The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1870-09-24

Discoveries In Pompcii.
During the etui ion of Vesuvius
which destroyed the ancient city OF
Pompcii, those who delayed too long
IN making their escape fell victims,
for the most part, to the pernicious
effect o. sulphuric and corbonlc acid
gas, and were rapidly covered by
showers OF fine dust following the
eruption, which gradually hardening,
formed perfect moulds OF the unhap-
py beings who so miserably pciish-
cd, from which admirable Gusts arc
taken, showing their forms, features,
expressions and attitude, when over
taken by death. AT the beginning
Of the excavations little attentions
was paid to these natural moulds.
only a few having been partially
cast and preserved, the most remark
able Of which were those OF a hus-
band, wife and child; the husband
at the moment Of death pressing
tightly to his breast nineteen pieces
of gold and ninety-onc 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.
1t was only, however in 1855, that
NJ. Fiorelli had the happy idea of
filling these natural monlds with d
peculiar solution OF plaster, by
which process tho victims are re-
produced in their integrity.
The first group reproduced was
composed ot d man, woman and two
young girls, who had remained with
in doors until too late; when they
attempted to escape by the windows,
they were suddenly asphyxiated
and covered by the dust, which
faithfully preserves the contour Of
their forms.
In 1868, body thus reproduced
was that Of q man who had fallen
face downward, whose countenancc
was the image Of despair andsufer-
ing--his clinched teeth and crispcd
hair cloquently expressing the ago
ny he had endured.
Next in interest Is the form Of d
woman who had fallen on her back,
whose right hand leans upon the
earth, her left raised as # trying to
ward off danger. 10 aid the flight.
she had raised her ycstments. Her
form is tall aud elegant, ber admir-
ably arched foot, encascd III strong
sandals, being a fiyorite subject Of
study to artists. On one OF her fn-
gers is a silver ring, while near her
were found gold ear rings, d silver
mirror, and an amber statute repre-
senting Cupid. Her hair III the
front forms three rows Of ringlets.
and falls, plated, over her back, IN
the manner fothe Voltairc pesyuques.
A remarkable group of these
persons has been admirably east,
which is in the highest degree in
tcrcsting. A man Of tall stature
and powerful build, with strongly
marked features, prominct check
bones, heavy beard and mustacl,c
is the principle figure he hsld III
his hands the car rings of the two
young girls who followed him, and
the key 81 bis house and looks the
tean ideal Of an old Roman leQion-
ary. Over his head he had thrown
the corner Of bis mantle for protcc-
tion against the noxious gasses oi tIsc
falling dust and cinders, the express
Of his face and that of histwo daurIl
ivrs being suggestive ofsun|ocationI.
There ID something touchlno Ill
tho spectacles Of the two sisters who
followed their father, IN the prec;sp
attitude as they fclI, suppoftisx eecI,
other breathing The ssule poison.
and dying entwined il eack otkev's
arms. both Of the fenres ~ VI
hcc -. c..1 49,. !. :. i w. y u /. WV W.