The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-05-28

the scene maintained an unchanging
grandeur until toward sunrise, when it
effaccd itself almost as abruptly as it had
appeared"
AN INTERLUDE.
Next night the cone did not fulfill our
eager anticipations. Two or three cra-
ters failed to take part in the salaman-
drine spectacle, but the third belched and
flashed and smoked with a triple energy,
On the third night the spectacle had
further diminished in brlliance, but those
who were not absorbed in spectacular ell
joyment could discern indications of in.
creased volcanic energy. All through
this ill-fated night the predomnates of
catastrophe followed hard upon each
other. Yet of what did happen no ore
could have had the slightest warning. 1t
was an incident unprecedented in the
treacherous, capricious history of Vesu
vius."
THE YAwNING EARTH.
Gas day was dawning, fearful horror
occurred on the side of the mountain
next the city. OF late years access to
Vcsuvius has been greatly facilitated by
the short railway which skirts the bay
and connects Naples with Castelamare, a
town at the opposite corner. Resina, a
favorite point for making the ascent from,
enjoys the most exciting distinction of
lying in the line of great current of
lava. Thousand of visitors have ascend
ed the hill nightly from Resina. driving
up as far as to the Observatory, and then
walking to the bed of last years lava.
On Friday morning many such excur-
sion parties were assembled directly uu.
der the cone. They had begun to dis
perse with the first indications of SUM-
rise, but hundreds still fingered on the
spot. Without a single movement to
warn them, the earth opened under foot,
and the dead lava which the had been
treading upon as a curiosity, turned again
to molten fire. Those who were not eD-
quilted in the chasm as it burst forth at
tempted to flee for their lives. Happily
the fleet and sure of foot were many.
They reached safety but woe to whoever
fell by the way! The earth they fell on
was already at furnace-heat, and fresh
waves of lava overlook them ere they
could rise again. A few were miracul.
Gus ly delivered by noble efforts on the
part Of the strong-nerved men in the
company. | have been told by a friend
who was at the very edge Of the chasn
when it burst open, that the effect on the
Imagination was as though the whole
mountain had begun to move from its
basis. a carriage which happened to be
inside this circle was burnt up in an in.
stant, as if it had been spirited away
Shortly before the eruption a lady was
seen in it, but Of her nothing whatever
has been heard since.
CONSERVATION IN NAPLES.
Throughout Friday consternatiou
reigned in Naples. The first touch oi
peril had prepared all minds to expect
the worst. Vesuvius gave in various way:
sufficient occasion for increased alarm
The booming and the rumblng of the vi.
derground artillery sounded as close as il
it were beneath our feet The flow o'
lava had increased and two enormou-
streams were rolling toward the sea as Il
they would sweep away nalf dozcr
villages in their course. Windows ratified
and the strongest houses trembed to the.
foundations. The smoke rising from tn
crater was now mingled with volumes o
sulphurous vapor, and blackened by tn,
ashes it carried in its furious ascent
There was far more danger in the scori,
than in the lava; ; for they were confnec
to no channel. Scattering themselvc
wherever the prevailing winds CARRIE
them-which was, happily, not in the
direction Of \ aples-they became fire
brands for the destruction of houses, vine
yards, forests and every form of combusti
bic property.
On Friday night Naples was degrc,
lower in its descent toward abject terror
The Brouse had been closed all day. N
one attempted to think of anything bu
the awful noises under foot and the cor
fagration which was spreading anon
the villages lying at the mercy of tn
volcano. Poor San Sebastiano was near
y reduced to ashes, and its twelve hun
dred inhabitants had to seek refuge neare
the coast, whittier the lava and the ashc
were fast following them"