Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-10-27
Singular P0mpeiian Statues.

During the eruptlons of Nesuvius which
DESTROYED the ancient city of Pompeii,
those who delayed too long in making their
escape fell victims, for the most part, to
the pernicious effects of suiphuric and car.
bonic acid gases, and were rapidly followed
by the shower of fine dust following the
eruption, which, gradually hardening,
formed perfect molds OF the unhappy be-
ings who so miserably persisted, from
which admirable casts are taken, showing
their forms, features, expressions and atti'
tude, when overtaken by death. AT the
beginning of the excavations little atten-
ton WAS paid to the natural molds,
only a few having been partially
cast and preserved, the most
remarkable of which were those of 3 bus
nd wife and child; the husband at the
moment of death pressed tightly to his
breast nineteen pieces of gold and ninety
one pieces of silver, which was found fixed
to his ribs the wife had let fall coarse
linen cover in which were found fourteen
bracelets, gold rings, earrings and Jewels
Of less importance. 1t was only, however,
in 1868, that NJ Fiorelli had the happy
idea of filling those natural molds with a
peculiar solution of plaster, by which pro-
cess the victims are reproduced IN their in
tegrity.
The first group reproduced was compos-
ed of man, woman and two young girls,
who had remained within doors until too
late; when they attempted to escape by the
window or terrace, they were suddenly
asphyxiated and covered by the dust which
faithfully preserved the contour of their
forms. In 1868 body thus produced was
that of man who had fallen face down
ward, whose despair and suffering, his
clenched teeth and clenched hands elo-
quently expressing the agony he had en-
dured. Next in interest is the form OF a
woman who had fallen on her back, whose
right hand leans upon the earth, the left
raised, as if trying to ward off danger
To aid her fight she had rails ed her vest
ments. Her form is tall and elegant, her
admirably arched foot, encased in strong
sandals being tavorite subject OF study to
artists. On one of her fingers is silver mir
ror. and an amber statue representing Gu
pid. Her hair in the front forms three
rows of ringlets, and falls plated over her
back, in the manner of the Noltaire per.
ruques.
A remarkable groap of three persons has
been admirably cast, which Is in the high
est degree interesting.
A man Of high stature and powerfully
built, with strongly marked features. prom
inent cheek bones, heavy b ard and nous
tache, is the principal figure; he held IN
his hands the earrings Of the two yoalS
girls who followed him, and tho key OF his
house, and looks the beau-idesl of an old
Roman legionry. Over his head be had
thrown the corner OF his mantle for protec-
ton against the noxions gases or the fall
ing dust and cinders, the expression OF his
face and that OF his daughters being sug-
qestiye of suffocation. There is something
touching in the spectacle of the two sisters
who follow their father, in the precise atti-
tude as they fell supporting each other,
breathing the same poison, and dying en-
twined in each others arms. Both OF the
6eures are of beautiful forms and proper
,;one Anpl,Iou's ,IOlrnaL