New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-14
The Terrors of Vesuyius.

a graphic account of the late eruptons Of Vesu.
vus has scarcely yet appeared in the journals of
this country We imagine the following compare
lively vivid outline, extracted from London pa
per, may not be uninteresting TO our readers:
The insufTerable dulness and gloom which have
reigned in this fair city for some weeks past,
mdlgrs the Carnival and the usual balls and gale
ties have at last been dispeled by the excitement
caused by one of the finest eruptiCDs OF Mount G.
suvius ever known. For some twelve or fourteen
DAVIS the mountain has been in labor, giving mani
fest indications, by groans and wailings, OF bring
ing forth speedily something more than mouse
On the 9TH volumes Of smoke and vapor with oc-
casional sheets Of flame, were succeeded, from
tine to time, by awful subterranean rumblings
and, on the morning Of the 9TH. the lava made its
appearance, running down the mountain, on the
side Of Tore Annunziata, in eight distinct
streams On the evening Of the latter day, party
Of us assembled to the hermitage, and thence, on
loot. with guides aud torches, 10 the cone, from
whenee a fine view was obtained OF the lava at a
white heat, and it was pumped out OF the crater,
and thence bent its way in the direction OF Pompe
and the Bosco Reale. This ascent was very IA
tieuing and dsagreeable, and one of the party had
q narrow escape from fracturing a limb by fall
During the night of the eth the roaring and below
ing Of the crater kept most people from enjoying
their rest, and on the whole of the 9th volumes of
smoke, lava, and vaper, together with huge stones
and serrie, were elected without intermlssion On
the evening Of this day, a special train was
nounced to leave Naples at six O'Clock. for Tore
Annunziats, returning at eleven. About 400 ma
tives and foreigners avaled themselves of this OPP
portunity and strong party OF IRglesi, withguides
and torches and mules and donkeys, proceeded
from the station at Tore Annunziata to the Bosco
Reale which is about five miles, through narrow
lanes and country roads. There was no cause for
apprehension, however as the Government had
taken care to send strong bodies OF troops, both
horse and foot for the protection of life and proper
". and the preservation OF order. The sight that
met our view on our arrival at the BOsco was
grand in the extreme. The lava presented front
age OF at least mile and a half and was advancing
slowly but steadily and surely, and devouring
every thing in its way. On the road we had met
parties of poor peasants carrying beds, chairs pots,
pans, and other movable furniture which they
bad been able to save from the devouring liquid;
the women and children rending the air with their
eroans and cries and applications to the San
Gennaro, the patron saint OF these parts These
poor wretches were thrown on the world homeless
and penny ess.
By the time of our arrival, which was about
nine o clock, the lava had taken complete posses
sion of the WOOD having devoured about half OF
it. At times row Of three four hundred sap
lings caught fire simultaneously, producing vivid
flame that lighted up the country for miles around
Some splendid fullgrown lex, oak, and ash trees,
offered In their pOnderous trunks a m0mentary re-
sistance but it was 10 purpose the larger ones
generally exploding with a loud report and leap
Of twelve fourteen feet in the air, 10 be con-
sumed like finder on their descent. IL was curious
10 observe, when, from a sudden rush Of lava
which always occurred after a temporary obstruc.
t0D, how the larger trees gave out tens OF thou
sands OF little lets OF steam from the knees and
elbows of the smaller branches. 1t was owing to
the roots and trunks coming Immediately and sud
denly in contact with the lava and before the whole
tree had had a preparatory roasting previously to
Its final combustion. In these cases the tree gene
rally exploded; those, on the contrary, that had
mad Their intiatory grilling generally bowed their
neads slowly and majestcally. dying, like Caesar
IN their dignity. AS this novel and brilliant spec
'aeie quite absorbed our attention the majority of
US iost the return train 10 Naples, and decided 70
pass The night on the spot. There was no moon
out The stars shone clearly, and the sky was cloud
less; cold tremontdno, however, on one side and
the lnsupporable heat of the ADVANCING fnrrecs on
the other, made it necessary for IA 20 Wen rsvoIy
irg from time to time like bottle lacks beiors the
lavs, TO obviate being frozen one side and baked
onstLe other At about three O'Clock In tie r,or,i
the eruption was at its hight The arnount ofIavo
was quntuped, and the masses OF stones yb;cb
shot up into the air descended With reyerhara,;n
crash IL was the discharge OF these stone. which
cs used noise that rendered our voices inaudibls
| can only compare il to the conclusion produced
by the broadside OF a three decker. The ground At
times trembled under our feet and wailing sob
bing, distressing sound seemed TO Indicate that
Nature was undergoing horrible subteranean
CONFUSION; and thus gave vent TO the "throes and
fhrobs" of her agony. At about four O'Clock the
advanced to a farm. house and outbuild-
ing which seemed, from their sohdity, being bsilt
c! ,ptble s:cpe. and Joined With the VEL sccwn