The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-05-26
MISCELLANY.
A Night Storm on Vesuvius.


The Ascent of the .Mountain-A Snoac
Storm on the Rirer of Fire-Its Pande-
,nonium appearance-Ns Dangers-Ihe
Overwhelming Breakfd &c.
A correspondent of the New York Tri-
bune under date of March Cd, relates the
interesting details of his visit to the burning
crater of Vesuvius:
At the foot of the mountain we took some
asses. While making our bargain, for one
makes bargain for everything in Naples,
even for an orange, we were surrounded by
a crowd Of most Befarious wretches, cut
throats, to man. 1t was nearly night, and
| stipulated that only one man should ac-
company US. AS we crawied slowly up
he hill, at a donkey pace, toe night came
on, the moon was covered with clouds,
and we met numbers of laborers returning
rom the whey ards. | was reminded of the
evil stories | had heard of The mountain,
and of the soldier who always ascends with
party to guard them. One man passed
is and took path across the hills, and no
less than four times did our guide attempt
10 make us turn from the beaten track into
the mountains, where we felt sure there
could be no road; but we kept good watch
and trusting to our knowledge of the way,
kept steadily on. At last it began to rain,
and as our only resource we crept under a
gateway and looked out Oh the clouds and
wondered what.-yns coming next. But we
ched the hermitage safely-made our
.argain for nights rest on settee-pro-
vided bottle of Lacryma Christi, four
eggs to roast upon the lava, and after in
scrbing our names on the album and drying
ourselves before the fire, we laid down 10
rest. At 8 O'Clock we set out. The first
part Of the walk was not a little gloomy.
We picked our way through the barren re-
gion of which | spoke, over the scor9 by
the light of a torch and alone-now losing
the path, now seeking for the tracks of don
keys and men, which the heavy shower had
almost effaced. Once our torch suddenly
went out, and for moment, both literally
and fguratively, the prospect was gloomy
enough; but we succeeded in reviving it
and in regaining the path after all our err
rOrs.
When we reached the other side Of the
cone, the torch began to pale before the
glow of the lava, which lighted up the sky
and the heavy cloud of smoke which rose
and hung above it like a burning city. The
whole scene was striking in the extreme.
On one side was the cone, dimly defined
against the black sky, its summit concealed
by a heavy mass of dark clouds; on the 9th
er the companion hill, shutting US in; be-
hind, the only object visible was the distant
line of lights along the shore, which mark
ed the city cf Naples; while before US the
rudy glare of the red hot lava lighted up
the sky. Soon we stood by the side Of the
current at the orifice where it first escaped
from the interior of the mountain. There
it flowed slowly and steadily, seeming to
press up with great force in current about
ten feet wide, and, Judging from the vast
quantity visible below, where the stream
grew wider, twenty-five or thirty feet deep.
Although liquid and flowing, it was much
harder than it appeared, and heavy stones
thrown upon it bounded off and rolled over
the surfaces, or remained and were borne
along without sinking in. Not only, too,
was the central portion the highest, but it
ran several inches above the rock through
which it forced its way, without flowing over
it, presenting the singular spectacle of a
current higher than its banks.
Hardly were we suitably placed to enjoy
the spectacle, when drops Of rain began to
hiss and sputter upon the lava, and to strike
upon our heads. There was no shelter
within miles; We looked in vain for a cave,
and at last seated ourselves close to each
Otner Oy tie sue Ot u PeTpeDutCuIat TOCk,
with no protection but thin blouse, made
asmerry as we could with our own tnishaps.
For time, assure you, it was no laughing
matter; the rain came down heavily; thick
clouds covered the mountain above and be-
low us; and every minute or two-for we
were unfortunately on the leeward side OF
the lava-a strong wind blew the heavy
suphurous smoke and steam towards us.
until we were we'll nigh suffocated; and
was not without few forebodings. Only a
few days before, the side of the mountain
had suddenly burst open and thrown out a
new currenr of lava, without any previous
warning. Why might it not do SO again!
The roaring of the wind as it whistied Over
the rock, the kissing of the rain ON the Laws
seemed to me every now and then like some
noise deep ia the mOuntains--the rumbllns
of an earthquake it might be--and when
looked at my watch and found, that though
an hour after the hour for sunrise, no ligh
lad reached US, it occurred to me that the