The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-12-31
The Ernntlan I'D Mt. Ne.n.iu..

10 the Naples correspondence 81 the
London Times
Unlike those terrific displays which We
have had a, times, and which cease
with one great effort. this is lava
eruption, increasing ever N force and
beauty, and promising duration q
some weeks. Il not months II so and
il is the opinion OF those most expert
enccd in these matters all tie world
may zee il ms soon as the groundless
fears as to the state Of Naples have van
ished. For the first one or two nights
the mountain Was modest enough IN its
demonstrations tongues OF fire shot
up TO announce its internal agitation,
and thin stream Of lava trickled down
behind II the direction Of Ottajano.
which lies on the southeast side Of YES
uyius
Since December, 1861. IL has been al-
most quescent with the exception Of
one OF two sulky and uncertain puiis,
and our clear blue atmosphere has
ceased to be marked with the spiral
columns Of smoke During the last
two years a small cone has been form
ed by the matter gradually elected
from this sulphurous hole, we could
scarcely see its head above the walls Of
the large crater, but within the last
week, hike some presumptuous STRIPPING,
il has shot up above its venerable par
ent and this it is which has been FUN
ing and spluttenng and storming with
all the arrogant Impotence Of youth
since last Wednesday. 1t has sent
forth an immense quantity Of lava, con
yetting the surrounding crater into a
lake OF FIRE.
GIOVANNI Cozzolno was our guide,
WHO, by virtue Of having accompanied
Humboldt and many OF the scientific
ard literary men Of the age, expects his
own name TO ue enrolled III literary an
mails. He is, however very safe and
intelligent guide There was no inci-
dent to marx until We got to the foot OF
the main cone, when we heard the thun-
der of the mountain and felt the shocks
OF m earthquake ut every effort TO dis
gorge the liquid fire. Ascending by
the usual road, we were compelled, on
approaching the summit to skirt lit
tic round to the southeast, for two rea-
sous-hrst, to get on the blind side OF
the wind, which might have brought
down upon us an announcement shower
OF stones; and, secondly, to obtain a
better view of the main stream which
was fed not 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 feet in width,
poured down to the bottom of the
mountain rapidly, where it met with no
obstacles, and where it died, struggling
energetically until it carried everything
before it. To the edge of the crater it
was impossible to approach; the heat
was scorching, and what would have
been the consequences had the lava
boiled over and come down upon us ?
1t was difficult, therefore, to form any
fam estimate Of its size, but one might
have supposed that 1t was not more
than seventy feet in diameter IL was
not moment, however, for figures
when nature was exhibiting her power
III one of its grandest forms.
There was roar and shock, and
then shot forth flames and stones ful
1000 feet in height, at intervals of from
one to five seconds, according to the
watch Of one OF the parts; the tremen-
dous commissions were repeated, anC
then came the descending shower
composed of stones of various sizes
some certainly half ton III weight
judging by the bulk. We could marx
their course by the eye as long AS they
retained their red heat, but on APP
preaching the earth they blackened
and then the car alone could tell what
was spotting and plttng the eartl
around.
by the same person, who had already
acted as calculator, 1t was declared
that the descent occupied five seconds
much III excess | should imagine, OF the
actual time Precision, OF course, wa,
impossible in The excitem ent Of such 1
scene, and if we say that one Thousand
feet was the height attained, we shal
not be wide of the mark 1t was q
nervous proximity to danger on which
to stand, SO the whole party soon de
camped, and got back to Naples short
ly after midnight, awe struck by |
scene which never can be forgotten.
Yet without the fatieues OF an ascent
any one can from the city enjoy a spec
tacle Of marvellous beauty, only dimin
i5ned in proportions as compared witt
That which / have Just described r
There is no sound, bat there are thos,
everlasting flames, across the centre 0
which is sometimes drawn a swathe O
dark clouds, giving to their sesnmits al
appearance Of greater height, and tia
shy is glaring with a deep red color
and mighty stohA6 reduced by distance
are sailing like myr1ads Of stars on thi
summit Of the mountain, the foot o
which is wrapped ia darkness. VIVA
gorgeous scene, and how much NOR
gorgeous it promises to be.
THAD STEVENS. Thad Stevens Tia,
other day. weak and dying as he is
fired shot at Brooks OF New York, tina
was worthy Of his better days. So, loy
ers Of liberty and humanity lay mp fol
precious remembrance the key-words 0