Arkansas intelligencer., 1858-07-09
Correspondence Of the London Times
The Eruption of Vesuvius.
NAPLES. Nav 81

NAPLES. May 81.
Since Saturday the eruption has proceeded
with constantly increasing violence, and has
presented at night a more and more magni
ficent spectacle. In my last letter | men
toned that there issued from the great basin
of fire in the Atrio a single stream of lava,
which, after a tortuous course was descend
ing the declivity of the mountain. This
stream has continued its course VARYING in
breadth according to the accidents of the
ground, aud seems how to direct itself to
point between Portici and Tore del Greco,
but much nearer the latter than the former.
1t approaches close to the scattered farm
houses, which lie above the towns at the foot
of the mountain, many Of which it can scarce
ly fail to destroy.
In the afternoons of Saturday and Sunday
two other streams of lava broke out of the
great basin, and are descending the mountain
towards the neighborhood of Portici. These
streams seem to follow the direction of ra-
vines, which run nearly parallel to the ridge
on which the Observatory and Hermitage
stand. These buildings have been hitherto
saved from submerson bv the lava by their
great elevation, the fluid naturally following
the direction of the lower ground at either
side of them.
Last night the spectacle was peculiarly
grand aud imposing. The lasa was poured
IN increased quantity along each OF the
streams already established, and being in
high state of incandescence, presented Pc
culiarly splendid appearance.
AT about s o'clock an immense torrent of
lava broke over the ridge which confines the
basin of craters, in tire direction of Somna it
| flowed down the decliyity of the Somna AS
an immense torrent of liquid fire, and with
such extraordinary rapidity that in less than
an hour it had descended though a conside-
rable portion of the mountain. its progress
was then retarded, partly be the diminished
steepness of the ground and partly by trans
verse ravnes which must be filed before the
fluid can advance. Nothing could exceed the
splendor Of this torrent of liquid fire, forming
the fourth principal stream of lava; but the
most extraordinary burst of spenLor which
has been presented since the commencement
OF the eruption took place soon after 0 o'clock,
when all the molths seemed TO be simultane-
ously called into violent action, and to vomt
! fourth such torreAts of lava that the entire
mountain seemed one blaze of fire; the varied
| colors produced IN different parts, owing prob
ably III part to reflection, presented beauti-
tul and striking appearance. The lurd light
dItfnsed from this enormous burning mass
rendered visible the subjicent country, the
towns, the coast and the bay.
On each night several thousands of persons
of all ranks, from the peer to the peasant ur-
ged by curiosity, repair to the scene of this
extraordinary spectacle. The darkness being
complete, and the route in many parts diff
uIf is ,,;+ !
the view of these hundreds of torches fitting
about the streams of lava is most curious
presenting the appearance Of multitudes of
tirehes.
The Hermitage, which is close to the great
basin Of craters and rivers of lava, is approach.
ed by a tolerably good carriage road, and, as
may be supposed, hundreds of vehicles of cv-
cry description, from the caeche of the nil
honaire to the humble coricolo, are collected
there towards midnight. Donkey parties
abound, Of which ladies do not fear to form
part.
Part of the extraordinary splendor Of the
spectacle on Sunday night was due to the
burning OF forests, over which the lava passed.
The Neapolitans congratulate themselves on
the circumstance of the lava having been di-
rected into SO many different streams, for if,
as in former eruptions it had all been thrown
into one channel, the destruction which must
have ensued would have been tremendous.
June 1.-The eruption is splendid There
are three streams of lava, " hich begin Just
between Vesuvius and Sonna; we went as
near as possible; we climbed to the top of
ridge of lava which had begun to cool, but it
required all the carefulness of our guides to
prevent our burning our feet off On our
way down we went to the top of the Obser
vatory, whence the view of the lava was splen-
did; the middle was flowing as fast as water;
there was a rayed reflection in the smoke
which-said was just like the Aurora Bo-
realis in Scotland. The euption began last
Wednesday night; the lava begins where it
did in 1855. There were thousands of peo-
pie on the mountain; it was an extraordinary
scene. At the end of one of the streams Of
lava, that on the Castelamare side of the
hermitage, there was ceremony, | suppose
to stop the lava. There we're a saint and
some priests in attendance.
Il Trap for Catching Sheep killing Dogs
Make pen of fence rails, beginning with four,
so as to have it square, and as you build it
draw in each rail as you would the sticks of
partridge trap, until your pen is of sufficient
height, say five feet In this way you will
construct trap which, when finished, will
permit a dog to enter the top with pleasure,
but out of which he will find i. difficult to
escape, should he have tho ability of an ante
| lope. All that you haue to do to catch the
dog that has killed your sheep is to construct