Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-08-18
Eruptious of Vesuvius.

The late eruptions of Vesuvius have recalle,
attention to the somewhat curious history o
| that volcanoe. To the ancients, up to the frs
century OF the Christian era it was not known
In its peculiar character. Apart from few
close observers, among whom St-abo, the
geographer, was one, and who recognized at
analogy between its structure and other vol
canoes, it was not supposed to differ from ordi
nary mountains. Luxuriant fields stretched
almost to its summit, villages were scattered
about its TANKS, and two populous cities, Her
culaneum and Pompeii, reposed at its base
But In the year A. d. So, an earthquake visited
the region, and for the next sixteen years slight
shocks were frequent. At last, A. D. 70, the
mountain opened, and violent eruption took
place. Herculaneum and Pompeii were both
buried, not by lava, as is popularity supposed
nor even of showers of ashes alone, but by
volcanic mud, which flowed into the cellars and
beneath the roofs, where ashes alone could
never have penetrated. In the case of Hercu-
laneum, which is the more exposed of the two
cities, lava was subsequently added from other
eruptions, till the town was buried more than q
hundred feet below the surface.
From this time, up to A. d. 1896, history
records seven eruptons. Thirteen years sub
sequently another eruption occurred, and A. D.
quiet for a hundred and sixty weight years.
Between this and A. D. 1851, there was but
one eruption. All of these had been compa-
ratiyely slight. At last, after having been
harmless again for nearly FIVE hundred years,
Vesuvius, A. D. 1881, belched forth such
streams of fire, mud and lava, that the sur
rounding region was almost reduced to desert;
and from that time to the present, the noun
tain has been in nearly constant activity, an
eruption taking place every ten years on an
average. The most destructive agent in the
eruptons has invariably been the volcanic mud.
Immense quantities of vapor, or strictly speak
ing, stream, rise from the vents of volcano
during an eruption, and being rapidly con-
densed, bring on tremendous rains, which,
mixing with the ashes, descends in torrents of
mud, overwhelming vineyards, villages, and
even cities. 1t was in this material that the
whelmed in Pompeii; the tuff, as it is scenti-
fcally called, having hardened, and retained
the impression of her form.
Persons unaccustomed to volcanic regions
frequently express establishment at what they
call the foolhardiness Of those who inhabit such
localities. But the risk is less than is supposed.
Such districts enjoy remarkable immunity
from epidemics, and even from the ordinary
diseases which shorten human life, so that it is
doubtful whether, on the average, the chances
of protracted existence are not greater there
than in most other places. Besides, the peril
of living near a volcano is remote, not certain :;
and each generation, as well rs individual, n-
dulges the hope of exemption from the threat
ened danger. To put an everyday illustration,
there is as much risk in railroad travelling as in
cutivating fields on the flank of a volcano yet
there are but few who decline a journey from
81 80 a. I'll SO
always eminently rich. Sir Charles Lyell says
that the sloping sides of Vesuiviui, and even
the hills and plains within reach of its elected
matter, sustain twenty times the population
that could have found sustenance on the same
area, if the original limestone of the district had
remained uncovered by volcanic soil.
Vesuvius is the safety-valve of Italy. With
out it, earthquakes would be far more frequent,
and loss of life, besides changes in the struc-
ture of the 'untry, would be vastly increased.
The volcano gives vent to the pent- internal
fres and thus secures, at little risk, the fertli-
ty and safety of Italy.-Pha. Ledger.
THE ARKANSAS GOLD BUBBLE ExPLoDED-A
correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, writing
from Fort Smith, Arkansas, states that letters have
been received at that place from authentic and re-
liable sources that gives the Arkansas gold bubble
Oil ChCStuA 4uClus. Vic ScuLcludt Leut IN.
B. Pierce of the 9TH United States Infantry, writes
that not far from Grand River he had met with a
party Of near three hundred persons, having with
them eighty wagons and teams, on their return
home to Missouri. They had been to the Red
Fork and for miles along it had literally I" tore
the earth open" in their fruitless search for the
yellow dust They had found part of the COM
pany Of Pool, who had protested to have discover
ed the placers; but Pool with some others had
gone further on, with the resolution to follow up
the stream to its head if their provisions would
hold out. Those returning however, were com
pIetely satisfied that the farther they went the
worse they would fare" i
Two men who were on their way out from Carks-
vile, Arkansas. reached Fort Smith on HE 18th OF
July, on their way out home They State that in
the Indian country they met hundreds Of persons
from Missouri and Arkansas returning from the
mines, all Of whom pronounced the whole affair
an imposture. One small party they fell in with
had found few dollars worth of gold in the bed Of
some creek, but it was mere trife, and evidently
brought there by the current when the stream was
high. Being satisfied that to go on would not pay,
they turned back with the returning parties.
The correspondent of the Gazette, notwithstand.
ing these unfavoable reports insists that gold
exist somewhere in the country Of the Creek In.
dams. because these people have been repeatedly
W IL III Sudb luulpS anu SCducS JUST a.
taken FROM the earth. The great difficulty seems
to be toy find it.
FIGURES DoN'r LIE.-By a table published in
the Compendium of the Seventh Census, giving the
humber Of convcts in the prisons and pententiaries
of the several States out Of every ten thousand o.
the population, of natives and foreigners in that
number, is as follows:
In Maine, out Of every ten thousand, is FIVE for
eigners to one native.
In Kentucky, six to one
In Mississippi ten to two.
In New York, three to one.
In Tennessee, fifteen to two.
In Vermont, eight to one.
In Alabama, fifty to one. s-
In Georgia, six to one.
In Indiana, four to one.
The average in all the States is a fraction less
than six to one
For Capital Offences, out Of two hundred and
twenty convictions which took place, in about
eighteen months in seven States, viz: In New
York, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Louisiana, New Jer-
sey, Massachusetts,, and Maryland, there were one
hundred and thirty-eight Of foreigners to eighty
two of natives.
FROM RED RIvER.-Last week party from the
Seikirk settlement arrived here in company with