Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-02-08
ERUPTION OF MOUNT IESUYIUS.
Graphic Description Of the Torrent
of Fire and Streams Of IaVR-TWO
Cities Threatened with the Fate OF
POmpefi.

Correspondents oiths London Times.
NAPLES, Jan. 22.-Vesuvius excites no
less interest than would the health of a
Royal patient. Bulletins are issued daily
by Professor Palmieri, by the police, and
Others; and these are reported eagerly by
the journals. l propose, therefore to give
you general statement Of what the monn-
tain has been abont since my last continu-
Gus report, which was published in the
Times Of January q. Abont the end of
last month number of riVulets were fow-
| ing out of the cone, which, interlining the
snow, presented a most remarkable appear
ance At the same time dense masses Of
white smoke assembled from the smaller
cone, giving notice of the activity that pre-
vailed below the service. Signor SilVes-
| tn, already well known to science by his
observations on Etna, had taken his resi-
dence in the observatory, and, together
| with Palmieri, recorded the various move
nents Of the scientific instruments, and the
everchanging phases of the eruption As
has always been the case, every fresh dis
charge OF lava was marked by deep hol-
low sounds in the crater, and BY disturban-
ees IN the apparatus Of the observatory.
Up to this time the streams have been
flowing over ground broken up by former
eruptions, thus finding frequent Interrupt
tons to their course; sometimes being COM
PEELED to deyiate and make a circuit, at
Others pausing and rising until they sur
mounted the black, rugged mass before
them. The direction taken by the great :.
proportion of the lava at that time was
Ottgjano, where it had arrived at the point
called the Cognoli ii 0ttajano, on the bed,
in fact, which was formed in 1850. Woe,
however, it was said 10 Resina and Terre
del Greco if the lava flowed in the direc-
ton of those cities. As if the apprehen-
sioHs of the prophets had invited it to do
80, about the 4th or 5th of the month it as
sumed yet vaster proportions. More likea
torrent than a stream Of FIRE, it burst out |
from the principal cone, overwhelmed the |
smaller one, and rushed down over the |
western side ofthe mountain on the beds of |
lava formed by the eruptions of 1853, |
1909, 1860. Just above the Piano dele |
Giuestre it divided into two branches. one |
running towards the north in the direction 1
OF Resina, passing within quarter Of an
hour'swalk from the observatory the other
southwards, in the direction of Terre del
Greco. According TO certain predictions.
therefore, those cities we're in great danger,
but sufficient account had not been taken
OF the periodicity ofthe course ofthe lava.
Had it been continuous the danger would
have been great, but there are always short
intervals of repose and cessation. the
mountain stops now and then as if to re-
cover its breath, and during those inter
walls the lava hardens on the surface and a
new stream has to begin its labors. Under
meath this blackened surface however
there is a burning red-hot mass, and woe
to the rash pedestrian who attempts to
cross it, In this state the mountain con
tinued for week, presenting the most
brilliant spectacle 1t. has yet exhibited.
The two branches formed the sides of an
elilPse running down till they united be-
meath, at times overhowing and covering
the whole Of the intervening space Nor
less beautiful was the appearance when the
lava relaxing its course, the surface became
partially blank, Tor then it seemed as if
the mountain was covered with brilliant
gems. Fortwo DAYS the stream which flowed
towards Resina, and in the close neighbor-
hood Of the observatory, advanced with
velocity of 500 meters day, and had il
continued at this rate, it would long since
have been in the streets of the town but
owing TO the causes already deseribed, no
such disaster occurred. That which was
for some time in great danger was the road
by which one ascends to the HERMITAGE. on
which the lava was advancing rapidly, The
temporary pause of the two streams, and
slight change in the direction of one of
them, however, allayed all apprehension
Tor the fate OF the towns lying beneath; il
was calculated that at this time the depth
Of this bed of burning matter was from six
20 seven meters, SO 37-iO0 iaehes being
equal to, meter. Frequent shocks of
earthquake were felt in Naples during
this interval, and on the lth, at midday,
one was perceived very sensibly. For the
last three or four days though the instru-
ments in the observatory have been az
active as ever, the lava has advanced with |
less rapidity, not more than three hundred
or four hundred meters a day in the
direction of Tore del Greco, which NAV
now be considered safe, as it would take q
month at the same rate to advance az far AZ
the town. The measurement of the depth
on the Piano delfe Giwestre. which was
taken on the night of the 18th, was eight
meters. According to last nights report,
the quantity of lava elected was much d.
minished, and the seismometer was less
active but these facts are not to be regarded
as indications of the approaching cessation
OF the eruption. On the contrary, inter
walls of repoHe We have had continually,
aud the probabilities are that a more VIC /
lent outburst will follow. OF late the road
TO the observatory has been deserted by
visitors, who take that rather which lies
between Resina and the Favorita. Thou
sands go up every night-it is the great
nocturnal promenade--and many, misled
h. h - al, |
go up on foot, but it is rugged and weari-
some road, over huge masses of lava, and
many are the tumbies and tattered dresses
which tho conoaouapaaa