The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-05-20
SINGULAR PoMPEIIAN STATUES
From Appleton's Journal.


During the eruption of Nesuvlus.
which destroyed the ancient city of
Pompeii. those who delayed too long
in making their escape fell victims,
for tho most part, to the perniciOus
effects of sulphurous and carbonlc
acid gases. and were rapidly covered
with the showers of fine dust follow
ing the eruption. which. gradually
hardening, formed perfect molds of
the unhappy beings who SO mlser-
ably persisted, from which admirable
casts are taken. showing their forms,
features, expression, and attitude,
when overtaken bv death.
At the beginning of the excava-
tons, little attention was paid to the
natural molds, only a few having
been partially cast and preserved.
the most remarkable of which We're
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. earrings. and Jewels of less
Importance. 1t was only. however.
in 1868, that NJ TlOrelli had the
happy idea of filling those natural
molds with peculiar solution of
plaster. by which process the vic
tins are produced in their integrity.
The first group produced was com
posed of man. woman, and two
Young girls. who remained within
doors until too late. when they at
tempted to escape by the windows
or terrace. they were suddenly as
phvxiated. and covered with the
dust. which faithfully preserved the
contour of their forms. In 1865 a
body thus reproduced was that Of a
man who had fallen face downward,
whose countenance was the very
image of despair and suffering. his
clenched teeth and claSped hands
eloquently expressing the agony he
had endured.
Next in interest is the form of a
woman who had fallen on her back,
whose right hand leans upon the
earth. her left hand raised. rs if try
ing to ward off danger. TO aid her
flight. she had raised her vestments.
Her form is tall and elegant. her ad-
mirablv arched foot encased in
strong sandals. being favorite sub
iect of study to artists. On one of
her fingers is Il silver ring. while
near her was found gold earrings, a
silver mirror. and an amber statue
representing Cupid. Her hair in
the front forms three rows Of ring
lets. and falls plated over her back
in the manner of the NOltaire per-
ruques.
4 remarkable group of three per
sons has been admirably y cas-, which
is in the highest degree interesting.
A man Of tall stature and powerful
build, with strongly marked fea-
lures. prominent cheek bones, heavy
beard and mustache. is the prlncl-
pal figure. He held in his hand the
earrings of the two yOnng girls who
followed him. and the key of the
house. and looks the beau ideal of
an old Roman leSionary. Over his
head he had thrown the corner Of his
mantle for protection against the
noxious gases or the falling dust and
cinders, the expression on his face
and that of his two daughters being
suggestive of suffocation. There Is
something touching in the spectacle
of the two sisters who followed their
father in the precise attitude as they
fell, supporting each other, breath
ing the same poison, and dying en-
twined in each others arms. Both
the figures are of beautiful forms
and proportions.