Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-09-10
nisonrsrin. In Pomneii.

DAsN~NNAASA AA " |
During the eruption ofVesuyius
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 effect of ~sulphuric and
carbonic acid gas, and were rapid
ly covered by showers of fine dust
following the eruption, which grad
ually hardening, formed perfect
moulds of the unhappy beings who
so miserably persisted, from which
admirable casts are taken, showing
their forms, features, expressions
and attitude, when overtaken by
death. AT the beginning of the
excavations little attention was
paid to these natural moulds, only
a few having been partially cast
and preserved, the most remarka-
BILE Of which were those Of n hus-
band, wife and child the husband
at the moment Of death pressing
tightly to his breast nineteen pieces
of gold and ninety. one pieces of sill
yer, which were found fixed to his
ribs the wife had let fall a course
linen cover, in which were found
fourteen bracelets, gold ring, ear
ring and jewels Of less Importance.
TWAS only, however, in 1868, that
NJ. Fiorelli had the happy idea of
filling these natural moulds with a
peculiar solution of plaster, by
which process the victims are re.
produced in their integrity.
The first group reproduced was
composed of a man, woman and
two young girls, who had re-
NAMED within doors until too
late when they attempted to es-
cape by the windows, they we're
suddenly asphyxiated and GOV.
cred by the dust, which faithfully
preserves the contour Of their
forms.
In 1868, q body thus reproduced
was that of a man who had fallen
face downward, whose counter
ance was the image of despair and
sufFering-his clinched teeth and
crisped hair e~loquently expressing
the agony he had endured.
Next in interest is the form Of q
woman who had fallen on her back,
whose right hand leans upon the
earth, her left raised as II trying
to ward off danger. To aid the
fight, she had raised her vest
ments. Her form is tall and ele-
giant, her admirably arched foot,
encased in strong sandals, being q
tavorite subject Of study to artists.
On one Of her fingers is a silver
ring, while near her were found
gold ear rings, a silver mirror, 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 man.
ner Of the Voltaire perrWqUes.
A remarkable group Of these
persons has been admirably cast,
which is in the highest degree in
teresting. A man Of tall stature
and powerful build, with strongly
marked features, prominent cheek
bones, heavy beard and moustache,
is the principle figure; he held in
his hands the ear rings Of the two
young girls who followed him, and
the key of his house and locks the
beau ideal of an old Roman le-
gionary. Over his head he had
thrown the corner of his mantle
for protection against the noxious
gases or the falling Of dust and
cinders, the expression Of his face
and that Of his two daughters DO
ing suggestive Of sufEocation.
There is something touching In
the spectacles Of the two sisters
who followed their father, in the
precise attitude as they fell, sup
porting each other breathing the
same poison, and dying entwined
in each Others arms. Both Of the
figures are of beautiful form and
proportions.
There Is something inexpressi
biz sad in the aspect Of this group,
moulded by nature in the agony
between life and death, as they
vainly attempted to escape from
the doomed city.
With the means now at the dis
posal ofM. Fiorelli, he will be able
to form 3 museum representing the
race, beauty, costume and unhappy
fate Of the inhabitants Of Pompeii,