Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-27
Great Eruption of vesuvius.

The London Times correspondent at Naples states
that the great eruption OF Vesuvius took place on
nights 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 Atrio
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 of
their furniture and all movabies of value, If the
lava continues its present course to the sea it would
traverse the Casells Railway and destroy part
of the town Of POrtici The following description
of the eruption will be read with interest,"
NAPLES, May 81, IS58-Since Saturday the erup-
ton has proceeded with constantly increasing yio-
lence and has presented at night a more and more
magnificent spectacle. In my last letter mention
ed that there issued from the great basin of fire in
the Atrio single stream Of lava, which, after a
tortuous course was descending the activity of the
mountain. This stream has continued its course,
varying in breadth, according to the accidents of
the ground, and seems now to direct itself TO a
point between Portici and Tore del Greco but
much nearer the latter :han the former It ap-
proaches close TO the scattered farm houses which
lie above the towns at the foot of the mountain,
many of which it scarcely fail to destroy.
In the afternoon of Saturday and Sunday two 9TH
er streams of lava broke out of the great basin,
and are descending the mountains towards the
]
follow the direction of ravines, which nearly
parallel TO the ridge on which the observatory and
hermitage stand These buildings have hitherto
been saved from submersOn by the lava by their
great elevation, the fluid naturally following the
direction of the lower ground either side of them
Last night the spectacle was peculiarly grand and
imposing The lava was poured in increased guam
tity along each of the streams already established
and being in high state of incandesence presented
peculiarly splendid appearance.
About eight O'clock immense torrent of lava
broke over the ridge which confines the basin of
craters in the direction Of the Somma. 1t flowed
down t dechyity of the Somma as an
immense torrent Of liquid fire, and with such ek-
traordinary rapidity that in less than an hour it
had descended through considerable portion of the
mountain. Its progress was then retarded, partly
by the diminished steepness Of the ground and
partly by transverse ravines, which must be filled
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 splendOr which has been
presented since the commencement Of the eruption
took place soon after nine o'clock, when all the
mouths seemed to be simultaneously called into
violent action, ard to vomit forth such torrents Of
lava that the entire mountain seemed one blaze Of
FIRE the varied cOlors produced in different parts,
owing probably in part to reflection, presented
beautiful and striking appearance The lurid light
diffused from this enormous burning mass rendered
visible to the subjacent country, the towns, the
coast and the bay.
On each night several thousands of persons of all
ranks, from the peer the peasant, urged by curl
osity repaired the scene Of this extraordinary spec
tacle. The darkness being complete, and the route
in many parts difficult each party is furnished with
a torch, and the view Of these hundreds Of torches
fitting about between the streams of lava is most
curious presenting the appearance of mulitudes of
frefies.
The Hermitage, which isclOse to the great basin
of craters and rivers of lava, is approached by a
tolerably good carriage road, and as may be sup
posed, hundreds Of vehicles of every description,
from the caleche Of the millionaire to the humble
coricolo, are collected there towards midnight
Donkey parties abound, Of which ladies do not fear
to form part
JUNE ], lS58.-The state Of the mountain last
night was nearly the on the preceding night,
the erupiion, perhaps, being little less violent.
The great streams OF lava already described con
tinue to flow slowly in the same direction.
Part OF the extraordinary spleHd1T Of the spectacle
on sunday night was dUe The burning Of forests,
over which The lava passed. The Neapolitans con-
graduate themselves on the circumstance Of the lava
having been directed into SO many different streams;
fOrif as in former erupuons it had all been thrown
into one channel, the destruction which must have
ensued would have been tremendous
JUNE !, lS5S.-The eruption is splendid There
are three streams of lava which begin just between
NssuVius and ,SOmma; We went SIS near as possible