New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-06-20
VeSlsVius in Action.
A correspondent of the London Telegraph,
dated Naples, April &c. writes:

A correspondent of the London Telegraph
dated Naples, April &c, writes:
For several nights before the new craters
burst, the mountain was so enchanting in
its robe of flame that Naples could not think
of going to bed. Hour after hour, until the
return of daylight, one and all of us fingered
in the streets, or by the shore of the bay,
drinking in the glory of a Vesuvian translig-
uration. For who witnessed it will ever for
get the first Of these nocturnal displays.
When darkness fell on the night of the 23d,
the great cone seemed suddenly to festoon
itself with wreaths of fire. From its summit
three craters were playing simultaneously.
Continuous clouds of luminous smoke as
ccnded in the star-lt sky. On their wings
they bore solid masses of scorie, which, after
rising to considerable distance, either fell
back into the crater or were thrown over the
side Of the crone into the streams of lava
which were flowing down the mountain. The
moon, as if jealous of terrestrial rival, shone
with such brlliancy as only Southern heavens
are favored with. The three craters emu
lated it in the steadiness of their illumina-
ton. From hour to hour the scene maintain
ed an unchangng grandeur until toward
sunrise, when it etiaced itself almost as abb
ruptly as it had appeared
1t was past O'Clock before I could turn
my back on Vesuyius and wend my way
homeward, thinking dstrustfully of the
probable sequel. Next night the cone did
not fulfill our eager anticipations. Two of
the three craters failed to take part III the
salamandrine spectacle, but the third belched
and flashed and smoked with triple energy.
On the third night the spectacle had fur
Their diminished in brilliancy, but those who
al in 10,
could discern indications of increased vol
canic energy. All through this Inflated
night the premOnitions Of catastrophe fol-
lowed hard upon each other. Yet of what
did happen no one could have had the slight
est warning. 1t was an incident unprece-
dented in the treacherOus, capricious history
of Vesuvius.
AS day was dawning, a fearful horror oc-
CURED Oh the side of the mountain next the
city. Of late years access to Vesuvius 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 a great cur
rent of lava. Thousands of visitors have
assembled 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 excursion parties
were assembled directly under the cone.
They had begun to dispense with the first
indications of sunrise, but hundreds still lin
gercd on the spot. Without a single move
ment to warn them, the earth opened under
foot, and the dead lava which they had been
treading upon as curiosity turned again to
molten fire. Those who were not engulfed
in the chasm as il burst forth attempted 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 I.
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 mi
raculously delivered by noble efforts on the
part OF strong-nerved men in the company.
l 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 its basis. 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 the eruption lady was seen
in it, but of her nothing whatever has been
heard since.
Throughout Friday CONSERVATION reigned
in Naples. The first touch of peril had pre-
pared all minds to expect the worst. Vesu-
vlus gave III 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, and two enormous
streams were rolling towards the sea as if
they would sweep away half dozen villages
in their course. Windows ratified, and the
strongest houses trembled to their founda-
tons. The smoke rising from the crater was
now mingled with volumes of sulphurous
vapor, and blackened by the ashes it carried
in its furious ascent. There was far more
danger in the sceriG than in the lava; for
they were coniiaea3o no channel. Scatter
ing themselves .hsFever the prevailing winds
carried them-whiEh was, happily, not in the
way of Naplesfhey became lire-brands for
the destruction of houses, vineyards, forests,
and every form Of c6mbustible property.
On Friday night Naples was a degree lower
in its descent toward abject terror. The
bourse had been elosed all day. No one at
tempted to thinkssssesestn ythng but the awful
noises under foot and the confagration which
was spreading among the villages lying at the
mercy of the volcano. Poor San Sebastiano
was nearly reduced toSashes, and its twelve
hundred inhabitants had to seek refuge nearer
the coast, whittier the lava and the ashes
were fast following them.