The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-17
Italian Correspondence Of the N. Y. Tribune.
A NIGHT-STORM ON yEsUVIUS.

ID the dark BEVERAGE OF HE'LL
Italian Correspondence Of the N. Y Tribune.
A NIGHT-STORM ON yEsUVIUS.
NAPLES, March 2, l349.
have visited yesuvirs twice. within few days
the first time with party and annoyed by crowd
of guides-ihe second with single companion and
In the night. picked my way BY the light OF I
torch the masses Of scorG, and followed stream
of lava from Its source, 1t poured slowly down IN,
side OF the mountain now scrambing along ridge
Of loose stones and ashes, which formed bank TWEEN
~ feet high, for the molten current; now actually
riding tho burning river at the rate at Least Of
mile per hour, and now picking my way over thir
crust and peepng through the cracks in the harden
ing stone at the glowing mixture below.
On the first occasion rode 10 the Hermitage
an ediice erected for the accommodation OF visitors
some two thirds of the distance to the crater win
ding road conducts you amid the vineyards and BY
the side of fearful ravines und from every turn
new and varied prospect Of the Bay and City Of Ma
PIES the islands and the shore. opens before yo1.
At the Hermitage, crowd OF miserable fellows offer
The visiler canes, donkeys and, less agreeable
still their own company and assistance up the
mountain. shook them Off and trusting TO good
stick and tried pair of legs, SET out on foot. The
region which succeeds is dasOate beyond expression
heaps OF scorin and ashes spread every side,
and not living thing shows itself among them. No
Phegethean fields could ever be so scorched or dcs-
0latc. After two or three miles amid this scenery,
you come TO the cone, where the real labor OF the
ascent commences. Ii is in a word scramble up
heap Of loose ashes, angle of some forty five
degrees, TO height Of thousand feet. small cone
sleeper than the first, rests upon comparative lew
el, and surrounds the mouth Of the Volcano, which
emiis constant stream Of smoke III u most apal-
ling and YET fascinating sigh 10 gaze Into the depths
Of the crater. You hear the Kissing and seething
below, and strain your eyes 10 find amid the rregu
lar cavities which appear on every side, some evil
dence OF the strange process when suddenly an i'm
mense column of smoke pours up, hides everything
from the view, and rolls away over the distant hills
while you back blinded with ashes choked with
nj mir rsatx IN tttVy
back and fec Tor life
Fdcs decenSus Artrno for it Is from Ayernus here.
The descent Is really pleasure; we bounded down
the steep declvl;y Ike goats apng at one bound ten
twenty feet in the loose ashes shouting like school
boys and exhilirated, either by the mountain air
the Lacryma Christi, ill We hardly knew whether
feet or head supported us-a mistake not uHpardon-
able when moving over surface inclined like the
cone Of Vesuvius.
My second visit was more full Of adventures. i
set out foot from my hotel and escaped from the
city after having been pursued, without exaggeration
for ut least mile and half by Two rival cabmen.
Since have been in Naples have learned TO think
New York hack drivers quiet and forbeuring. Here
at every step they call 10 a pedestrian, beckon
him, solicit his attention by most insnuating crack
Of their whips, and even sometimes drive directly
across his path. On this occasion my friend even
struck one Of the rascais with his cane. We threat
ened them. told Them we preferred TO walk without
any success; still they followed, crying "Signora,
Sgnora, carriage, carriage." At last the insulting
offer Of son. Tor drive of five miles, seemed TO
produce an effect, and they left us
At the foot OF the mountain we took some asses
While making our bargain, for one makes bargain
for everything In Nlples, even for an orange we
were surrounded by crowd of most ncfarous
wretches, cu-throas to man IL was nearly night,
and stipulated that only man should accom-
pnny US. As we crawled slowly up the hill at don
key pace, the night came on, tile moon was covered
with clouds, and met numbers of laborers return
ing from the vineyards. l was reminded of the evil
stories had heard Of the mountain, and OF the SOL
der who always ascends with party to guard them.
One man passed us and took path across the hills,
and no less than four fimes did guide attempt
make us turn from the beaten track into the noun
alns where we !elt sure there could be road bu,
we kept q good watch and trusting 10 our knowl-
edge OF the way, kept steadily At last 1t began
10 RAIN and our only resource we crept under a
gateway nni looked out the clouds, and wondered
what was coming next. But we reached the Her
mtage safey-nade our bargain for nights rest
on settee-provided bottle OF Lacryma Christa,
four eggs to roast upon the lava and after inscrbng
our names the album and drying ourselves before
the fire, we laid down To rest. Al O'Clock we set
out. Inc first part OF the walk WIS not little
gloomy. We picked our way through the barren re-
glon OF which spoke, over the scortie by the light
Of torch and alone; now losing the path, now
seeking for the trasks OF donkeys and men, which
the heavy shower had almost eiiaced. Once our
torch suddenly went out, and for moment, both
literally and hgura'vely, the prospect was gloomy
enough but we succeeded 10 fevlving Il and in re-
gaining the path after all our errors.
When we reached the other side OF the cone the
torch began 10 pale before the glow of the lava which
lighted up the sky and the heavy cloud of smoke
which rose and hung above like burning city The
whole scene was striking in tho extreme On one
side was the cone, dimly defined agains, the black
sky, It's summit concealed by heavy mass Of dark
clouds; the other the companion hill shutting ais
In; behind, the only sbIect visible was the distant
line of lights, along the shore, which marked the
city OF Naples; while before the ruddy glare of the
red hot lava lighted up the sky. Soon we stood by
the side Of the current tho orce where il first o.
enped from tho interior Of the mountain There IL
flowed slowly and steadily seeming to press up viii,
great force In current about ten feet wide, and
Judging from the vast quantity visible below where
the stream grew wider Is or 30 feet deep Although
liquid and flowing, IL was much harder that Ii APP
peared and heavy stones thrown upon II bounded Of
and rolled over the surface, remained AMI were
,ne central portion the highest, but IL ran severn
lnches above the rock through which II forced II.
way without flowing over IL, presenting the singular
spectacle Of current higher than its banks.
Hardly were we suitably placed to enjoy tho spec
tacle, when drops Of rain began 10 hiss and sputte
upon .he lava ana 10 strike upon our heads. There
cave md at last seated ourselves close N each
other by the side of perpendicular rock with ma
protection but a thin blouse, made ns merry M wa
could with our own mshaps. For time as.urr
you, Il was no laughing matter the rain came down
heavily; thick clouds covered the noun,nin above
and below MS /; and every minute or tv1 Ca, 4, =
were unfortunately on the leewari side II ,be layas
strong wind blew the heavy sulphurous smoke und
steam toward US, until we were well nigh sutocaied
and was not without few forebodinxs. Only isu
days before, the side OF the mountain had suddenly
burst opon and thrown ont now current Of lava
without any previous warning Why might II not dc
% again3 The roaring Of the wind asi whisted ove
The rock the Kissing Of the rain on The lava secmst