The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-08-18
REALITY IN HISTORY. 8
Further Remarkable Discoveries ut
ssTt 5E4 Ssisi Pompeii.b isaoH.0 as
From Appleton's Journal. . ~

4E 5Ga SsIsi Pompeii.b ta9ii!o fit-
~ b.ls From Appleton's Journal. % siii3
During the eruptions of Vesuvius,
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 eff
fects OF sulphuric and carbonic acid
gases, and were rapidly covered with
the showers of fine dust following the
eruption, which, gradually hardening,
formed perfect moulds of the nnhap-
py beings who miserably perished,
from which admirable casts are taken
showing their forms, features, express
sion and attitude, when overtaken by
death. At the beginning of the exca-
yations little attention. was paid to
these natural moulds, only few ,hav-
ing been partially cast and preserved,
the most remarkable of which were
those of husband, wife and child !;
the husband at the moment of death
pressing tightly 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 coarse
linen cover, in which were found
fourteen bracelets, gold rings, ear
rings, and Jewels of less Importance,
1t was only, however, in 1863, that
NJ. iFlorelli had the happy idea of fill
ing those natural molds with a pecu-
liar solution of plaster, by which pro
cess the victims are reproduced in
their integrity iJ573s edi ri Scr :.
The first group reproduced was
composed of a man, woman, and
two young girls, who had remained
within-doors until too late; when
they attempted to escape by the win.
d&ws or terrace, they were. suddenly
askhyxiated, and covered by the dust
which faithfully, preserved the CON
tour of their forms. 5m0i9iS lri9n2.,
In 1868 a body thus reproduced wat
that Of a man who had fallen fact
downward, whose countenance was
the very, image of despair and suffer
ing-his clenched teeth and fcrispet
hands eloquently expressing the agony
he had endured. lasrgzsi.qsie.I
Next in the interest is the form of
, woman who had fallen on her back
whose right hand leans upon th'
earth, her left raised, as if trying t
, ward off danger. To aid her figh
, she had raised her -vestments. He
form is tall and elegant, her admira
! bly, arched foot, encased in stron!
] sandals, being favorable study TO
artists. Oif one of her fingers is
!, silver ring, while near her were foun,
e gold earrings, silver mirror, and a
amber statue representing Cupii
!. Her hair in the front forms three row
Il : of f ringfets, and falls, plated over he
n back, in the manner of the aVoftair
: pcsyugtses.. |B Hiaai ii-gs sHE ~
e "A remarkable group Of three pei
: sons has been admirably cast, whic
e is i'm the highest degree Interesting
d A man Of tall stature and poWerft
i build, with strongly marked feature
il prominent cheek bones, heavy bear
i and mnstache, is the principal figure
Z he held in his hands the, EARRINGS |
a two young girls who followed hin
iH and the key of his house, and lool
t1 the beau ideal of an old Roman iegiol
q ary. Over his head he had throw
9 the corner of his mantle for protectio
y against the noxions gases OF the fal
q ing dust and cinders, the expressio
~ on his face and that of his two daugl
e ters being suggestive of sufocation.
y There is something touching in Il
= spectacle, Of the two sisters who fo
g lowed their father, in the precise att
=, tude as they fell, supporting eae
- other, breathing the same poison, an
10 dying entwined in each others arm
u Botii4oT me 1igures ureT of heantif
N forms and proportions. % llaur7 y
as There is something inexpressib
"
IN sad in the aspect Of this group, moul
We ed by nature in the agony between Il
g. and death, as, they yainly attempts
c. to escape from the doomed city,d II,
OF With the means now at the disp
~ sci of NJ. Fiorelli, he will be able
ST. form a museum representing the IA,
ne beauty, costume and unhappy fate
ak the Inhabitants of Pompeii, viii
AZ viii henceforth be of inestimable VI
TO- ue to students of art and history,
at sl5 7=r=r=se7,-.s.------ -4-.------5ia II
er, THEaREFIoALLY,1 there lis a. we
We strange crfaiinaI now awaiting trial
it San Francisco He. was a telegra
It'll operator and he robbed the ,Associ
: q ed Press of its European war news
of the interest Of an opposing Institute
j His method was TO climb up. to, b
sta cony within hearing Of the telegra
.slu machine which clicks out the d
he patches from the Atlantic Coast
Yes Here, anohseryed, he would sit p'
ls7 Gil in hand, and take down the repe
a. -