Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-05-05
The Dead of POmpeii Exhumed-The
Recent Remarkable Discoveries in the
Buried City.

OAey'
Interesting particulars of the recent re-
searches in the buried city of Pompeii are
given by correspondent of the London Ath-
eneum, who says that human bodies were
found in an excavation near the house called
that OF Abbondanza. Falling in a mass of
pumice stone, these unfortunate persons had
not become attached to the soil, and it was
easy to cut away the ground beneath them ;
but above, fire, ashes, and hot water had been
rained upon them from the fiery mountain,
causing their death, ana insuring their pre-
servation for nearly two thousand years. On
removing the debris, which consisted of the
roof and ashes which had fallen into the inte-
riOr OF the house, something like human
form was discovered, though nothing but fine
powder was visible. 1t occurred to Cavalier
Florelli that this might be kind of sarcopha
gus created by Vesuvius, and that within
were the remains of that terrible eruption.
But how to remove or preserve them? A
happy idea struck him. Plaster of Paris was
poured into an aperture, the interior having
been discovered to be hollow in consequence
of the destruction of the flesh, and mixing and
uniting with the bones, restored to the world
a Roman lady Of the first century.
Further researches led to the discovery of
a male body, another woman, and that OF
interest of the excavators was the finding Of
ninety cut pieces OF silver money, four ear
rings, a finger ring, all of gold, together with
two iron keys, and evident remains of linen
bag. These interesting relics have been now
successfully removed, and are lying in
house not far distant. They are to be pre-
served in Pompeii, and four bronze tables, of
an antique fashion, are preparing for their re-
ception.
The first body discovered was that of wo-
man, who lay on her right side, and from the
twisted position of her body had been much
convulsed. Her left hand and arm were rails
ed and contorted, and the knuckles were bent
in tightly; the right arm was broken, and at
each end Of the fragments the cellular char
acter of the bones was seen. The form of the
head-dress and the hair were distinctly WISH
bic. On the bone of the little finger of the
left hand were two silver rings one of which
was guard. The sandals remain, or the
soles at least. and iron or nails are unmstak-
ably to be seen. Though the body was much
bent, the legs were extended as if under the
influence OF extreme pain.
In an inner chamber was found the figure
of the young girl lying on its face, resting
on its clasped hands and arms; the legs
drawn up, the left lying over the right-the
body thiny covered in some parts by the SEQ
rie or the plaster, whilst the skull was visible
and highly polished. One hand was partially
closed, as if it had grasped something, proba-
bly, her dress, with which it had covered the
head. The finger bones protruded through
the incrusted ashes, and on the surface of the
body in various parts was distinctly visible
the web of the linen with which it had been
covered There was lying by the side of the
child full grown woman, the left leg slightly
a.
the left, which is bent, is perfect and the
hand is closed. The little finger has an iron
ring; the left ear, which is uppermost, is very
conspicuous and stands off from the head.
The folds of the drapery, the very web re-
main, end nice observer might detect the
quality of the dress.
The body Of man lay upon its back, with
the legs stretched out to their full length.
There was an iron ring on the little finger of
the left hand, which, together with the arm,
was supported by the elbow. The folds of the
dress on the arm and over the whole upper
part OF the body were visible; the sandals
were there, and the bones of one foot pro-
truded through what might have been brok-
en- sandal. The traces of the hair of the head
ana beard were there; and the breath of life,
auuS the writer, had only to be inspired into
tnis ana the other three figures to restore to
we woria OF the nineteenth century the Ro.
mans OF the hrst century. They might have
fallen but yesterday, for were there not still
remaining their sandals, their dress, the very
tracery OF the hair? They were trying to es-
cape from destruction, for the bodies were
found at short distance from the other, as
II IN the act OF running. What couId have
induced them to remain so long it is onlv ner-
mitted to imagine. They were three women
who, terror struck, had been unable, perhans.
to act until aided and urged forward by the
man. 1t may be with that attachment which
binds us all so closely to our native place and
hearth, they stlll chung to their homes with
the hope that the storm would soon pass away