Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-12-11
49, - u ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.a.i.
AND VIRGINIA sADVERTIS E +
TERMS OF ADVERTISING:
The Eruption ofyesuvius.

!ggj., The Eruption of fVesuyius.a :
l:.7,ai Naples (Noy. 2O) Cor. London Times !
49, As yet Ishaye done scarcely more than note
iaths fact of the eruption Of esuvius, but SO
= much u has it Increased since Wednesday last,
Il and sodmarvelously beautifulis tho spectacle,
that it merits a more detailed report. Unlike
those terrific displays which we have had at
times, and which cease with one great effort,
this sd lava eruption increasing ever in force
Iaainldbeauty, and promising q duration Of some
weeks if not months. If so--and itis the
opinion Of those most experienced these mat
7 ters--all the world may lit as soon as the
= EeroundIess fears as to the state of Naples have
vanished. For the first one or two nights, the
!, mountain was modest enough in its demonstra7
6 tions-tongues of fire. shot up to announce Its
internal agitation, and thin stream OF lava
s tricklsd down behind in the direction of Otta
iano, which lies on the southeast side OF Vesu-
Il yils.s Some friends who went up there early
: gave a; vague idea Of the scene, and spoke OF
eight or ten new craters, being no more than
!, so many assures opened by the explosive force
!, Of the mountain, and which change in number
1 and character from day to day: For: the
last two or three nights, however, the scene
has been as grand as can we'll be conceived ;
but before giving details, let me describe the
actual state and appearance of the mountain:
Since December, 1861, it has been almost qui-
escent with the exception Of one or two sulky
and uncertain ipuffs, and our clear blue
v atmosphere has ceased to be marked with
the spiral columns of smoke. On the7 very
summit has gaped the hugescrater, measuring
nearly 700 feet in circumference, around which
even children might have played, being care
full only to avoid certain sulphurous eXhala-
tons which were emitted at intervals. During
the last two years small cone has been formed
By the matter gradually elected from tho sui,
4ophurous hole; We could scarcely see Its head
i the last week, like some presumptuous strip
: ling, it has shot up above its venerable parent,
! and this it is which has been fuming and sput-
stering and storming with all the arrogant I'M
& patience of youth, since; last W ednesday: 1t
has sent forth an immense quantity OF lava,
converting the surrounding crater into lake OF
fire. at first the high circling walls kept it
within bounds, but gradually it has risen and
risen until it Is now flowing down in several
directions where the abrupt and irregular wall
admits of passage The result has shown
that it is lower In the direction of Ottajano,
on the southeast. and those who. 40 not care
to make the ascent may have a glorious view
of it from Sorrento. Still there is nothing
like mounting to the top, so let US be OFT; yet
better. still, suppose it. to have been done,
and that last night Giovanni Gozzollno was
,sour guide, who by virtue OF having accom-
panied Humboldt and many OF the .sclen-
stifc and literary men OF the age, expects
his own name to be enrolled IN literary an
nails. He lis, however, very safe ana IN
telIgent guide. There was no incident to
mark until we got to the foot OF the main come
when we heard the thunder OF. the mountain
and felt the shocks as of an earthquake at
everv effort made to,disgorge the liquid fire.
Ascending by the usual road, we were com
pe}led z on approaching the summit, to SKIRT
little round to the southeast, tor two reasons
fra. Is Get on the blind side OF the wind,
which might have brought down upon US an
iln1conyenient shower OF stones and secondly,
To Obtain better view of the main stream,
which was fed, mot only by the great crater,
but by another orifce opened outside, about
twenty feet in diameter. From this spot the
stream Of living fire, full twenty to thirty tee,
it width. poured down to the bottom OF the
mountain rapidly, where it met with no %.
q slacles. and where it Ibid, struggling energetl'
o, cally untilit carried everything before 1T. 1o
. the edge the crater it was impossible to- ap-
proach, the heat was scorching;; :, and What
would have been the consequence had the lava
boiled over and come down upon rs! 1t was
II, difficult, therefore, to- form any 1alr estmatt
ts of its size, but one might have supposed tha
I it was more that 20 feet IN diameter. it Was
not amoment, however, for figures when N azure
I was exhibiting her power IN one OF It's g[anoes
then Shot forth flames and stones full I,OOt
feet in height at intervals offrom one to tivt
seconds, according to the watch OF; one 90
tie party:l these tremendous commissions were
renaated. and then came the descending show
"a er'. comnosed of, stones of various sizes, SOM
certainly half ton in weight, Judging 10y tn
sobulk.' Wescould mark their course tby tn
eve 'as long Dis they retained their ! red heat
) but on approaching the earth they plackened
,o aud then the ear alone could tell What va
snottinp and pitting the earth around IS
the same nerson who had ALREADY acted q
calcnlator It was declared that, the descent oc
cun;ad FIVE seconds s@inuch in excess, shouk
iimaoine, Of the actual time. Precision, Q
:, gconrse. was impossible In the excitement 9
/, i such scene, and if we say that one thousap
feet 1.-THE height attained we shiaai ! not 20
vide of,the. mark. It. was g nerYouS5prq3S'n9 S
y sity to danger ON which to stand, So tAe ThVi M
,z party soon, ,decamped and got back, }to 9Napie
.l shortly after midnight, aWe.straek. sGen
which meyer can never ee lS2l lgotteni gees =
= without the fatiguesof an ascent, any ons ca
beauty, beau W. ouIy diminished IL The proportion
.esansred s Az Nth that which have just decrit
! ed. There is nosound, bnts there are thos
ba everlasting 9smes} across the. centred OF Tble
~ i soraet;beas drawn lswathe Of dark clond
@ givie tothsir SUBMITS the appearance OF grea
e q HEIGHT, and fhe' sky is glowing with De? e?
IL Ied eelos;n and mighty stones reduced by dl d
tanoe aye falling Ike myriadss ct staFs Ga u
~ xfsppsd il darkness. What Y. GORGEOUS 49, aoen
uot and how much more gorgeous 1t promises so'
a7obel 4 ssiizsi. slasaIsa so9 y 5an3I
~ 49, Idac J. G. MILBURN.