Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-06-27

FOURTH LETTER FROM PROF. nAoER.
NAPLES, May 23d, 1867.

NAPLES, May 23d, 1867.
Editors Rutla,.d HeyaM 1T icing quite
no, on my arrival at this place and feel
ing anxious to accomplish as much
sight seeing as possible during my So
iOurn and with as little labor, adopted
the plan of most Americans, by hiring 3
cab and guide and commenced my labors.
After visiting Pompeii, Herculaneum
and other points of interest in the vcin-
ity | became disguised with the treach-
cry and impositions practced by my
| guide and having discharged him, deter
| mined to ascend Nesuvius without one.
At four o'clock in the morning start
ed from my Hotel in Naples and reach
ing the street was assailed by several
cabmen who were clamorous in their
| efforts to get me to ride with them to
Resina the nearest point to Vesuvius
that can be reached with carriages
Arriving at Resina l was again beset
with guides and those who had saddle
horses. l positively declined taking a
guide, but would take a horse. Mount
ing the horse I rode hastily off hoping
to get rid OF guides but in this was
disappointed for they continually ap.
peared on my way up the mountain and
would follow me as long as l would per
nit them to do so. They are a great
annoyance to travellers, especially Amer
leans, who are the most lavish of their
money Of any who visit Vesuvus.
determined l would neither employ nor
pay them cent for anything they might
do for me. One started from the " Her
mitage," q a place about two thirds the
way up the mountain, and in spite of
all could do or say he would follow
me
Arriving At the base of the curve he
took my horse by the bit Offering to hold
him while l went to the top. l declined
that offer, upon which he insisted that I
should take long cane that he had
brought along. This I also declined
Stepping ahead Of me he commenced as
cendins, and rigging a strap around his
neck and shoulders, he handed one end
to me, offering to haul me up the curve.
This Cter was also emphaticalIy de-
clined.
All Efforts 10 get into my employ hav-
ing proved unavailing he left me when
about one.third way up the curve, and |
rapidly descended to where nv horse
was, unhitched and mounted him. and |
in 2allop started off down towards the |
Hermitage.
I had but one thought of what I
would do. TO see the crater of Tesuvius
had been the great object OF my visit to
Naples and one horse would not prevent
me from seeing it. I therefore pressed |
on as though nothing had happened. A
man and boy soon appeared on the sum-
nit each laden with bag of sulphur.
hailed them as they were passing and
pointed to the boy who was galloping
off with my horse but they either did
not understand me or cared nothing
|
about the matter.
The horse and boy were soon out of
sight, was intending to leave Naples
the following day, but then determined
[ would remain a week longer if neces-
sary to bring that scamp to justice. 7
had no fears Of his stealing the horse hut
thought he would only ride it as far as
the Hermitage and then hitch it by the
side of the road.
l reached the top of the mountain and
was alone. 1t is crescent shaped mass
q portion that was left o. Vesuvius at
the great eruptiops OF 70 and 1922
Between this and the present cone, call.
ed Yesuvus, is the old crater, now quite
level except where recent streams of
lava have run. The former beds of lava
have become Crumbled aud the material
forming them looks some like the gravel
banks along the terraced valleys of Yer.
mont The cone or Vesuvius is black
and the lava looks like the cinders from
a blacksmith's forge. In some places il
is solid and retains the same shape il
had when it run down the mountain. 1t
is upon these solid streams of lava that
parties ascend the cone. Other portions
Of the lava have crumbled and resemble
sand or fine gravel. 1t is in this sand.
which at every step the foot is covered,
that parties descend the cone.
The usual time required for ascending 5
t is about an hour, but descending by '
way of this sand one is rarely ever
more than ten minutes. From this point |
20 the hermitage is an hours ride and I