The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-16

CITY. Avn" " "a - H4'-' of III
The Eruption Of vesuyius-A GRAND
ana Marvellous SpectacIe-A Con
slant Stream OF Fire Thirty Feet in
Width.
N"P'es NOV 2o) correspondence London Times
as yet 1 have done scarcely more thar
note the fact Of the eruption of Vesuvius
put so much has 1t increased since Wed
nesday last, and 50 marvellously beautiful
- INC spectacle, shat it merits a more de-
tahed report. Unlike those terrific dis
pieys which we have had at times, and
which cease with one great effort, this is 9
lava eruption, increasing ever in force and
beauty, and promising duration Of some
weeks, II not months. If so-and it is the
opinion OF those most experienced in these
matters-all the world may see it as soon
as the groundless fears as to the state OF
Naples have vanished. For the first one
or two nights the mountain was modest
enough in its emonstrations-tongue OF
lire shot up to announce its internal agi-
tatlon, and thin stream Of lava trickled
down behind in the direction of Of
tajano, which lies on the southeast side
of Vesuvius. Some friends who went up
there early gave vague idea Of the scene,
and spoke Of eight or ten new craters, be-
ing no moro than so many assures opened
by the explosive force Of the mountain,
and which change in number and charac-
ter from day to day. For the last two OF
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 noun
tain, Since December, 1861, it has been
almost quiescent, with the exception OF
one or two sulky and uncertain puffs, and
our clear blue atmosphere has ceased to be
marked with the spiral columns of smoke
On the very summit has gaped the huge
crater, measuring nearly 700 feet in cir
conference, around which even children
might have played, being careful only
to avoid certain sulphurous exhala-
tons which wero emitted at inter
walls. During tho last two years q
small conc has been formed by the
matter gradually elected from the sulphu-
rous hole we could scarcely see its head
above the walls Of the large crater, but
within the last week, like some presump-
tuous STRIPPING, it has shot up above its
venerable parent, and this it is which has
been Tuning and spluttering and storming
with all the arrogant Impotence ofyouth
since last Wednesday. 1t has sent forth
an immense quantity Of lava, converting
the surrounding crater into lake Of fire.
At first the high circIing 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 o passage. The
result has shown that it is lower in the di-
rcction Of Ottajano, on the southeast, and
those who do not care to make the ascent
may have glorious view Of it from SOr-
rento. Still there is nothing like mount
ing to the top, SO let us be off; yet, better
still, suppose it to have been done, and that
last night. Giovanni CozHolino was our
guide, who, by virtue having accompanied
Humboldt and many Of the scientific and
literary men Of tho. age, expects his own
name to be enrolled in literary annals.
He is, however, q very safe and intelligent
guide. There was no incident to mark
until we got to the foot of the main cone,
when we heard the thunder of the noun
tain and felt shocks, as OF an earth
quake at every effort made to disgorge
the liquid fire. Ascending by the usual
road, we were compelled, on approaching
the summit, to skirt little round to the
southeast, for two reasons-firSt, to get on
the blind side of the wind, which might
have brought down upon us an lnconye-
nient shower of stones; and, secondly, to
obtain better view of the main stream.
which was fed not only by the great crater,
but by another oriice opened outside,
about twenty feet in diameter. From this
spot the stream Of living fire, full twenty tc
thirty feet in width, poured down TO the bot
tom of the mountain rapidly, where it met
no obstacles, and where it did, struggling
energetically until it carried everything
before it. To the edge Of the crater ii
was impossible to approach; the heat was
scorching. And what would have been the
consequences had the lava boiled over and
come down upon u.s. 1t was difficult
therefore, to form any fair estimate of its
size, but one might have supposed that ii
was not more than seventy feet in diane
| ter. 1t was not moment, however, tol
| figures when Nature was exhibiting hel
power in one of its grandest forms. There
was O roar and shock, and then shot forth
flames and stones full 1000 feet in height
at intervals of from one to five SECONDS.
according to the watch of one of the party
| These tremendous commissions were re-
peated, and then came the descending
shower. composed of stones of various sizes
some half q ton in weight, Judging by the
bulk. We could mark their course by the
eve as long as they retained their red heat
but on approaching the earth they BLACK
ened, and then the ear alone could tel
what was spotting and ptting the eartl
around. By the same person who mad al
ready acted as calculator it was declared
that the descent occupied five seconds
much in excess, would imagine, OF tht
actual time. Precision, Of course, was I'm
possible in the excitement Of such scene
and if we say that one thousand feet wa
the height attained we shall not be VIDE 0
the mark. 1t was nervous proximity 4
danger on which to stand, so the whole
marty soon decamped, and got back t.
Nanles shortly after midnight, awe-strucl
nv a scene that can never be 1orsotleo
Vet without the fatigues OF on ascent
any one can from the city ENJOY specta
Gle of marvellous beauty, only dlmlnlsne,
in proportions as compared with that whlc!
II have lust described. There is no SOUND
bnt there are those everlasting flames
across the centre Of which is sometime
drawn swathe of dark clouds, giving U
| their SUBMITS the appearance OF create
height; and the sky is glowing with a ace !!
red color; and mighty stones, reduced o
distance, are falling like myrlads OF OF star sar
ON The summit Of the mountains, tne 100
of which is wrapped in darkness. What
gorgeous scene, and how much more gof
geous it promises to be