The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-26

paying tho interest its consols due In January, which
have been already RENTED % Paris and London TOR that
Nj stiIlman who for some years has been the United
drawn BY the Turkish authorities and Is about leave
Tor Warrington rs rsT Il
MOUNT veSUWUS.
SPECIAL Correspondence o. To ERALD.
The Grent vslcnns Before sbs Eraptien--In-
tcrnnl Observation-Disclosures af sho Crater
sudaea and Terrible Uphca aRs-frho San
!. IN kcIipse-Changes Of Color Of the Smoke
General Aiarm-The Fiame-A Torrent Of
Lava and Fall Of Stenes-1Isrning Appear.
anccs.
Mount vesuvius has for some time Indicated much
dsquieude. and. from tho extreme frequency and
lence Of earthquakes which occurred during the few
preceding months 10 was Judged that great
ment eruption portended Tho appearances, how
ever mot immediate TO restrain curiosity 70
prevent repeated vsits 10 the crater which visits Of
late had beon than any former period
up to last sunday whom Two gentlemen assembled and
remained there some time Nothing unusua vas then
remarked nor any external evidences, except rather
emission OF smoke from tho nerstices Of the
conicai hill 1t the bottom Of the crater @
To those who have not visited this romantic and won
derf spo. slisht description il previously necessary
and Indispensable 70 form any conception Of H. and 70
better understand the account which foows; for
vins expect TO In the perfection and beauty
IN which u was on last Sunday morning..
eAbout thousand feet above the level OF tho
estimating from conjecture-on the south side Of the
mountain. and rather than two-thirds ~ height
opens circular chasm, somewhat exceeding half milo
in diameter. and between four and Ave hundred feet
Depth Exactiy In the centre Of this capacious bowl
conicsi hH about hundred and sixty three
cser richly covered ana variegated with shrubs BUSH
powdered over with virgin sulphur 70 the TOP. From
the assures In the conc and nterstices OF rock thin
with signt blush flame Tue pseciptous sides Of
this magnificent amphheatre were friDged with vari-
Alpine plants. On tho north and south sides Of Tho
base OF the como were twO pieces Of wateronc peect-
iy pure and tasteoss and the olher strongly mpreg-
uafed with sulphur and alum. This lonely and beautiful
spot was rendered more enchanting By the spguariy
meiodious notes Of brdan nnabitant OF these upper
sottudcs, but seldom seen below.
The present erupl is Of tho most terrible that
has occurred durng This century. AS tho bells we're
ringing the hour Of on tho 18th an abrupt and
dreadful crash from tno mountain, With severe con-
q SS nan an se hs Ne nv
mace proclaimed 10 moment BY tho vast collection
u thick. black, ropy smoke like that from immense
snowsrng down sand, WITH gritty cacined particles or
earth aud tavLla Mixed upon all below. This. driven
before the wind to the south and southeast dareusd
shs air like rain storm. and covered woods bridges
and hats with light gray colorsd ashes rssembns snow
shower
taken into Its destructive embrace every appearance OF
vegetation AZ night very considerable degree 81 ign
ton observed upon the lips OF the CRATER but the
two gentlemen before mentioned who visited 10 last,
did not notice any visible asccnson Of the name
Tho fall OF favia ana cacined pebbles still increased
aud the compact pilchy column from the crater
panied oy noise a Intervals ike mo mutterings u
dis ant thunder On "Wednesday all those monaciBg
thick ana terrific FOR mica around the dismal hall Oh
secured mountain Tho prodgious column shot up with
quicker motion, dilafng. IS IL bcca ne elevated, IKE
balloon the appeared IN total eclipse and shed
meridian twilight Us thai aggravated the awful
gloom Of the now completely powdered over with
failing suiphurous and ferruginous PARTICLES
II VAS evident that tne crisis was yet come-that
the burning and struggling for ven, aud laboriug
to throw Oh tho superintendent and distractions
which suppressed tho ncry torrent AZ night Il was
manifest that greatly dsengaged aolf from s burden
By the appearance Of Are flashing now aad then and
On Thursday, the memorable 2ist or November tho
reflection Of the sun on this majestic body Of curling
vapoT sublime beyond the power Of tho imagina-
,ion 20 conceive Any comparison Of the glaciers.
Of tho Andes o. Of The Icrdilicras with u can
aud brliiancy Of this awful column OF mingled smoke
and clouda An hour or two afterwards II assumed a
ana In The course q tho day fsrrugnous ana
Appearance. With much livoler action In the Ascent and
more extensive dilatation - almost freed from OBJ
In he afternoon the noise was ,nccsssn. and ~
ssmbied ths approach o. thunder, coming nearer aud
A yet there were no c0nvusvc motions
seized al bcholaers Tns nbabians near the base q
stock ana everything thsy possessed and aed precip
lately 70 The nearest town The aborerz became con-
sas q rumble ss:ss IN hey
With dread Of wat they could not understand nor de-
About four O'Clock tho noiss became more alarming
and juss before sunset The clouds reflected bright cop
per color. sunosed with nrs. Scarcely had NE day
rom tho crater through the Of smoke; the rolling
OF the thunder became moro awful aud dcatenng; sec
ana nov, incssd, confusion began in earnest Tsos:
only who have Witnessed such sight can form any
ss ss .'f q s
acrcw tho perpendicular column Of the smoke coming
from tho mousb like rscksls Of the most dazxng
briliIancy others, like shells with their trailing fuses
lying 10 different parabolas With the vivid scntls.
tons from The dark, sanguins column, which nov
shortly after seven the mighty csnldroa began %
simmer and the shuon of lava 10 break OUT the
sSs crimes ana aowns short way. was eppossd - an
accliv.y q ahghY pcsn. o. land ever which y was
Hpa o. ss s s' 9asa O.: s s aS,s
nns. when shs sbssDn siackonsd Or wa insaincIsns
% urge over the obsrrctins hil's reccsiod bsck
every obstacle caylpa rockx and woods together IN
ep.aisd i.ssii down some Va, rsvins ysS slcbSisr
bodies ~ hre were seen projected frou the hsy Furnaces
ruf&fnks JACK into " OF over " on tu< sur
rounding bushes, which we're instantly set n flames
About m hour and haN Afterwards another stream OF
lava sson dessssdna 10 the eastward. The thun.
dernx nrise "a tho aountsn and ths ylpraon OF sound
thai "a besn formaabls hitherto, nov mingled IN
the s,len monotoDous OF the rolling hva until
oecsms terrible thas dlsmay aimos turnsd into
DESPAIR. Al thg time the nrst earthquake felt
This .as followed w showers cndsrs thai fen With
bissIns nosss thst issisd Tor two hours.
Al three o'clock 10 TIE morning rolnx on the roofs
Of houses Indicated Tall q stones, which soon thick
ered and At Iergth dssc>nded OF intsrminsicd
Gre that threatened n once the tate Of ponps Hccu
langu. Tho cracking and corrusentons from the
period sxc@sisd au ths mad ys' gons before
The eyes wers struck with monssntaFy hindness. aud
the ears stunned with she a8xlomer2uOn on sounds.
People sought ~ etsr In collars under rocks any
where. for evcrywns nsary he same. The
cradle pcassntry wore knocxsd down and wounded aud