Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-06-07
The Tcrrors of Vesuvius.


readers
The insuffcrabc dulness and gloom which
have rel ned in Naples for some weeks past,
ntalgre the Carnival and the usual balls and
gaities, have at last been dispeled by the cx-
citamG..t caused by one of the finest eruptions
of Mount Nesuvius ever EIcNa. For some
twelve or fourteen days, the mountain has been
III labor, giving manifest indications, by groans
and wailngs, of bringing forth speedily some
! tLing more than mouse. On the 9th, volumes
of smoke ard vapor, With occasional sheets OF
flame, were succeeded, from time to time, by
awful subterranean rumbllngs; and, on the
| 9TH, the lava made its appearance, running
down the mountain, on the side Gf Tore Anrun-
ziata, in seven or eight distinct streams On
the evening Ct the latter day, party of US as
ascended to the hermitage, and thence, on foot,
| with guides and torches, to the cone, from
whence a fine view was obtained OF tic laya at
a white heat, as it was pumped out OF the crater,
and thence bent its way i'll the direction OF
Pcmpei and the Bosco Reae. tbs ascent
was very fatguing and disagreeablc, and one
of the party had narrow csca from fractu-
ring a limb by fall. During the night Of the
Sth, the roaring and believing Of the crate,
kept most people from enjoying their rest, and
on the whole of the 9th, volumes of smoker
lava and vapor, together with huge stones and
the evening of this day, special train was an
nounccd to leave Naples at six o'clock, for
Tore Annunziata, returning at eleven. About
AGO natives and foreigners availed Themselves
Of this opportunity and strong party OF
IgleSi, with guides 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 property, 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 frontage
Of at least a mile and a half, and was advancing
slowly but steadily and sure, and devouring
everything in its way. On the road we had met
parties of poor peasants carrying beds, chairs,
pois, paws and other movable furniture which
| they had been able to save from the deyouring
| LIQUID the women and children rending the
air with their groans and cries, and suppca-
! tions to the San Gcnnaro, the patron saint of
these Parts. These poor wretches were thrown
on the wo-la homeless a..d peI.Llless.
Bv the time of our arrival, which was about
Lire o'clock, the lava had taken complete pos
session Of the wood, having devoured about
half of it. At times row Of three or four hum
drcd saplings caught fire simultaneously, pro-
ducing vivid flame that lighted up the country
for miles around. Some splendid tl;ll-grcwn
lex, oak, and ISL trees, offered Ia their ponder
Jas trunks momcntary resistance; but Ii was
To 10 purpose, the larger ones generally cXplo-
ding with loud report, and leap Of twelve or
fourteen feet i'll the air, to be consumed ike
,inder on their desccGt It Vas curious to OBJ
serve when, from Il sudden rush of lava, which
always occurred after IL temporary obstruction,
how the larger trees gave out tens of thousands
of little lets of steam from the knees and elbows
tf the smaller branches. 1t was owing to the
roots a.d trunks coming in contact with ,..4
lava, and before the whole tree had h;d pre-
preparatory roasting previously to lis final com
bustion. In these cases the tree generally cX
poded; those on the contrary, that had hat
their lnitatory drilling, generally bowed thc!
heads slowly and naJesticaly, dying, like
Cpsar, in their dignity. As this novel and bril-
, liant spectacle quite absorbed our attention, thu
, majority of us lost the return tram to Naples
aad decided to pass t,e night cn the spot
There was no moon, but the stars shone clearly
and the sky was cloudlcss; a cold trcnoniana
however, on one side, and the insupporab
> heat of the advancing furnace on the other
. made it necessary for us to keep revolving frOn
time to time like bottle jacks before the lava
to obviate being frozen on one side AMI bake
on the other At about three o'clock in tn
morning the eruption was at its height. Tn
i amount of laya was quintupled, and the masse
of stones which shot up into the air dc3cerGn
|, with reverberating crash. ltwas dis-i.a.g
: of these stones which caused no Sc that rel
II dered our voices inaudbe. | can only con
pare it to the conclusion produced by the broat
side of three-decker. The ground at time
>, trembled under our feet, and wuiling sobbin.
1. ind, n,
~ ture was undergoing horrible subtenapea
y, CONFUSION and thus gave vent to tic IlroC
~ and throbs" of her agony. At about o'cloc
:, the destroyer advanced to farmhouse al
-, out-bullding which seemed, from their solidt
" being built Of rubblG stone, and Joined with Il
.. wei. known Roman cement, likely to offer
=. stCut resistance. And here the lava seemed
" be endowed with consciousness and instinct
- No sooner did it feel the momentary chez
- - than it commenced rising like the water in Il
n lock of canal, and from being at its arry
~ about twelve feet deep, speedily rose to abo
!, thirty; and attacking the bomb-shaped so
70 stone roof Of the main building, aud at t
cd same time running i'll at the windows and doc
cause ratification and condens ltiOn of a
that made the whole concern Sauter with a t,
rifle report.
When no traces of the farm or officers We
er- any longer visible, being coyered BY a smoc
Bile surface Of liquid fire, the poor ag'icnturs,,
nd proprietor, together with his SpoSa, their eli
her dreu, and some half.a-dozen louts, set up a Y
- and beat their breasts, and tore their hair in
10 true Neapotan fashion. Instead of saving
of much as they could from destruction, beyo
rec their mere bedding, they did not attempt to
gh move single thing, thus all the doors a
md fittings, managers, troughs, also about an az
/, to Of cabbages, carrots, aud celery, together W
lu- various gates and farming utensils, were allo
Oh. ed to be destroyed. There was ample time
and move those things, but they preferred how'll
'ul- and calling on San Genaro either to do it
ng. them or stop the torrent of lava.
AXE A still more interesting and affecting spec
OF Gle was presented about an hour after by
the destruction Of a smal! church, embosomed
, in this hapess wood. The lava here, 80 1T
ink farm, had rather tough job, from the extre
ood solidity Of the edifce and with sort of insi
are and conscious pride in its own irresistible DC
!, to er it dashed forward to the attack, despite
prI moans and chants of parcel of Francis,
friars connected with the church, and of
'6le mute sorrow of the poor cure. The orname
IpFt tba G ltar .hor, mi, Al.