The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1858-06-30
The Eruption of vesuvius.

The Eruption of VesuViuS.
NAPLES, May 31-Sincc Saturday the erup-
ton has proceeded with constantly increasing
violence and has presented at night more
magnificent spectacle. In my last letter l men
toned that there issued from the great basin of
fire in the Atrio single stream of lava, which,
after tortuous course, was descending the de-
declivity of the mountain. This stream has
continued its course, varying in breadth accord
ing 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 lat
ter 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.
In the afternoons of Saturday and Sunday
two other streams oflava broke out Of the great
basin, and are descending the mountains to-
wards the neighborhood of Portici. These
streams seem to follow the direction o! ravines,
which run nearly parallel to the ridge on which
the Observatory and the Hermitage stand
These buildings have been hitherto saved from
submersion by the lava by their great elevation,
the fluid naturally following the direction ofthe
direction OF the lower ground at either side of
them.
Last night the spectacle was peculiarly grand
and imposing The lava was poured in increas-
ed quantity along each Of the streams already
established, and being in high state of ncan-
desence, presented peculiarly splendid appear
ancc.
At about eight o'clock an immense torrent Of
lava broke over the ridge which confines the
basin ofcraters, in the direction Of the Somma;
it flowed kown thu declivity of the Somma as
an immense torrent ofliquid fire, and with such
extraordinary rapidity that in less than an hour
it had descended through considerable por-
toned of the mountain. Its progress was then
retarted, partly by the diminished stecpncss of
the ground, and partly by the transverse ra
vines, 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 cxtraor-
dinary burst of splendor which has been pre-
sented since the commencement of the erup.
ton, took place soon after nine 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 varied colors pro-
duced in different parts, owing probably in part
to reflection, presented a beautiful and striking
appearance. The lurd light diffuSed from this
enormous burning mass rendered visible the
subjacent country, the towns, the coast and the
bay
On each night several thousands of persons ol
all ranks, from the peer to the peasant, urged
by curiosity, repair to the scene of this extra
traordinary spectacle. The darkness being
complete, and the route in many parts difficult
each party is furnished with torch, and the
view of these hundreds Of torches fitting about
between the streams oflava is most curious, pr .
senting the appearance Of multitudes of fire
flies.
. The Hermitage which is close to the grea
, basin OF cratcrs and rivers orlava, is approach
ed by q t,lerably good carriage road, and, al
g may be supposed, hundreds of vehicles Of ever,
\ description, from the calechc of the millonair
}, to the humble coricolo are collected there tC
: wards midnight. Donkey parties abound, o
y which ladies do not fear to form part
1 June 1.-The state of the mountain last nigh
), was nearly the same as on the preceding night
n the eruption perhaps, being little less violent
C The great streams oflava already described con
S tinue to flow slowly in the same direction.
0 Part of the extraordinary splendor of tn
d spectacle on Sunday night was due to the burn
d ing of forests, over which the lava passed.
't The Neapolitans congratulate themselves o
the circumstance of the lava having been direc
ID ed into so many different streams; for if, as
m former eruptions, it had all been thrown int
80 one channel the destruction which must hay
N ensued, would have been tremendous.
June 1.-The eruption is splendid! Thcl
are three streams Of lava, which begin just b
tween Vesuvius and Somma; we went as ne;
e' as possible, we climed to the top of a ridge
lava which had begun to cool, but it required {
G. the carefulncss of our guides to prevent o
'c' burning our feet off. On our way down we we
9 to the top Of the Observatory, whence the vie
"a of the lava was splendid; the middle was flo'
u ing as fast as water; there was rayed refle
at ton in the smoke which - said was just Ii
ne the Aurora Borealis in Scotland. The cru
ton began last Wednesday night the lava b
~ gins where it did in 1856. There wee thor
ay ands of people on the mountain; it was an e
ne traordlnary scene. At the end Of one of t
eu streams oflava, that on the Castellamare side
III, the Hermitage, there was ceremony, 81
= pose to stop the lava. There were saint a
,se some priests in attendance.
/