The Portland daily press., 1868-01-01
Miscellany.
Vesuvius.

Vesuvius.
THE ERUPTIoN-MAGNIFICE SPCTACLE-
FIRE AND SNOW TOGETHER.
Naples dec. y Cor. London Tmes.l
Wind, rain, hail. and snow have been our
visitors for the last few days. Vesuvius from
the top Of the cone to the bottom is covered
with snow, and SO are the mountains all
round the bay. Yet the column of smoke
continues to rise from the gigantic crater,
and the flames to gush out, while the streams
of lava descend, making broad black lines on
the glstenng white mantle of the mountain.
The union is remarkable; it seems to upset
all our preconceived ideas of things-fire and
snow thus mingns in happy harmony. Who
shall say that oil and water shall not hence
forward minge, or any other opposites, mate
rial, moral or social? l have already sent
you one or two descriptions of the eruption
in its early state, but so marvellous and long
continued a spectacle will prehaps justify some
additional noteS-eSpecialiy as it has exhib-
tied various phases. To the eye Vesuvius has
never Jailed in beauty; indeed the magnif-
cence OF The display has increased from day
to day, and poor unscientific mortals like my
self might well be excused for thinking that,
as in Pyrotechnics, all must terminate in one
grand explosion for the benefit of the assem-
bled spectators. Professor Palmieri, the di-
rector of the Observatory, has, however, more
Gudu OuC6 uONu 6Ap6CUd IONS, anu
done his best to destroy our illusions. Last
Saturday he said there were indications OF a
decline OF the eruption, bnt on the next day,
as ii resenting the imputatlon, the mountain
showed greater vigor than ever, and shot up
stones and flames 10 an extraordinary height
The grounds of the opinions OF the learned
professor were that the sismograph had been
less active tor two days, the detonations, too,
had almost ceased, and the character of the
noft ri tod ufac o1f f1o,
what it was at first. Ia early days the lava
was in small bulk, and was covered over with
scorie, here known as the name of forrosine,
but towards the end of last week the smoke
that assembled was perfectly black and the
ashes were of kind which are thrown out
generally towards the Temptation of an erup-
ton. For some days, too, the summit of the
mountain has been whitened with deposit
of sublimat of cherion and sulphates, lead
ing one to believe even on bright sunny days,
that the snow had fallen above. The heavy
rains, however, cleared that off, and we now
see Vesuvius mantled in real snow.
Some scientific friends who were out the
other evening, after rapturously describing
the scene, tell me they observed at one time
curious phenOmenon-the ascent of a per-
fectly formed circlet OF fame, vacant within
it mounted high into the air and then remain
ed suspended for some time. 10 90 up the
".
now impracticable, so frequent are the show
ers OF stones, and to SO great a distance are
they thrown. Those who are willing to en-
counter great danger are promised won
derful spectacle. In the upper part of the ir-
regular crust which walls round the crater is
an opening, somewhat above the ordinary lev
ell of the lava which is flowing over the lower
parts OF this boundary. and through the OPEN
ing the adventurous visitor may witness
hnlItnn nf fro D1,f1 ax r.
1t; the lava may rise to the height of this
peep-hole, or the wind may change aud bring
down upon him shower OF burning stones
which may crush him. I have not heard.
therefore, OF any one who has rsked his lite
to enjoy the pleasure of a moment. 1t is sat-
fstactory to be able TO state that as yet no ac-
cidents have occurred. The guides are good,
and those who implicitly follow their direc-
tons are pretty secure. Many parties go up
every night, and amongst them are many la.
dies-that is, principally English ladies', for
those OF this country have long lost the use
of their legs.
AS You will be prepared to believe, the
form OF the mountain is greatly altered, and
may say improved, as the conc he., apex
now. For thc~iast seven years one might
have fanced that an accident had happened
to it, or that some ofthose Goths who visit us
IN the winter, and chip OF bits off antiquity,
and knock of the noses OF statues, had by
some gigantic effort thrown do Rn the culm-
mating point of Vesuvius. 1t is all right
now The little inner cone has shot above the
crater, or has grown by the vast accumulation
of ashes: and SO the beauty of the form OF
the mountain is. perfected. At present the
eruption is more glorious than it has ever
been. The lava flows down in increasing
floods between the north and east, encroach-
ing even on the path of ascent; the electro
magnetic sismograph, too, shows continued
agitation, and this gorgeous spectacle still gives
es promise Of a much longer continuance.