The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-06-22
/ H r DISPATCH
Eruption OF Mount ye.uvsm.
INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF rur scy,r r.v,,

a. e. ' ""S taken place. There has bean
-. " 'a'a SINCE 1855; and the upper mountain
a.. 'ery qaset In that time. 1his is the tb;r-
ooo ooa e'opuoh since the burial Of PompeiI with
,a,a.,,.- oeings- The following 10 q very in,
NAPLES, May 9th, giving a descrin,io, =, -. ua'ea
niencement of the eruption, by an eve. w,tn.s. ~.
az the time OF writing predicted severe Jiss,,a.
=. The Resna guide iaformed us for ,bo a ..s ~"
.nat isva was flowing through tho y.tIay - ae ~ =
Atfio del Cavsllo,' aud that the ordinary =. wy
seeepa .he cone to the crater was cut off sud ~
o'o"snt US Forward over path seldom, tra ava,a,
aLd Of most difficult nature: We hn.an.a ,na'eled
ceeaea, the cloud of smoke increasing as we ~, y.
on all sides; We had to part with orr bo,ssS
proceed on foot, and had gone owe, 400 or aoO
yards from where we left tho horses whr,, " a ~
up 10 an enormous mass of hot lava rn,,;, zane ~
wards towards the Somma and We mon Is ou
aware we were In the i'm mediate neiyhhorhnot =. :
considerable eruption; our anxiety pov LEGS M
great indeed, ana pressed forward and presently '
arrived ut a wonderful scene The eftire ~ ~,
lower part Of the great cone of yesuytus annearaS
on fire, and thick masses of smoke were th row !,
up. mixed with red'hot stones and fakes OF lava
travelling over most rugged way OF old lava. We
made our way up TO the point whence the stones
lava aud smoke seemed to rise In greatest onanti
ties and We arrived on rise just over the creates,
fssure.
1t is difficult to explain our feeling on beboIding
this wonderful and unexpected sight: we hsre
found several guides, and from them we learned
that at abou. O'clock A. NJ. that morning a mum.
ber of small craters aud fissures had suddenly
opened and lava bad commenced pouring out.
b. IL was-now nearly O'Clock, and we went quite
close up to the largest crater, which we were
bled to do. as the wind blew steady and strong
down the valley, and thus we got within eight or
ten yards of the next OPEN from this we couuted
i've six distinct fountains of fire, the largest
putting forth volumes OF smoke stones, aud lava;
from another a literal fountain Of burning matter
~ pip tp0. rad
forth in greater less quantities, the whole tor.
rent OF lava uniting into regular stream OF red
burning liquid pouring down the incline side OF
the valley.
We remained here observing this wonderful
sight for over an hour, then determined to ascend
to the top of the great cone. After most severe
walk by path seldom travelled, toiled TO tn.
top where arrived to the last streaks of day.
light gliding the distant horizon.
1t was now sufficiently dark to see accurately
the trace of fire from all the fssures had LEI,
below, and standing on projecting piece Of lava
the eutire lay at our feet the eruption evidently
wa ~ the increase, aud acres upon acres seemed
putting forth in fire. The stream Of burning la n
now in the twilight became awtulIy visible, and
rolled along at a rapid pace to the bottom of the
valley, up to the very sides of the Monte Somma
We were perfectly amazed at q sigh. no pencil
could portray or pen describe.
Our guide now urged us 10 descend the lava was
running exactly towards the path close to Monte
Somma on which We had travelled, and IL wa.
quite evident that the smoke which WAS blown
down the valley towards the sea would, ia the
event of a change of wind, leave our only path OF
return in most impossible condition
We therefore hastened TO descend the cone as
well as could, the conflagration lending US g
partial glary light The descent WAS difficult ana
dangerous, sand up to our ankles, iutsrmiXed with
large lumls of old lava. Every moment we were
in tear of tumbling headfOremost down the preci
pitste descent. We, however, got safe to the bot
tom Of the cone, and had now To pass the narrow
space between the burning lava and Monte Somma
which here presents a face Of perpendicular rock
perfectly inaccessible, and we became quite aware
the torrent of lava might intercept our passage to
tally; we could not possibly get up the side Of
Monte Somma.
l must confess felt hero considerably nervous
and saw the double danger of the lava stopping
our path, and that OF change of wind, which
would certainly have smothered us in al instant {
and ss we pressed on over the rugged road, we SAW
tue eruption increasing momentIy. In one place
the lava was rolling down the valley In an enor.
nous burning wave, perfectly red hot, and only u
few yards from us, and at our point of exit We
could see little or no room to pass; aDd aithoush
the sight was one of wonder l never expected e.
witness, yet we were Obliged TO press along smart
ly for our departure, through the fiery gate, and
when did arrive at the point Of exit not ten
feet remained between the side of the rock and
the burning mass of lava. Our guide, however
pressed on briskiy, and we passed the ordeal, no,
without feeling, must say, exceedingly uncom
Portable from she great heat and the approae b
of this fearful burning mass, and having passed
rested to see the wonderful sight, now rapidly
increasing.
The guides do not seem to know exactly what to
make of this eruption. They all seem TO agree il
will increase greatly, perhaps extend all over the
lower valley, and at the rate 1t going, it would
not be long covering a vast district. Tie torrent
Of lava at one place could not be less than five
six feet high, aud came rolling along at the rate OF
fivs or six feet in minute, and the united stream
of red matter conld not be under eight or ten
yards wide and this ran on like very rapid river,
until it was impeded by the old lava lying on the
side of the valley.
Nay 3l.--Iast night the spectacle was peculiarly
grand and imposing. The lava was poured in in
creased quantity along each Of the streams already
established, and being in a high state OF incande
sence, presented peculiarly splendid appearance.
At about O'Clock an immense torrent of lava
broke over the ridge which confines the basin OF
craters, in the direction of the Somma; it flowed
down the decliyity of the Somna as an immense
torrent of liquid fire, and with such extraordinary
rapidity that in less than hour it had descended
Through q considerable portion of the mountain
Its progress was then retarded partly by the dinin
sbed steepness of the ground, and partly by trans
verse rayines which must be filled before the fluid
can advance. Nothing could exceed the spiendor
of this torrent of liquid fire, forming the fourth
principal stream of lava; but the most extraor-
dinary burst of splendor which has been present
ed since the commencement of the eruption took
place soon after 9 o'clock, when all the mouths
seemed to be simultaneously called into violent
action, and to yomit forth such torrents OF lava
that the entire mountain seemed one blaze OF fire,
the varied colors produced in different par -, ow-
ing probably in part TO reflection, presented q
beautiful and striking appearance. The lurid light
diffused from this enormous burning mass render
ed visible the subjacent country, the towns, the
coast and the bay.
On each night several thousands of persons OF
all rahks from the peer to the peasant, urged by
curiosity, repair to the scene Of this extraordinary
spectacle. The darkness being complete, and the
route in many parts difficult each party is furn-
ished with torch, and the view OF these hundreds
Of torches fitting about between the streams OF
lava is most curious presenting the appearance OF
mutitudes of tirees.
The Hermitage, which is close to the great basin
OF craters and rivers of lava, is approached by a
tolerSbly good carriage road, and. as may be cup
posed, hundreds of vehicles of every description,
from the cateche of the millionaire 10 the humble
coricoo are collected there towards midnight
Donkey parties abound, Of which ladies do not Tear
to form part.
Part of the extraordinary splondor of the spec
tacle, on Sunday night, was due TO the burning of
forests, over which the lava passed. The Neapoli
taus congratulate themselves on the circumstance
of the lava having been directed into many dill
ferent streams for IT, as In former ernptions 1t had
all been thrown into one channel, the destruction
which must have ensued would have been tremen-
deus. At the end Of one of the streams of lava,
shat on the Casiclamare side OF the Hermitage,
here was ceremony, suppose TO etop the lava.
Inefe were SAINT aAd Sofne prfests'N attenuahcc
.--~-N~s--~~-s~>ss~
PROFESSOR A6a.,Iz.--it seems from statement
In the Athennum, that ''sfter all and in spite Of
mis- many former refusals, Professor Agasslz OF
Boston, will be won over for the dirertorship of
the museum of Natural History OF the Jardtn DIES
Piantes, at Paris 1t appears to be tAvorite wish
IF the Emperor Napoleon to draw this celebrated
schoar, whose personal acquaintance be made In
Switzerland, TO Paris. Agassis has been offered
salary cf 22,000 francs, and the immediate seha-
torship, which brings another 10000 francs; and
at last he has consented to go over 10 Paris Tor
verbal and personal negotiation
ANOTHER FATAL ENGLISH PRIZE FidHr.--Another
fatal prize fight in England is reported. Two fneD,
named Arnold and Eggerstone, had quarrel
bout certain transactions on the sD.rby, and
agreed to settle the dispute by the FIST meet
ag accordingly took place, and Eggerstone Was
killed. remarkable feature of the case ID the
part played by the sister of the deceased. This
woman 10 said to have acted as his second.
SELLING POLITICAL IsrLUEscR.--In an advertise
VI n.~ xfuAa VLap-