The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-22

the sound of heavy artillery at many
miles distance. now grew more audible,
and appeared to be approaching nearer
the city. All through this ill.fated
night, the premonitions of catastrophe
followed hard upon each other. Yet OF
what did happen, no one could have the
alightest warning. It was an incident
unprecedented in the treacherous, capri
cious history OF Vesuvius. The sympa-
thetic sky was full of omens. Its crystal
clearness had departed, and in place OF
it, feecy clouds were driving across the
heavens. From thousaa tinted efful-
gence, they declined into dullness, then
into heavy, threatening darkpess
Moon and stars paled their lights ere
they were yelled by the haze which
overspread the sky. But the surface of
the bay continued smooth and CLASSY,
unruffied by even summer breeze. As
the shadows Of smoke and fame cast
upon it from the mountain became more
sombre, it partook of their reflected
gloom. Otherwise, it was apparently
unconscious of the Titanic struggle
which was rending the bowels OF the
earth beneath and around it.
AS day was dawning, fearful horror
occurred on the side Of the mountain
next the city. Of late years, access to
Vesuvlus has been greatly facilitated by
the short railway which skirts the bay
and connects Naples with Castelamare,
a town ut the opposite corner. This
faces the mountain throughout its whole
distance, and in it's vicinity will be
found most of the villages whose names
always obtrude themselves during the
progress of an eruption. One of these,
Reslna. is favorite point for making
the ascent from. It is not fur from Pro-
fessor Palmieri's observatory, and il en-
Joys the more exciting distinction Of
lying IN the limo Of great current Of
lava. Thousands of visitors have as.
cended the hill nightly from Resina,
driving up as far as the observatory, and
then walking to the bed of last years
lava. On Friday morning. many such
excursion parties we're assembled direct
~ under the cone. They had begun to
disperse with the first Indications of sur
prise, but hundreds still fingered on the
spot. Without single movement to
warn them, the earth opened under foot.
and the dead lava which they had been
treading upon as a curiosity turned again
to molten fire. Those who we're not en-
quilted in the chasm us it burst forth, at
tempted to fee 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, aud fresh
waves of lava overlook them ere they
could rise again. A few were miracu-
lousy delivered by the noble efforts on
the part OF the strong-nerved men in the
company. Dragging them in haste to-
ward the observatory, their deliverers
placed them on the carriages which were
waiting there, and accom- n odation was
provided for them at Resina. I have
been told by friend, who was at the
very edge of the chasm when it burst
open, that the effect on the imagination
was as though the whole mountain had
begun to move from it's basis. AS he
fled, he felt as if the mountain was fol.
lowing him, and not until he had reco-
vered his senses at Resina could he con-
vince himself that what he had seen was
only partial eruption of the crust
which overlies the hidden fires OF Vesu-
vius.
Az account which has been furnished
to Nespolitan journal affirms that there
were two simultaneous openings, and
that flames. bursting out from both, en-
veloped in circle OF fire all who were
within reach. A carriage which hap
pened to be inside this CIRCLE was burnt
up in an instant, as if it had been
spirited away. Shortly before tho erup-
ton lady was seon in it, but of her no
thing whatever has been heard since
The burns inflicted we're of peculiarly
painful character, even when they looked
slight. The patients, on reaching the
hospitals, were Immediately enveloped
in wool. Notwithstanding the care with
which they have been dressed, end tile
skill with which they are nursed, they
cannot move without enduring agony,
which compels them to scream.
Throughout Friday CONSERVATION
reigned III Naples. The first touch OF
peril had prepared all minds to expect
the worst. Vesuvius gave, in various
ways. sufficient OCCASION for increased
alarm. The booming and the rumbling
OF the underground artillery sounded as
close as if it were beneath our feet. The
flow Of lava had increased, aud two
enormous streams were rolling toward
the sea, as if they would sweep away
half dozen villages in their course.
Windows ratified. and the strongest
houses trembled to their foundations.
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