The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-09
The Eruption of vcsuvids.

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Our readers are probably aware of the re-
cent eruption of this celebrated Volcano
The best description we have of this won-
derful phenomenon, is that given by cor
respondent of the London Daily Netos, an
extract from which, is es follows:
NAPLES. May 10.
The lava has now advanced ten miles
from its source, and is doing terrible dam
age, | have before me the report of Cozzo-
limo as to the latest changes which have TAX
EN- place about the cone. Just at the base of it
lake of fire has been formed, which looks
like red sea in an undulatory state. In
the very centre Of this has opened another
crater, which is throwing out red hot stones.
On the morning of the 7th, the crater, at
the very summit, fired, as it were, two heavy
cannonades; and after sending forth light.
ming, flames and stones, broke up altogeth.
er. In the middle of the cone ten craters
have boen formed, and from these the lava
pours forth like river, and runs on the side
Of the Cavello as far as the Minatore. Here
four other craters have been formed, which
throw up bitumen in the manner of pyra-
mids, and resemble gigantic exhibitions Of
fireworks. The whole of the summit of the
crater is therefore like sponge, and must
inevitably fall in. The thin crust trembles
under your feet. You may see the stones
dance with the .tremuous movement; the
part Immediately round the crater looks like
the sides of a heated copper boiler. Such
is true statement of what's gong on at the
summit.
There are reports of an opening towards
Pompeii which is not unlikely; and another
towards Resina, but have not been up for
some days, as the danger is now very great.
Before I write again I shall make the at
tempt. Last night went to the scene of
most stirring interest, after an interval of
two days. The whole length of the usual
ly quiet road was like fair, and such was
the throng of carriages which were moving
on in three lines, that it was with difficulty
we ever arrived at our destination. AS we
approached the menaced heighborhood, the
inhabitants were removing their gonds, and
on bridge in the middle of the little town
ship of Cercolo (through which in the win
ter time thunders down from the summit of
Vesuvius one of those mountain rivers so
we'll known in Italy, stood a company of
sappers. . ...f.
Creeping under this solid handsome
bridge into the bed of the river, we went up
in face Of the lava, which was now coming
rapidly down. Here again were sappers,
raising mounds on either side, to divert the
ruin from some private grounds, and keep
the lava in one straight course. The smoke
which rose over the heads of the multitudes
told us we were close on the spot, and climb
ing up the bank and walking along the top,
we looked down on this mighty mass of fire.
How changed the neighborhood in two days!
Where I walked on Sunday night was now
a sea of fire. The side road by which I
had come down into. the main stream from
Pollena and Massi di Somme was now full
of blackened coke. The houses on the bor-
ders of the village had fallen--in one thirty
poor people lived; small chapel was swal-
lowed up, a gentleman's villa, and sad ex-
tent of vineyard and garden ground.
On the other side of the great lava bed
another stream was branching off, to San
Sebastiano. We had hoped to have crossed
it, and ascended to the cascade again, but il
was no longer visible; for, as one says speak.
ing of q marshy country in the winter, the
lava was out. The fire here had begun to
enter the burial ground Of the little town
but was diverted from its course by wall
On the opposite side ofthe stream were the
king and all the royal family, The banks
on either side were thronged with curious
and anxious multitudes, whose faces were
lighted up with the blaze Of hundreds o.
torches, and with the m oreresplendent fame
Of the rapidly descending lava. Since the
morning it had move mile. It was like ;
vast river of glowing coke. =. .s7s4l
AS it moved on, the tens Of thousands Of
Jumps rolled and tumbled one over the 9th.
er cracking, and grinding, and grating; ant
when, from the very face ofit, large lump
fell off, the appearance was that of an iror
furnace, when the iron is being drawn. Tc
make the resemblance more complete, a
such times men darted forward with Ions
poles, taken from the neighboring vineyards
and pulled out great masses of lava, in which
they embedded money for sale. Wha
struck me at first, and still strikes me as tht
most majestic feature in the whole scene
is the slow, silent, irresistible motion .
that firery food. Active, almighty power
without an effort! Sweeping everything be
fore it,overcoming every obstacle, growing
up against Intervening walls or houses, AM
devotriag them bodily, and then marching
ION in the same slest, unrelenting, irresis
ible manner as befole,