The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1870-09-29
IDAHO CITY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER %, 1870
DISCOVERIES IN P0MPEII.

During the eruption of Vesuvius which des
troyed the ancient city Of Pompeii, those VIII
delayed too long in making their escape fel
victims, for the most part, to the pernicious et
fects OF sulphuric and carbOnic acid gas, ant
were rapidly covered by showers of fine dus
following the eruption, which, gradually hard
enlng, formed perfect moulds Of the unhapp,
beings who so miserably perished. from which
admirable casts are taken, showing their form
feature, expression and attitude, when over
taken by death. At the beginning of the exca
vatlons little attention was paid to these natu
raj moulds, only a few having been partially
cast and preserved, the most remarkable being
those Of husband, wife and child; the hus.
band, at the moment of his death, pressing to
his breast nineteen pieces of gold and ninety.
one pieces of silver, which were found fixed TO
his ribs; the wife had let fall a coarse linen
cover, in which were found fourteen bracelets.
a gold finger ring, an ear ring, and Jewels of
less importance. ~.
1t was only, however, in 1868, that NJ. Flo
nelll had the happy idea of filling these natural
moulds with peculiar solution of plaster, by
which process the victims are reproduced in
their integrity. The first group reproduced
was composed of man, woman and two young
girls, who had remained within 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
man who had fallen, face downward, whose
cOuntenance was the image of despair and sui.
fering-his cinched teeth and crisped hair elo-
quently expressing the agony he had endured.
Next in interest is the form of woman who
had fallen on her back whose right hand leans
upon the earth, her left raised as if trying to
ward OFT danger. TO aid the flight, she had
raised her vestments Her form is tall and ell.
egant, her admirably arched foot, encased in
strong sandals, being favorite subject of study
to artists. On one of her fingers is silver
ring, while near her were found gold ear rings,
a silver mirror, and an amber statue represent
ing Cupid. Her hair in the front forms three
rows OF ringlets, and falls, plated, over her
back, In the manner of the VOltaire perruques
A remarkable group of these persons has been
admirably cast, which is in the highest degree
A man of tall stature and power.
tul build, with strongly marked features, prom
lnent cheek bones, heavy beard and moustache,
is the principal figure. He held in his hands |
the ear rings of the two young girls who fol |
lowed him, and the key of his house, and looks
the beau ideal of an old Roman legionary. He
had thrown over his head the corner of his |
mantle for protection against the noxious gases
or the falling OF dust and cinders, and the ex-
preston of his face, as well as that of the two
girls, is suggestive of suffocation. There is
touching in this spectacle of the two
sisters following their father, in the precise at
ltude as they fell supporting each other, in
lallng the same poison, and dying entwined in
each others arms: Both of the figures are of
beautiful form and proportions. There is also
inexpressibly sad in the aspect of
his group, moulded by nature in the agony be-
ween life and death, as they vainly attempted
% escape from the doomed city.
With the means now at the disposal of Nj.
sioneli he will be able to form museum rep
esenting the race, beauty, costume and un-
lappy fate of the inhabitants of Pompeii, and
vhlch will henceforth be of inestimable value
o students of art and history.