St. Mary's beacon., 1858-07-01
Great Eruption of Vesuvius.

The Times correspondent at Naples states
that the great eruption of Fesuvius took place
on the night of May 9th and 2sth Streams
OF lava were seen issuing from several craters
as liquid fire in various directions. The entire
valley Of the A.rio appears as a mass of fire
The Inhabitants of the houses and villages
which lie in the direction Of the descending
current of lava were seen carrying off their
furniture and all moveables of value. If the
lava continues its present course to the sea. it
would traverse the Castellamare Railway and
destroy part of the town of Portici.
Cbrrespondence Of tie London Times.
NAPLES, May 31.-Since Saturday the erup-
ton has proceeded with constantly increasing
violence, and has presented more and more
magnificent 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 tnrtuous course, was descending the de-
clivitys Of the mountain. This stream has COLI
tinued its course, varying in breadth according
to the accidents of the ground, and seems now
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 scarcely fail to destroy
On the afternoon Of Saturday and Sunday
two other streams of lava broke ont of the
great basin, and are descending the mountains
tUsF1s3S &C neighborhocd of Portici. Thexe
streams seem TO follow the direction OF ravines,
which run nearly parallel to the ridge on which
the Observatory and the Hermitage stand.-
These buildings have been hitherto saved from
subnerson by the lava by their great eieva-
ton, the fluid naturally following the direction
,Nf he .vr,,,Hrl ne a;thor 10 e n
Last night the spectacle was peculiarly grand
and imposing. The lava was poured in in
creased quantity along each Of the streams al
ready established, and being in high state of
incandesencc, presented peculiarly splendid
appearance.
At eight 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 decllvity OF the Somnla as an
immense torrent of liquid fire, and with such
extraordinary rapidity that in less than an honr
it had descended through a considerable por-
tion Of the mountains. It's progress Cas then
retarded, partly by the diminished steepness
of the ground, and partly by transverse ravincs
which must be filled before the fluid can ad-
vance. Nothing could exceed the splendor OF
this torrent Of liquid fire, forming the fourth
principal stream OF lava but the most extra l.
ordinary burst of splendoF which has been
presented since the commencement Of thc'erup-
ton, took place soon after o'clock, when all
the mouths seemed to be simultaneously called
into violent action, and to vomit forth such
torrents of lava, that the entire mountain
seemed one blaze of FIRE the varid colors pro-
duCed in different parts, owing probably in
part TO reflection, presented a beautiful aud
striking appearance The lurid light diffliseti
from this enormous burning mass rendered vis-
ible the subficent country, the towns, the coast
and the bay.
On each night several thousands of persons
of all ranks from the peer tn the peasant, urged
by curiosity, repaired 10 the scene of this ex-
traurdinary spectacle. The darkness being
complete, and the route in many parts diff
cult, each party is furnished with torch, and
the view of these hundred of torches fitting
about between the streams of lava, is most Gu
rious, presenting the appearance of multitudes
of firefies.
The Hermitage. which Is close 10 the great
basin oferaters aud rivers Of lava, is approach
ed by tolerably good carriage road, and hun
dreds Of vehicles Of every description are col
lected there towards midnight. Donkey par
ties abound, Of which ladies DO not fear 70 form
part.
night was nearly the same as on the preceding
night, the eruption, perhaps, being litfle less
violent. The great streams of lava described
continue to Eow slowly in the same derection
Part OF the extraordinary splendor Of the
spectacle on Sunday night was due to the burn
ing Of forests. over which the lava passed.
The Neapoiitans congratulate themselves on
the circumstances of the lava having been di-
rectcd into so many different streams, for il. a.
IN former erupsions, il had all been thrown int
one channel, the destruction which must have
ensued would have been tremendous.
From another Correspondent.
june The eruption Is splendid! There
are three streams of lava, whIch begin Just
above Vesuvits, and Sousma we went as near
as pts<ible; we climbed to the top Of ridge
of lava which had begun 20 cool, but it required
oil the carefulness of our guides to prevent our
burning our feet OF. On cur way down we
vent % the top Of the Observatory. whence
the view Of the lava was splendid; tho middle