The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-30
EOIT I'll DIN
MOUNT vEsUvIUs.
The Grand Volcanic Eruptlon Of
IS67-.'A Pillar of c:oud bv
Day and q FiilaF OF
Fire ~ Might"

silent and without q sign of life like any other
great heap Of earth anu ashes. The few visitors
who came here, after the canonization at
Rome, In june despite the prevalence OF the
Gnoieds, WerS, OF course, dlsappointed at seeing
hills when viewed from distance, instead OF
the smoking, flaming mountain which pictures
of Vesuvius had led them to expect. Rambling
through the ruins of Pompeli ana Hercula-
neum, they were unable TO realize how
caused by so apparently commonplace an
elevation as Vesuvius seemed to be. Even
when you assembled the noun In itself, and saw
the jets OF smoke curling beneath your feet, and
felt the heat OF the ashes, and smelt the sui
rough, rugged, and ghastly crater. filled with
fumes and vapors, ana suggesting q close con-
nection, through subterranean passages, with
the Internal regions IL was not easy to recon-
clle the appearance of the volcano with what
you had read or heard of its magnihcence and
power. But now Nesuvius is in flames, the
earth trsmbles, and one of the most sublime
spectacles on earth is presented to our eyes.
All summer long the veteran guides of Naples
have limited to visitors that an eruption was at
hand, basinR their predictions upon observa-
tions and experiences OF which the ordinary
tourist can know nothing. But, as usual. these
predictions were regarded as mere traps to In
duce travellers to stay, awhile longer at this
most scenic. most jovial, and most enjoyable OF
Continental cities, and were listened to with
incredulous smiles and shakes or the head.
guides and of everybody else was attracted by
another eruption, more interesting then than
baldi had declared his crusade against
Rome and the red shirts were again TO take
tan, lads turned out to follow their Is.ader 10
Rome or DEATH" and are now sleS.piup forever
beneath the grasses Of Monte Rotondo and
Montana. When the ll.starred crusade was
over, fears were entertained by the Government
that the returning Garibaldians and their
friends at Naples, already disaffected towards
the King would at once undertake q revoiu-
tion, and IL was whispered about that Mazzini
was on hand to head the movement. In fact
two or three enlutes did occur but nothing
serious, and the Government had SO strength
ened the garrison Of the city that any rising
could be instantly crushed. So the authorities
watched the people, and the people grumbled
tion. and the strangers hurried away to Rome
so soon as the Eternal City was relieved from
siege, and nobody Thought Of Vesuvius, stand
guishable from other adjacent hills.
Last night. however, as II Jealous Of these
tion, the famous volcano suddenly burst forth
in glory Of smoke and fame. Everybody
state of excitement Signor Palmierl, the
superintendent of the National Observatory,
and been upon the spot with his instruments
started at once In haste for the mountain, to
nomena. He found ten new craters forme,I or
in course OF formation, IN and near the great
central crater These new craters are sms II at
present, averaging five or six feet in diam eter;
but they constantly throw out red-hot stones
and cinders, and slowly vomit forth boiling
lava. The lava now pours into and upon the
central crater; when that is dlled, IL will roll
down the side of the mountain, as in the days
when Pompeii was smothered and Hercuia-
neum choked out of existence by an eruption
as sudden, but much more terrific than this.
Mount Vesuvius, you will remember, Is about
ten miles from Naples, and the mountain
proper is about twenty four hundred feet nigh,
ascending by very gradual slope. But from
the top of the mountain, perched nearly in the
centre, rises truncated cone fifteen hundred
feet high, and this contains the crater of the
volcano. The eruption OF 1888 gave the interior
of this cone the form of an old fashioned tea
hundred TO forty feet, and the inside being
about five hundred feet deep. The present
Eatr has not yet changed this pT% and
interior Of the cone. AT any moment, however,
the demon who groans beneath the mountain
In his burning bed may transform the whole
exterior of Vesuvius.
Such outbreaks as this which we are now per-
am 70 ernpSn on the P%randest poss
BILE scale, or may die away, after few weeks,
not TO be renewed in many months or years.
1850, and 1855 are to be repeated or whether this
is merely theatrical display, ending harm
Naples and attract crowds OF tourists. Thus far
II presents the combined phenomena OF red-hot
stones, cinders, and lava. These phenomena
are not always coincident Although there
were undoubtedly streams OF lava from the
curate record of the discharge of LIQUID lava
until 1886. Some eruptions have been accom-
how The earth rnmbies Beneath he 1Ie feet ooS oS
those who visit the mountain, detonations are
heard, as from subteTranean cannon. and the
yawn in hideous chasms and swallow up all
living things. Only when you pass down from
the loose ashes of the cone, across the lack,
desoate belts of jagged scori@ and reach the
rich, smiling whey ards at the foot OF this fiery
and uneasy monster, does the sense OF security
return, and even then this sense of security is
again dissipated when you glance back at the
smoking cTaters and recollect how far the winds
have often carried the fatal showers of mud and
ashes that Vesuvius Vomits forth. This Is the
time to visit Pompeii and to inspect what re-
mains OF Hereulaneum; for in full view, aud
apparently preparing for another outbursi, is
| the agency which destroyed them. SOdom and
Gomorrah were hardly more wicked than the
| other cities Of the plain. POmpeii and Hercu-
laneum were certainly not more immoral than
modern Naples. Has Providence changed His
| plans of punishment, or is vice to be dealt with
| In the old way7
Thinking of this Scriptural parallel recalls
perhaps the best description that can be given
| of the present appearance of Vesuvius The
flames rise ike that pillar OF f1re by night,
| of cloud by day which led the children OF
| Israel through the wilderness towards the
promised land. At night, contrasting grandly
! with the surrounding gloom, cone of fire
| flashes constantly frOmhthe crater. The sight
! is SO beautiful, so bewildering so eugrossing,
| that 10 was impossible TO sleep last evening.
| Crowds of people were In the streets, or at the
! windows, or driving upon the Chi ia, watch
! ing and commenting upon the display.
AS his letter is written early In The morning
! 10 catch the quickest mall, the spectacle from
| my window is superb. Near VesQvips the sun
! is rising In glory OF crimson and gold, tinging
/ the pale blue of the morning sky, glowing in
| the few fieecy clouds that skirt The horizon,
and dancing in thousand prlsmattc hues upon
| the calm waters of the beautiful bay UD from
| the volcano, the thick black smoke rolls Ia
heavy volumes, as though destined TO darken
the day. No flames are TO be seen, FOR the su g
/ rays have quite eclipsed them now, just as
| the dark kness OF the night cOnceals the smoke
n ~