The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-07-07
Eruption of Vesuvius.

a correspondent Of the london Times,
nnIcr date OF Naples, MAY %, details AN
"lher extensive eruption Of Nesuyiue,
Ahch hal just Commenced, and it WA
feared would be more than usually lie
slrivtivr:
The Ro.ina Guide now informed us for
the first time that lava was flowing
through the valley OF the "Auio del
CovnI"." and that The ordinary path T."
ascend the cone 10 the cratar MAS Gu, of,
and he brought us forward over patti
seldom Travelled, and Of most difficult
nature We, however, proceeded, toe
cloud Of sn4Oke increasing as We went, on
all sides We had to paii with our horses
and proceed on foot and had not gone
over 800 or 400 yards from where We lei,
! The horses, when we came up to an enor
nous mass Of hot lava rolling onwarls
towards the Som,na, and we now become
aware We were in the immediate neigh
borlood of u considerable srupli ion our
suXiely now became great indeed, and
pressed forward and presently Ssrivcd al
wonderful scene. The entire OF the
lower part "f the great cone Of Fesuvus
appeared on fire, and thick masses OF
smoke were thrown up. mixed with red
hot stones and flakes Of lava; travelling
over most rugged way Of old lava. we
made our way up to the point whenc ,
the stones, lava and smoke seemed TO rise
in greatest Quantities. aud we arrived on
rise just oVer the greatest assure.
IL is difficult TO explain our feeling on
beholding this wonderful! and unexpected
sight we here found several guides, and
| from them we learned that st about 8 o
clock, 4. NJ. that morning, u humber oi
small craters and hssures had suddenly
opened and lava had commenced pouring
out.
1t was now nearly O'clock, and we
went quite cl,.se up ts tho 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 yXrd.
al the next open ; from THIS We counted
five or six distinct fountains Of fire. the
largest putting forth volumes Of smoke
stones and lava; from another liter:.
EuntaIn Of burning matter was elected
and from an lava aud smoke poured forth
in greater or less quantities, ths whole
torreat of lava uniting into regular
stream OF red burning liquid pouriRg
down the inclined side Of the valley.
We remained here Observing this won
derful sight for over M boCr, then deter
mine'i 10 ascend 20 the top Of the grsRt
cone. After most severe walk by q
path seldom Travelled, We toiled to III,
top, where We arrived TO see the las
sireaks of daylight gliding the distant
| horizon.
II was now sufficiently dark to see &C
cnra;ely the trace Of fire from all the fis
sures W. had left below, and standing OF
projecting piece Of lava the entire las
at our feet; the eruption evidently WA
on The iacrease, and acres upon acre
seemed putting forth 10 FIRE. The stream
Of burning lava now in the twilight be
came a~fuiIy visible, and rolled along a
rapid pace TO the bottom Of the valley
up TO The very sides Of the Monte Som
ma. We were perfectly amazed at ,
sight no pencil could portray or pen de
| scribe.
! Our guide now urged Us 10 descend =
the lava was running exactly towards tn,
/ path close to Monte So,nma on which ",
had travelled, and Il was quite eviden
that the smoke which wss howp dowl