The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-12-08
4 Night ON MOnRt NesHrias.

Mr.. +. l.. Capen, of Boston, gives
the following description of a night
OIL Mount NesuviIIs during the erlp-
ton of the 10th ult. The writer had
predicted this eruption: This was by
far the most thrilling and cyentful
night of my life. My interest in the
volcano had been raised TO enthusi-
asm by the outbreak of its torrent of
lava on the evening of the Sd instant,
against the opinions of experienced
residents. During Late walk on
that magnificent road, the CorsO
the finest city and bay, and the most
charming scenery | ever beheld, j
heard, on the evening OF the stir.
succession of violent explosions from
the crater, the distance being about
twelve miles, Similar reports were
frequent on the morning of the 9th,
and the aft8rnOon u party of us start
ed for the scene.
To omit the amusing incidents Of
the journey, We reached the stream of
lava before sunset, and the summit
before dark. We had close view of
the new crater At the foot of the
great cone, which, having 10 accu-
mutation of elected matteT-that il.
no cone of stone and sshcs-.hUs'.
clearly how il was first formed. A
thick bed of solid rock seems 10 have
been rent by the pent up force. he-
meath, and forced upward int v.r-
tical position, iiRe the jaw. OF Il
monster-brosd ri the base and tap
ering at the top. Three or four of
these vast rock. form the chimney,
from which pour volumes 81 steam
and smoke, rn4rin. fame sud lava,
with great violence. ~ II froIn
mighty confagratiou under intense
pressure below.
Our party we're in haste Ia descend
4. the night drew 90: but ! VA not
satisfied. and being OIL The ground.
resolyeI To stay till morning; snd |
wa. we'll repaid for my trouble snd
privgtien. j. l. impossible a. do jus.
tice 10 au,-lIB .uhje.t In bripfHFtirle.
There are really three separate
thrpxf<. AZ la .peak, from the depth.
below, quite distinc, lu their nod. OF
action. Two are Within The msiu
crater at the summit, and en- line
with the now one sbDyr namrd. which
IL near The north 6sse ef th,. great
summit, Or sp-V cone, sni rhG4- ac-
tiun ! have do -rihAd. Tho middle
throat or register = hr only oHs that
wa. violent inJs action. snd through
the sht. al longer OF shorter inter
val.. il vas terrific.
After brief period of rest il broke
forth again with tremendous eS-
plC~ion. as sudden ami intense ~
Il
many, many times va-ter and grand
er, rs if magaZine OF powder ar nitro
glycerine had suddenly been isnited
far down in the deep bowels of the
earth, sometimes one, Oftener several
reports came in quick succesSiOn.
Sometimes the first was the lOude-t,
but Oftener the second and third re-
ports followed with iucrea-in" rapid
~ and violence, and with much
greater Intensity than the first.
AT all the explosions Of this opening
immense volleyS OF glowing stones
and red-hot cindeTS were thrUSa to
tue .lisi;; 81 nom one 10 Two hundred
feet, Spreading into magnificent bou-
quets Of great brilliancy. many of
these stones, some of large size, fail
Ing outside the crater ami rolling
down the cone III glowing fragments
t0 its base. Sometimes the explosions
we're preceded hy sub;crraBean rumb-
ling far down in The deep cavcrns or
the mountain, accompanied by
trembling at the solid frame To- it,
very base.
The action of the third spout or
register was wholly different from the
other two. There was Ito violent ex-
plosiOn, as OF pent up power, ~ in |
the ease OF that Just described, though. /
like them, i,s delivery wa. fiifuI; |
blowing Out at intervals and never !
continuous and uu-eIpls- !
sive, like the first described new |
crater outside the cone, whose flow !
vas 4 copious compressed volume of /
smoke and flame. as from vell-fed |
furnace, and with no noise, except !
that OF the constant roaring Of the /
flames. This third register made A I
great blowing noise, like an immense |
fuse. and very much like the noise Of
an ascending rocket of immense pro- !
portions. Ii threw out volumes of I
hlack smoke aud great bouquets of |
.loNin- cindeT~. hut with much les 1
violence than IFS companion. az ifthc !
opening were much larger-su much /
larger, in proportion to ils discharge, |
Il. if to divest it nf all explosive viO- |
lenc-. should regard this as th- +,
old and nearly spent crater.