The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-11-20
statiuual gepablitau.


NAPLES, Oct. 25.-vesuvius, In spite Of The
Oftrepeatsd predictions Of Prof. Palmieri that
the eruption was at an end, 10 still more or
les, active, and week ago the spectacle was
magnificent, with three splendid streams Of
lava flowing down on the north side Of the
conc into the valley known As the Atrio del
Cavallo. The present eruption has been re-
tnarkable for its duration, for at no time since
last November has the mountain been at rest,
vhils the greater part Of the time Its activity
has been such as 10 attract crowds Of strangers
to enjoy tho spectacle. From the 18th Of No.
y,mber to about the middle Of February, the
Isborine Of The mountain was very great and
almost constant, while the Gov Of lava was
enormous. About the middle Of February or
tho fr,t Of March the eruption began to de.
crease In power, and from March to the first
Of this month the condition Of Vssuyius has
varied almost weekly, at times throwing
scorim and red hot stones into the air with tire.
mendous force for few days, then relspsins
into comparative inactivity, with only It's col
umn Of white vapor to denote the terrible
forces below, and then again sending iorth At
intervals small streams Of molten lava to
decorate the cratsr's lip and disappsar after
running few rods down the side Of the cone.
On the whole, however, the activity Of the
mountain was on the decrease up to the frst
of October, and tho savants declared that We.
tuyius was relapsing into Its normal condition
On the 9Th Of this month change was visi.
BILE in tho form Of the cone, and In the night
Of the 9Th and 9Th the clouds above the crater
were iluminsd with the rcd glare Of the fires
below. On the following morning all signs Of
iaboring Of the mountain had again increased,
and Jets Of flame and showers Of stone burst
for.h in rapid succession. On the 7th the
smoke was more dense and black, while the
instruments at the observatory indicated q
constant agitation Of the entire mountain, and
q renewal Of the eruption on grand scale "a,
predicted by the Professor, who watches night
and day, surrounded BY his instruments, in
his eyris on the mountain side. Toward night
nifcent stream Of lava flowed In the direction
Of the Atrio del Cavallo. On the sth and 9th
the aow Of lava was so great that four or vo
streams poured down the mountain side,
crossing the road generally used BY visitors 10
ascending and reaching almost to the OBJ
servatory. Tho quantity Of scorie and stones
hurled Into the air was so great that the vi.
entity Of the crater could only DO reached with
the greatest dsrvsr araat numbers Of yis.
the lava, and the
hotel proprietors
'rr the prospects Of q
..s ....tl upton and another
arar,E WITH gni"..' T.
i.r 81. ..a J, IL, and IL, the
49,. =. .-,- ...Is.sSu l.sler than diminished,
and tho spectacle at night was particularly
grand and beautiful. Slight shocks Of earth
quake were frequent around tho base Of the
mountain, and tho detonations or "thunder-
ings' were heard at night in Naples like the
discharge Of distant artillery. Ga tho 18th,
however, there was much lees activity visible,
and the quantity Of lava was much dimin.
ished; and by the 18th the overflow had en-.
tirely ceased, and tho mountain was almost
inactive. Much Of the time since then the
weather has been 90 boisterous that but few
persons have ventursd to ascend the noun
tain, and the clouds have hidden the cone
from view. Prof. PAlmieri Is, however, at hii
post, and reports that the sismogrsph still In.
dicates considerable agitation below; bu,
there has been no further emission Of iavs,
and much less smoke, from the crater After
careful study and observation Of the volcano
under all its different phases, Prof P. has sd.
vAnced the theory that the eruption Ia inau.
enced BY tho moon. believe his theory doe,
not attempt to explain tho philosophy Of thi,
influence, but Is founded simply on the faei
that the eruption is always more violent when
tho moon Is In tho full, and less active be
tween the FIRST and second quarters.
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