Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-07-13

fountain of burning matter was elected
and from all lava and smoke poured fortf
IN greater or less quantities, the whole
iorren, of lava uniting into regular
stream of red burning liquid pouring dowr
the inclined side of the valley
| We remained here observing this won.
derful sight for over an hour, then deter
mined to ascend to the top of the great
cone; our guide was most unwilling to &c
up, wishing Us TO return to the Hermitage
spoke of danger, late hour, elc-event.
ually we persuaded him to advance. Af.
ter a most severe walk By path seldom
Travelled we toiled 10 the top, where we
arrived to see the last streaks of dayliph,
gliding the distant horizon
1t was now sufficiently dark to see ac-
curately the trace of fire from the fssures
we had left below, and standing on a pro-
Jectng piece of lava the scene Law at our
feet; the eruption evidently was on the
increase, and acres upon acres seemed
putting forth in fire. We were perfect.
ly amazed at sight no pencil could por-
tray or pen describe.
Our guide now urged us TO descend !;
the lava was running exactly towards the
had travelled, and it was quite evident
that the smoke which was blown down the
valley towards the sea, would, in the event
of a change of wind, leave our only path
Of return IN most impossible condition.
We therefore hastened 10 descend the
cone well as we could, the conflagra-
tion lending US partial glary light. The
descent was difficult and dangerous, sand
up 10 our ancles, in,ermingled with large
Jumps of old lava. Every moment we
were IN fear of ,umbling head foremost
down the precipita,e descent. We, how
ever, got safe 10 the bottom of the cone,
and had now TO pass the narrow space be-
tween the burning lava and Monte Som
ma, which here presents face of per
pendicuar rock, perfectly inaccessible,
and we became quite aware the torrent
of lava might intercept our passage total
iy; we could not possibly get up the side
of Monte Somma.
| must confess | felt here considerably
nervous, and saw the double danger Of
the lava stopping our path and that of a
change of wind which would certainly
have smothered us ia an instant; and as
we passed on over rugged road we saw
The eruption increasing momentarily. In
one place the lava was rolling down the
valley III an enormous burning wave, per-
fectly red hot, and only a few rods from
US. and at our point Of exit we could see
ilttIe or no room to pass; and although
the sight was one Of wonder | never ex-
pected to witness, yet we were obliged to
press along smartly for our departure
through the fiery gate, and when we did
arrive at the point of exit not ten feet re-
manned between the side of the rock and
the burning mass of lava. Our guide,
however, pressed on brisnly, and we pass
ed the ordeal. not without feeling, | mrst
say, excessively uncomfortable from the
great heat and near approach Of this fear
ful burning mass, aud, having passed. we
rested TO see the wonderful sight, how
rapidly increasing.
Ihe guides did not seem TO know ex-
aotly what 10 make of this eruption. They
all seem 10 agree it will increase greatly,
perhaps extend all over the lower valley,
and at the rate 1t was going IL would not
te long covering a vast district. There
has cen no flow of lava since 1853, and
the upper mountain has been very quiet
Iol SotIie lIlut, anu tIlS UtN HOW may or
may not be extensive : the torrent of lava
at one place could not be less than five or
six feet high. and came rolling along at
the rate of five or SIX feet in minute,
and the united stream of red matter could
not be under eight or ten yards wide, and
this ran on like very rapid river until
i, was impeded by the old lava lying Oh
the side OF the valley.
The exact spot of the present eruption
Is al the lower base of the great cone, and
should say about midway on the Atrio
del Cavello. and about two to two and
half miles from the Hermitage.
We got 10 Naples at eleven o'clock,
and immediately sat down to put on pa
per what | saw.
am told in our hotel the inhabitants
were taken by surprise, bu, think they
are very obtuse in such matters, or, per-
haps, careless about them. As soon, how
ever, as the glare was seen from Naples
many parties started for the scene.
An OBSERVER.
Friday Morning. Quarter to y.
| open this TO say the eruption continues