The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-03-09
SINGULAR Pompeiian Statutes.

During the eruptions 81 esuvius,
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 sulphurous and oarbonio
acid gasscs, and were rapidly GOV.
cred with the showers Of fine dust
following.tho eruption, which, Rradu-
ally hardening, formed perfect
moulds ofthe unhappy beings who
80 miserably persisted, from which
admirable casts are taken, showing
their forms, features, expression, and
attitude when overtaken by death.
At the beginning of the excava-
vations, little attention was paid to
the natural moulds, only q few hav-
ing been partially cast and preserved,
the most remarkable Of which were
those of q husband, wife, and child
the husband at the moment Of death
pressing tightly to his breast nine
teen pieces of gold and ninety-one
pieces Of silver, which were found
fixed to his ribs; tho wife had let
fall q coarse linen cover, in which
were found fourteen bracelets, gold
rings, err rings, and jewels Of less
Importance. It was only, however,
in 1868, that M. Fiorelli had the hap
py idea offilling those natural moulds
with q peculiar solution Of plaster.
by which process the victims are re-
produced in their integrity.
The first group reproduced was
composed of . man, o woman, and
two young girls, who had renamed
| within doors until too late when
they attempted to escape by the
windows or terrace, they were sud-
denly asphyxiated, and covered by
the dust, which faithfully preserved
the contour Of their forms. In 1865
| a body thus reproduced was that of q
man who had fallen face downward
whose countenance was tho very I'm
age of despair and suffering, hil
claspod hands oloquently expressing
the agony he had endured.
i Next in interest is the form of 1
; woman who had fallen on her back
whose right hand leans upon til,
earth, hor left hand raised, Us il try
ing to ward off danger. To aid hel
fight, she had raised her vesthonta
: Her form is tall and elegant, her I'D
. mirably arched foot inoasod il
! strong sandals, boing favorite sub
ject of study to artists. On ono o
Q her fingers is q silver ring, ;wbil
Q near her were found gold earrings
e q silver mirror, and an amber statu,
representing Cupid. Hor hnir il
front forms three rows OF ringlcts
8 and falls plated over hcr back in th
! manner Of tho Voltaire perruqses.
oI A remarkable group Of three pei
}. sons has been admirably cast, whic
}. is in the highest degree interesting
8 A man of tall stature and powerfu
9 build, with strongly marked features
9 prominent check bones, heavy bear
; and mustacho, is tho principal figure
y He held in his hands the earrings 9
u the two young girls who followo
=. him, and the key of the house, an
8 looks the beau ideal of ON old Roma
y legionary. Over his head he ha
:, thrown the corner Of his mantle fo
}. protection against tho noxious case
y or the falling dust and cinders, th
D. expression on his face and that {
his two daughters being suggestive
of suffocatiOn. There is somethin
touching in the spectacle Of the tw
J. sisters who followed their father j
}, the precise attitude as they fell, SUI
a porting each other, breathing th
0 same poison, and dying entwined !
: each others arms. Both tho figure
t are of beautiful form and propol
) tions.-Appleton's Journal.