The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-16
Ihe Eruption Of vesuvlus-A Grand
and Marvellous Spectacle-A Con
s.ant stream Of Fire Thirty Feet ir
width

Width.
Naples NOV. 2o) correspondence London Tinss
as yet l have done scarcely more than
note the fact Of the eruption of Vesuvius.
put so much has 1t increased since Wed /.
nesaay last, and so maryellously beautiful
IS the spectacle, that it merits more de.
tailed report. Unlike those terrific dis.
pieys which we have had at times, and
which cease with one great effort this is q
lava eruption, increasing ever in force and
beauty, and promising duration of some
weeks, II not months. If so-anl it is the
opinion Of those most experienced in these
metters--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 demonstrations-tong of
lire shot up to announce it's internal agi-
tatlon, and thin stream Of lava trickled
down behind in the direction Of Ot-
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 more 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 or
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
cumference, around which even children
might have played, being careful only
to avoid certain sulphurous exhala-
tions which were emitted at inter-
walls. During the last two years g
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 fuming and spluttering and storming
with all the arrogant impatience of youth
since last Wednesday. 1t has sent forth
an immense quantity Of lava, converting
the surrounding crater into lake Of fire.
At first the high circling 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-
rection Of Ottaiano, on the southeast, and
those who do not care to make the ascent
may have a 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 il to have been done, and that
last night. Giovanni COzzolino was our
guide, who, by virtue Of 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, 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 a little round to the
southeast, for two reasons-lrst, to get on
the blind side Of the wind, which might
have brought down upon us an lnconVe-
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 oritice 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 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 1t
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 fair estimate of its
size, but one might have supposed that 1t
was not more than seventy feet in dame
ter. 1t was not q moment, however, for
figures when Nature was exhibiting her
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 convulsions were re-
peated, and then came the descending
shower, composed of stones of various sizes,
some half ton in weight, Judging by the
bulk. We could mark their course by the
eye as long as they retained their red neat,
but On approaching the earth they BLACK.
ened. and then the ear alone could tell
what was spotting and plttlng the earth
around. By the same person who had al
ready acted as calculator it was declared
that the descent occupied five seconds
much in excess, would imagine, of the
actual time. Precision, Of course, was im-
lpossible in the excitement Of such scene
and if we say that one thousand feet wa:
the height attained we shall not be VIDE O.
the mark. 1t was nervous proximity K
danger on which to stand, so the WhoiS
marty soon decamped, and got back tt
Naples shortly after midnight, awe-strucF
hv 3 scene that can never be forgotten
Yet. without the fatigues of an ascent
lany one can from the city ENJOY specta
| Gle Of marvellous beauty, only dlmlniSneI
in proportions as compared with thaI "nlc, =
7 have lust described. There Is no SOUND
but there are those everlasting names
across the centre Of which IS sometime
drawn a swathe of dark clouds, giving u
their SUBMITS the appearance OF grea1e
height and the sky is glowing with deel
red color: and mighty stones, reduced D.
distance, are falling like myriads Of Of star tar
ON the summit of the mountains, the 100
of which is wrapped in darkness. what
gorgeous scene, and how much more gor
geous it promises to be-
A Startling Story.
There is a lonely house situated. nea
ubot Is known as "Upper Grow Creek,