The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-04-23
Chain'd to Party's arbitrary sway,
We cleave to truth wherc'cr leads she way.

by Their tall broke through the roofs, and
at the place where they struck depressed
the Mosaic pavement into concave form
MS saw in several Of the houses and dar-
ker colored sand appears to have alterna.
ted with the pumice, and often forms a
thick and distinct layer upon it," "The
loose materials fell as snow falls in our
climate when driven by the wind, being
thicker in the angles than in the centres,
and rising in curves corresponding to the
elevation and depression Of the surface"
Such are the facts which careful scien
tific examination has established. That
the greater majority Of the inhabitants Of
Pompeii escaped in safety, there is no
doubt. That many hundreds il not thou
sands met with sudden and awful death
is equally evidept, from the numerous
skeletons found in the streets and dwell
ings Of Pompeii, and in it's vicinity. 1t is
well Known that the elder Pliny, who was
in command Of The Roman Hcet at Mise
mum, was one Of the victims Mt Stabia,
some FIVE miles from Ponpeii, and from
The letters ot his nephew, Piiny the young
er, describing the escape of himself and
mother from impending ruin, we have
most fearful evidence that the whole sur
rounding country was scene Of horror
unparalleled. lie himself was at Mise.
mum, a port in the immediate neighbor.
hood, and his description, which | found
at Pompeii translated into French, refers
probably to the second or third day oi
the eruption. lie says, Though it was
morning. the light was exccs lingly tain,
and laagail, aud though we stood upon
open ground, yet rs the buildings all
around us totlered, and there was no re.
manning there without danger, wa resolv,
eel to quit the town. The people follow
ed us III the utmost CONSERVATION, and
pressed IN great crowd. around US on oul
way out. At safe distance from the
houses, we stood in the midst Of mos,
dangerous and dreadful scene. Onr car.
riages were so driven backwards and for.
wards, thou III on level ground, that we
could no: keep them steady, 'en by sup.
porting them with large stones. The sea
seemed TO roll back upon itself and to be
driven from its banks 10y he convulsive
motion OF the earth. 1t is certain at least
that the shore WAS considerably enlarged
and that several sea animals were left up.
on it. On the other side, black and
dreadful cloud, burs, with fiery serpen
tine vapor, resembling flashes Of light ainp
but much larger. The ashes how began
to fall on us, though in no great quaint.
ties. turned my head and observed be
hind us a thick smoke, which come roll
ing after us like n torrent. ! proposed
while VIC had light, turn out Of the high
road, lest my mother should be pressed &c
death in the dark by the crowd that fol
lowed us. We had scarce s,eppsJ out o.
tue path when darkness overspread us
not like that Of a cloudy night, but Of q
room shut up aud the lights all extinct
Nothing was Heard bat the .hg;cks of wo
men, the screams OF children, and the erie.
OF men, some calling for their children
Others for their parents, others for thei,
i;isArI Is, md oSly Distinguishing each
ether by their voices; one lameniing bis
own fate, another that Of his family; some
wishing to die from the very fear Of dy
ing: some lifting their hands TO the gods
but the greater part imagining that the
last and eternal nj .ht was come whicl,
was TO destroy the gods and the world to.
ge,her. At length giimmering light
appeared, which we imagined to he rather
the forernrner Of an approaching burst OF
hamc, as III fact it was, than the return oi
day. However, the fire fell at distance
from us. Then again we were immersed
in thick darkness, and heavy shower
Of ashes rained upon us which we we're
obliged every now and then to shake off,
otherwise we should have been crushed
aud buried in the hear. At last this
dreadful darkness was dissipsted by de-
grees, like cloud Of smoke; the real day
appeared, and even the sun returned,
though very family, as when an eclipse is
coming on. Every object which presen.
ted itself 10 our eyes, which were extreme
ly weakened, seemed changed, being COW
cred over with white ashes as with deep
snow."
Such is a past Of the description which
the younger Pliny wrote to Tacilus, that
it might be recorded in its "AnnaIs." II
is pleasant TO know that he retained with
his mother to Misenam; but how much
like the great burning day" coming upon
the whole world is the scene which he
witnessed aud how terrible the destruc.
ton which bIo,,ed out from the sight and
the memory Of man for almost eighteen
hundred years this beautiful and luxuri-
ous home Of thousands.
But must not irespass on the patience
OF my readers, and will reserve for anoth.
er letter what ! saw within the walls Of
Pompcii ITSELF N.