Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-09-25

continued and one halt OF the city OF Yenosa the an
Gent Venusa containing six thousand inhabitants and
celebrated as the birthplace ot Horace was destroyed
The mountain provinces OF the Abruzz and OF Gala
bra. where the earthquake Of 1888 destroyed three
hundred cities aad buried thirty Thousand human be-
ings, have thus far csc ped.
The recent earthquake commenced with sharp
Concession. which was succeeded by an undulatory
movement, the first shock being about SIX seconds
IN duration. At MeIf there were shocks, the
first at " D. the second at 81, the third Al the
fourth 10 p M the fifth at M, and the sixth at
a. At my summer residence IN the country, 50
miles from Melf, the house shook to its foundations
and such the VIBRATION that 1t was difficult to
descend the staircase For ten minutes previous the
house dog howled in most dismal tones the chickens
cackled and hurried about as if tleein :. frem
anticipated danger, and pair of turkeys ros In the
ar and flew around the hous screaming II seized
by secret terror, while all the dogs III the neighbour
hood were in full bay No damage done at La
Cava, at Naples, beyond slight cracks In Old walls
All eyesare now turned upon Vesuvlus, as the safe
tyvalve through which the struggling subterranean
fires and steam may find safe vent; and it Is gene
rally supposed that an eruption is imminent, although
no local signs YET apparent. The whole country,
from Naples to Reggie and the Sraighs of Messina,
~ volcanic region, forming that great viaduct OF
fire which flows from lltna TO VesuvIus Stromboli,
in the Lparl group which has been burning for three
hundred years belore the Christian down to the
present time is of the pipes of this field of
submarine and subterrauean combustion, but it is In
adequate to those great occasions when the gases OF
the oyer-charged earth seek vent; Vesuyus or
LEtua alone equal to such emergencies
Ii is a curious fact that the apparently extinct yoca
often produce the greatest devastation. Vesuvus
silent for mmemoral period down to A. D. 49,
the date of the destruction OF HercuIaneum and Pom
pei. After a long interval Of slumber, Mount Epo-
meo in Ischis burst out A. D. 1901 and covered the
whole island with deuge OF lava, and A. d. 1888,
Monte Nuovo, in the Campi Phegraei, in thirty six
hours rose from the bowels of the earth height of
four hundred and forty feet near the site of an old
crater The Soltaterra, in the same vicinity continues
10 smoke, while the twenty-six around it.
perfciay Judging are extinct 1t would be rash pre-
dlcon, however to make that they will return
to HE, so long the smoke issuing from the Sol
taterra indicates the existence OF bed OF living hre
around their foundations. From the formation OF this
latter carter a theory of volcanic action may be de-
duced, which, whether just not possesses pau
sibilty From forty to fifty feet below the surface OF
he Sotatera in sinking pits for sulphur, boiling water
always found which heats the sand up to the sur
ace, any may test by collecting handful; aud
also has the effect with the underlying heat, to boil
the water in the alum vats sunk few feet in the earth
Steam and smoke constantly issuing from the
mits OF the hills around the crater, we'll as from
large cavity their bsse all indicating that the earthly
strata rests upon lake OF water. beneath which is
fiery furnace. This probably is the formation of Ve.u
vius and all other volcanoes, which, if it be the case,
may explain their eruptons by the agency OF these sub
waters heated into seam and, when choked
over charged from distant and communcatngsour
OF combustion bursting like boiler, and turisusly
exploding into the air the superintendent mass and
their obstrucng contents. This supposlton derives
support from the fact that boiling water is always
eIected IN eruptions
The loss OF life from the earthquake OF the l4h
ult. it Is supposed, will amount to more than two
thousand five hundred souls Every effort is making
by the proper authorities to mitigate the calamity, and
the government has already contributed ten thousand
ducats to the relief OF the survivors 1t is TO be hoped that
fresh disasters arise but serious approximations
will be felt on the subject until Etna Vesuyus get
into action.
Truly yours, EDW'D JOY MORRIS.