The Portland daily press., 1864-08-30
Tuesday Morning, August 80, 1864.
Ponnpeii.

The discoveries which are made In the un-
covering OF The ruins OF Pompei increase in
interest IRON year TO year. The present sys-
TEN OF excavation is more scientific, and the
objects which are revealed TO the eyes of the
modern world are more carefully preserved
than formerly. The excavations al Pompeii
commenced as long ago as l74S, when Colo
mel Alcublerre, who had been sent to inspect
new canal or watercourse, observed that il
was constructed through ancient ruins. He
obtained permission from Charles III TO make
some excavations, and in a few days he open
ed a house in Pompeii. The ruined city was
then supposed 10 be Stabie, and il was not
till nearly eight years after the discovery that
1t was identified as Pompeii. The continuous
iabors OF The Neapoitan Government, IRON
that time forward, have uncovered an exten-
sive city, with the streets and lower stories of
houses, the temples and baths, the furniture
and decorations, and in many instances with
the skeletons of the ancient inhabitants Read
ers are familiar with the details OF these
strange and interesting discoveries. The more
recent evacuations have added greatly 10 the
interest'o Pompeii, and Mr.. Ginsepi Fiorclii
has chieved very important success, surpass-
ing in some respects, all that had been done
before his appointment TO the superintend-
ence. ReUue des Aonds lately gave a re-
markable sketch OF the life and career OF this
very lchtACu dnu dlCOhpitcuta AiS
was a man OF great ability a scholar, at TWEEN
ty-three years Of age, Vice President oil the
Italian convention Of sdraas OF Genoa, the
subject OF persecution by the Neapolitan Gov
ernment, imprisoned, his manuscripts destroy
ed, and himself finally reduced TO earn his liv-
ing by laying pavemenis in the streets of Ma
piles. He was appointed Inspector of the
Pompeiian excavations after the establish
ment OF the Italian kingdom, and he has JUS
titled the appointment. BY more careful
system, he has succeeded in uncovering the
second story and projecting balconies OF hous-
es-a feature hitherto unknown 10 Pompeii.-
The latter portion is built Of brick, supported
by tmbers, and the evidence thus gained
shows that the narrow streets of the city were
shaded from the sunshine much as oriental
cities now are. This gives us a new idea OF a
Roman city. Pompeii was heretofore little
more than plane; streets with ruined walls
of houses on each side. Now We can see the
city as IL was. The careful preservation of
fragments, noting positions in which found,
aud observing miautest particulars, enables
Signor Fiorelli to restore The entire house, in-
stead of leaving it dilapidaiei ruin as here
tofore, But the most remarkable discovery of
Signor Fiorelli is TO be mentioned. In the
eruption which destroyed the city, the ashes
fell in some places with considerable quant-
ties of water, forming IN fact a mud or paste
which hardened over many objects. This tact
had been noticed in one or two instances, and
the great show articles of the museum had
been the impression Of a female breast In the
hardest mould.
But Fiorelli had gone further. and obtainhd
casts OF the entire body in several instances.
He has found the moulds where the mud form
ed around the bodies of the dying Pompeiians,
and pouring plaster into the hollow, he OBJ
tains fac simile statue of the man or wo-
man, just as he or she yielded to the terrible
catastrophe. The eloqnence Of these statues
surpasses all description. There were four
bodies found in one street. Among them
were evidently mother and daughter. The
mother died calmly, lying on her side, per-
haps sufiocated. The daughter yielded not so
easily. She was not sixteen years old. Her
limbs, restored on the plaster cast, are in an
attitude of pain, her small fingers clenched in
the agony of the death struggle. She had
thrown veil over her face, and bowed her
arms TO shield her from the blast OF the fiery
storm, The very fashion Of her dress Is per-
fectly shown in the cast, and there is q start
ling peculiarly in the exhibition ofthe smooth
skin and rounded flesh where there are rents
in her garments. There can be no criticism
Of such statues as these. They are the repro
duction out OF the distant past OF the very az
ony of death coming on the Roman mother
ana uef cnllu. luHft IL uO litliutt III TIC COpl
There 1t is-as the storm of ashes both caused
aud preserved it--in solid mould, the human
anguish that the casting now reveals. Look
ing at it, one hears the very moan OF the young
girl ss she buries her face in her arms, and
yields to the terror of that awful night in Pom
peii.
The other two of the four above mentioned
are thus described by writer in the Edin-
burgh Recie,c.
.'At some distance from the group lay a
third woman. She appears 10 have been
about twenty-five years of age, and to have
belonged to a better class than the other two,
On one of her fingers were two silver rings,
and her garments were OF :. finer texture.
Her linen head-dress, falling over her should
ers like that Of a Roman matron, can still
be distinguished. She had fallen on her side
overcome by the heat and gases but terri
Bile struggle seems to have preceded her last
agony. One arm is raised In despair; the
hands are elenched convulsveiy. Her gar
ments are gathered up on one side, leaving
exposed limb of beautiful shape. SO per
feet mould of it has been formed by the
soft, yielding mud, that the cast would seem
20 be taken from an exquisite work OF Greek
art She had fed with her little treasure
which lay scattered around her-iwo silver
cups, a few jewels, and some dozen silvel
coins. Nor had she, like a good housewife
forgotten her keys, after having probably
locked up her stores before seeking TO escape
They were found by her side
"The fourth east is that of a man of th'
people, perhaps common soldier. He is o
almost colossal size. He lies On his back, hi
arms extended by his side, and his feet stretch
ed out, as II, finding escape impossible, he haS
lain himself down to meet death like brav,
man. His dress consisted of short coat o.
4. jerkin and ught1tting breeches, of somI
stuff, perhaps leather. Heavy sandals. wild
soles stuffed with nails, are laced around hi.
ankles. On one finger is seen his iron ring
His features are strongly marked: the moutl
opens as in ceath. Some Of the teeth still
remain, and even part of the moustache ad
heres TO the plaster"