The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-12-27
The ERUPTION Of Yesuvius.


The Naples (Nov. 3O) correspondence of
The London Times has the following.
As yet have scarcely done moro than
note the fact of the eruption of Nesuvus, but
30 much has il increased since Wednesday
last, aud so maryelously beautiful is the
spectacle, that IL merits more detailed
report. Unlike those terrific displays
which ceuse with one great effort, this 10 a
lava eruption Increasing even In force and
beauty, aud promising a duration OF some
weeks, ii not months. 1t so--and il is the
opinion Of those most experienced IN these
matters--all tho world may see il as soon
as the grouudless fears as TO the state of
Naples have vanished,
Since December, 1861, it has been almost
quiescent, with the exception Of one or two
sulky aud uncertain pulls, 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 circumference,
around which even children might have
played, being careful only to avoid certain
sulphurous exhalations which were emitted
at intervals. During the last two years a
small cone has been formed 10y 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, like some presump-
tuous STRIPPING it has shot up above its
venerable parent, and this il is which has
been fuming and splutterng and storming
with all the arrogant impatomce of youth
since last Wednesday. 1t has sent forth
an immense quantity of lava, converting
the surrounding crater into a lake of fire.
A l,A t,yh ,tr
within bounds but gradually il has risen
and risen, until II is now flowing down in
several directions where tho abrupt and
irregular wall admits of u passage.
The writer adds the following account Of
an ascent Of the mountain:
There was no incident to mark until we
got to the foot of the main cone, when we
heard the thunder OF the mountain, and
felt the shocks as OF an earthquake at every
effort made to disgorgc the liquid fire. As
cending 10y the usual road, we were com
PEELED, OF approaching the summit, to skirt
n little round to the southeast, for Two rea-
| sons-iirst, 10 get on the blind side Of the
wind, which might have brought down
upon us an inconvenient shower of stones ;
and secondly, TO obtain better view of
the main stream, which was fed not nnly
by the crater, but by another orihce
opened outside, about 20 feet in diameter.
From this spot the stream of living fire,
full 20 to 30 feet in width. poured down to
the bottom Of the mountain rapidly where
il met with no obstacles and where it did
struggling energetically until it carried
everything before it. To the edge &C the
crater it was impossible TO approach, the
heat was scorching and what would have
h.,.l L., I, Il
over and came down on US? 1t was d ficult
therefore, to form any estimate of it's size,
but one might have supposed that it was
not more than seventy feet in diameter. Ii
was not q moment, however, for figures
when Nature was exhibiting her power in
ono of its grandest forms. There was q
roar and shock, and then shot forth the
flames aud stones, full one thousand feet in
hight al intervals of from one to five
seconds, according to the watch of one OF
the party; these tremendous couvulsions
were repeated, and then came the descend.
ing shower, composed OF stones of variOus
sizes, some certainly half ton in weight
Judging by the bulk. We could mark
their course by the eye as long as they re-
tanned their red heat, hut on approaching
/ the earth they blackened, and then The cal
alone could tell what was spotting and pit.
ting the earth around. By the same per.
son who had already acted as calculator, il
was declared the descent occupied FIVE sec
onds-much in excess should imagine, oil
the actual time. Precision, of course was
impossible in the excitement of such q
scene. and If we say that one thousand feet
was attained, we shall not be wide Of the
mark 1t was nervous proximity TO dan
ger OH which to stand, 80 the whole party
soon decamped, and got back to Naples
shortly after midnight, awestruck by {
scene which can never be forgotten. Yet
without the fatigues OF an ascent, any one
from the city, can enjoy spectacle of mar
velous beauty, only diminished in proper
ton as compared with that which hav,
just described. There is no sound, bu
there are those everlasting flames, across
the center of which is sometimes drawn q
swathe Of dark clouds, giving to their sum
mits tho appearance OF greater hight, ant
the sky is glaring with deep red color
and mighty stOnes. reduced by distance
are falling like myriads of stars on the sum
init of the mountain, the foot of which il
wrapped in darkness. What gorgeous
scene, and how much more gorgeous il
promises to be.