Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-07-03
Eruption of Vesuvius.

would be moro than usually destructive.
The Rosina guide now informed us for
the first time that lava was flowing through
the valley of the "Atrio del Cavallo," and
that the ordinary path to ascend the cone
to the crater was cut off, and he brought us
forward over path seldom travelled, and
of a most difficult nature; we, however,
proceeded, the cloud of smoke increasing
as we went, on all sides; we had to part
with our horses and proceeded on foot and
had not gone over 800 or 400 yards from
where we left the horses, when we came UP
to an enormous mass of hot lava rolling on
ward towards the Somma and We now be-
come aware we were in the immediate noigh-
borhood of considerable eruption; our
anxiety now became great indeed, and
pressed forward and presently arrived at
wonderful scene. The whole of the lower
part of the great cone of V Yesuyius appeared
on fire, and thick masses of smoke were
thrown up, mixed with red hot stones and
flakes of lava travelling over most RUG
ged way of old lava, we made our way up
to the point whence the stones, lava and
smoke seemed to rise in greatest quantities,
and we arrived on rise just over the
greatest assure.
1t is difficult to explain our feeling on
bcholding this wonderful and unexpected
sight; we here found several guides, aud
from them we lear Led that at about 9 O.
clock, A. NJ, that morning, number Of
small cratcrs and fsSures had suddenly
opened and lava had commenced pouring
out.
1t was now nearly 5 o'clock, and We went
quite close up to the largest crater, which
we were enabled to do, as the wind blew
steady and strong down the valley, and thus
we got within eight or ten yards of the next
opening; from this we counted five or six
distinct fountains of fire, the largest put
ting forth volumes of smoke, stones and
lava; from another literal fountain of
burning matter was elected, and from all
lava and smoke poured forth in greater or
less quantities, the whole torrent of lava
uniting into regular stream of red burn
ing liquid pouring down the inclined side of
the valley.
We remained here Observing this won
dcrful sight for over an hour, and then de-
tcrmincd to ascend to the top of the great
cone. After most severe walk by path
seldom travelled, We toilcd to the top,
where we arrived to see the last strcaks of
daylight gliding the distant horizon.
1t was now sufficiently dark to see accu-
ratcly the trace of fire from all the assures
we had left below, and standing on pro-
jccting piece of lava the whole lay at our
feet. The stream of burning lava now in
the twilight became awfully visible, and
rolled along at rapid pace to the bottom
OF the valley, up to the very sides of the
Monte Somma. We were perfectly amaz-
cd at light no pencil could portray or pen
describe
Our guide now urged us to descend; the
lava was running exactly towards the path
close to Monte Somma on which we had
travelled, and it was quite evident that the
valley towards the sea, would, in the event
of change of wind, leave our only path of
return in most impossible condition.
We therefore hastcned to descend the
cone as well as we could, the connagration
lending us partial glary light. The dcs-
cent was difficult and dangerous, sand UP
to our ankles, intermixed with large Jumps
of old lava Every moment We were in
fear of tumbliug hcadforemost down the
prccipitatc descent We, however, GOT
safe to the bottom of the cone, and had now
to pass the narrow space between the burn
ing lava and Monte Somma, which here
presents face of perpendicular rock, per
fectly inaccessible, and We became quite
aware that the torrent of lava might inter
cept our passage totally we could not pos
sibly get up the side of Monte Somma.
| must confess [ felt here considcrabl,
nervous, and | saw the double danger O
the lava stopping our path and that of ;
change of wind, which would certainly have
smothercd in an instant; and as we prcssot
ON over the rugged road, we saw the crup
ton increasing every moment. In on,
place the lava was rolling down the vallc,
in an enormous burning wave, perfect,
red-hot and only few yards from us, an,
at our point of exit VIC could see little o
no room to pass md, although the sigh
was one of wonder | never expected to wit
ness, yet we were Obliged to press alon,
smartly for our departure through the fiery
gate, and when we did arrive at the poin
of exit not ten feet remained between th
side of the rock and the burning mass o
lava. Our guide, however, pressed OIL
briskly, and we passed the ordeal, not with
out feeling, must say, exceedingly uncom
Portable from the great heat and the nea
approach of this fearful burning mass, anc
having passed, we rested to see the wonder
fal sight, now rapidly increasing.
The guides do not seem to know cxactI
what TO make of this eruption. They al
seem to agree that it will increase greatly
perhaps extend all over the lower valley