Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-16
MORNING LEADER
MORNING.. APR. I6, 1854

The Very Latest Discoveries in POmpeli.
NJ. Mare Mounier, in an article in 6
French journal, gives the following graph
ic account of the discovery Of human
bodies in POmpeii, by NJ. FiOrelli:
0ne day in little street, under heap
of stones and rubbish IA vacant space was
l discovered, at the bottom Of which appear
ed something like bones. NJ. Fiorelii was
summoned in haste, and he conceived q
luminous idea. BE poured in some liquid
plaster, and the same operation was per-
formed at other points where bones had
been likewise discovered; and IS soon as
the plaster hardened, the mould was lifted
with the greatest precsution, and, on the
hardened sshe and lava being removed, four
corpses appeared. They are now at the
museum, and no more striking sight it is
possible to behold. They are not statues,
but human bodies moulded by Vesuvius,
and preserved from decay by that envelope
of lava which reproduces the clothes, the
flesh, nay, almost the appearance Of life.
The bones protrude here and there where
the mOulten liquid did not completely COW
er the limbs. Nowhere does anything
like this exist. The Egyptian mummies
are naked, black hideous. They appear
to have nothing in common with humsni-
ty; they are dressed out by the Egyptian
undertaken for their eternal repose-the
exhumed Pompeisni are human be-
ings in the act Of dying. One Of the
bodies is that Of woman, near whom
we're found ninety-one silver coins, two
silver vases, some keys, and few jewels.
She was flying, carrying her most vslus-
ble commodities with her, when she fell in
the narrow street. Her hesd-dress, the
tissues of her clothes, and two silver rings
on her finger, can be easily detected. One
Of her hands are broken, and the cellular
structure Of the bones exposed to view;
the left arm is raised and writhing, the
delicate hand convulsively shHi; the nails
appeared TO have entered the flesh. The
whole bodyappesrs swollen and contracted;
the legs alone-the rounded and
delicate outlines Of which has not
suffered-are stretched out. You can feel
that she had struggled long in fearful
pain. Her attitude is that Of agony; not
death. Behind her 9 woman and young
= girl had fsllen. The former, the mother,
possibly, Was Of humble extraction, tc
Judge from the size Of her ears. On her
finger is q single iron ring. Her left leg
/ raised and bent, denotes that she also
struggled and suffered. Near her reclinet
. the young girl-almost child. The Gs-
sue Of her dress is seen with won
drous distinetness-her sleeves com
ing down to the wrist, and the en-
broidery on her shoes. She had
through fear probably, lifted her dresI
over. She fell with her face to the ground
= One Of her hands is half open, as thougl
she had used it to keep her veil over hel
face. The bones Of her fingers protrud
through che lava. She appears to hsv
ID died easily. He is stretched on his back
N as though he meant to meet his fate brave
": his arms and legs show no sign o
le struggling; the bTaeeo (trowsers) clos
II fitting; laced sandals, tine soles studde
with thick nails; on one finger an irol
ring; few teeth are broken hi
ewes and hair are obliterated, but his thio
moustache is clearly apparent, and 1t
impossible not to be struck with the maj
tia! and resolute appearance Of his fesi
ures. After the women we see convulsiVe
~ iv olinging to life, we see here the ma
calmly meeting his fate in the midst c
the great onVulsion-impGVidEm Perie'
ruize. Nothing yet discovered ct Pompe
q. offers us anything to be compared wit
si- this pslpitating drama. 1t is violent deaf
e. with its supreme tortures, its convulsioI
and agonies brought clearly before us, an
IL AZ it we're, taken in the act, after the lspt
be Of eighteen centuries.