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

that is visibly, and stop the sacrilegious de-
stroyer, or the edfce would resist and 90 scathe-
less. From time to time the bells were toled
mournfuly, and cure monks, and parshioners
chanted the funeral dirge of the sacred edifce
where most Of them had been baptized, and
which was ASSOCIATED with all the proment parts
of their little secluded likes. The lava here
insinuaed itself into the crypt OF the building,
thereby undermining it so that it was literally a
temple rent in twain,' the two nearly equal
portions of which rocked and tottered 10 their
base, and then fell-beltry, bells, and all into
the burning gulf. Several passages of the
Inferno of Dante were called to recollection
this night, and the divine poet ably describes
what here pal pably, and tangibly represented
hell, though upon earth. For half an hour an
intense green flame played over where once
stood the doomed edifce, caused perhaps by the
fusion Of the bell metal below. ip other parts
blue flames of various degrees cf intensity and
depth Of color played and hckered about. All
night parties arrived from Naples, who had
missed the train aud the wood was glittering
with torches approaching and ,cceding in the
distance. The arrival ot .arge body Of priests,
mounted on all the available jackasses and
mules in the neighborhood for miles around,
caused an immense sensation among the rus.
tics, as there was little doubt these worthy men
would soon settle the business Of the ruthless
enemy, and pat things to rights so to it they
went, clergy ard laity; and on our departure
from this scene of desolation and woe, the wei
kin resounded with the eXertioas OF some hum
dreds of pairs Of langs. Much of the beauty OF
the effect faded on the approach Of daylight, and
when we left, which was exactly hl.f-past six
in the morning, the lutid glare and vivid bril-
ancy OF the lava was succeeded by black
carbunaceous duness, with only here and
theIe deep red glow; the volume of lava had
also diminished, and the crater was hushed.-
Nature seemed to have a slight intermission of
her pangs, to be returned the following eve
ming.
On our return to Naples, we learned that a
tragedy of another and more sarguinary kind
had been enacted elsewhere during the night
Hundreds visited he crater itself, and the noun
tain was literally dotted with little bright star
like points, ascending and fitting like will-O'-
th'-wisps. The effect was picturesque in the
extreme. A party Of American officers Of the
squadron here, With characteristic and national
rashness OF curiosity, approached too near, and
one OF the officers, a fine, handsome young fel.
low, received mass of hot ca!careous matter
on tie right shoulder, which stripped the flesh
TO the bone as far as tlIe elbow. There was liz
actual fracture, but the hermorrlage was So
violent, aud SO long time elapsed before he
received proper medical aid, that he lies with
little hope of recovery. All tie Galenic skill
OF the place is tending him. lie is only 22
remarkably amiable and handsome, and quite
the pet of the squadron and the ladies'. llC
holds the position Of Commodore's naval all
de camp, and is Lieutenant in rank. Ony d
few nights since we had seen him at ball. the
g'yest OF the gay, his fine manly form aud tea
rres making him almost the observed Of Il,
ob,erver,.' But another accident, within te!
yarts OF the same spo', and almost at the sam,
time, terminated fatally. The victim of h!
rt-hness was Polish officer, who received ;
III isS OF stone of some tons weight on the let
thigh, which cau7cd a cOmp' uud fracture, AM
there he lay and b,cd to de th, his blood runnin.
down into the crater itself, where it Eoe
and Missed and steamed. \ Neapolitan gen
tlrman. who related the PARTICULARS 10 ", nearl
lost bis Iitn in his CXrrtluns to LrinG the bod
down the sides Of the m m1untajn, for at lie tim
the lava and stones fell in all directions tlic
an fast. Another individual, native, had tn
dexter side o his lower jaw completely remoy
ed by stone, which was shot Obiquey out c
the crater while he was stretching over peern
into its fiery depth. The catalogue of cont
s:onS, abraslons, and LESSONS, on that cvenit
+, night would nearly ill one Of your columns
The ladies' were everywhere in the van Of dar
, ger AMI fatigue, and some have not come o
, scott free. The fair sex have great deGl tHol
, courage than we men are willing TO give the
, credit for. This is proved here daily by the il
l trepiii'y small and delicate women show
their ascents. True, it is to crafty curosit
strong instinct, on dit, in their nature.