishing any thing.
| met agreat number OF gentlemen's carriages COM
Iing In, tor at the beginning of the eruption nearly
all OF the Neapoan gentry were at their cassnl at
Portic Resina, and other places, round the moun-
tain, this being the of their uitleggiatnra.
II was not until night came on that felt all the
|subrny and terror of the scene; then indeed, the
Ieye saw mountain of fire under heaven of smoke.
The discharge from the crater did not for a
moment, and FIVE broad streams of lava rolled
down in different directions. The electricity con-
lmunioated by the volcano, produced, at every in
stan flashes OF brilliant and very peculiar lightning
land at times the electric fluid played low down the
leone, in the midst of the volcanic fire ard smoke.
1.-THE roaring of the mountain was heard distinctly in
i Naples, and many times the shock produced by its
violent throes was felt all the city The open
Iparts towards the sea we're crowded to excess the
Theatres were all deserted, and silent awe prevail
ied except when interrupted by the loud prayers
land cries of the lower orders, who seemed persuad
led that the hour of their destruction was fast APP
Iproaching. l was much struck with one circum-
ISL nee as was driving round Santa Lucia about
lnlne O'Clock; | passed numerous procession oil
Ipoor people, who were carrying an efigy OF the
S Virgin and few candles, and crying and sing
ing their prayers with deaening loudness Among
other expressions of grief and fear, heard them
y say more than once, All, this is because king
d has lett,us, not to come back any more
i set out about ten with the intention OF ascend
d ling the mountain as far as possible, a fine dus
(which had been falling the greater part of the day
had at this hour OF the day much increased, and was
very painful to the eyes. The immense quantity
of smoke had hid the streams of lava, and nothing
= was visible but the bursting fire of tie crater
whence proceeded the only light of the atmos
: phere; for the crescent moon and the stars were
concealed behind the dingy vapours the volcano hac
Is created On my road 10 Resna, | saw an immenst
number of poor families going towards Naples, hav
ing fed from their houses in the town of the Tore
Idel Greco, the village of Bosco, the town Of thu
Tore del knnunzato, &c. The mass of these an
. fortunate people Sere on 1901, and heavily laden
some as the richer the old and the sick, had go
caLessi little cars, horses and asses; of tn,
= groups were deploraole, and CONSERVATION was i'm
printed on the faces of all. Here and there aon,
the road saw troops OF poor wretches who hat
probably no place to go to either in Naples or il
any other part of the world crouchng round wooc
l. fires. When reached Porci, found other crowds
II wherever they had been permitted to stop; and thu
e portico of church near the royal palace, wa
ID strewed with men, women and children, huddet
e lpromiscuously together
au When began to ascend the mountain from Re
sna, the noise of the eruption was like the roaring