New-York tribune., 1872-05-24
THE ERUPTION OF vEsUvIUs.

INTERESTING NARRATIVE BY AN EYEWITNESS
TORRENTS OF LAYA-MANY VILLAGES DE-
sTROYED-SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN NAPLES.
lFROM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE THBuNEl
NAPLES, April 30.-An eruption of Vesuvus
Is an event which does not every century IT
has appalled, us every one 1t has driven from their
homes at least for tme from 10000 to $4,000 persons
The vast majority have returned, for they were only
pancstricken; many houseless some in the hos
pitas, others dead On Wednesday, the 2ith April was
the first grand display, and crowds OF foreigners, en-
chanted with their good fortune hurried of at night TO
the mountain. on the following day there dimin-
ished action. Still the spectacle was grand one, aud
vast numbers went off on the nocturnal expedition usual
on such occasions There could be danger-vesuyius
did not threatening aspect; and so they crept
on gradually reaching higher and higher and perchng
about Of lava prattng about the grandeur of
the spectacle. In moment, from crater at the foot
of the issued current, rather river Of fire,
not far from the opening which was made IN 1885,
cannot do better than give you, to certain point of
time the report which have just this instant received
of Giovanni COzzOlino the principal guide. On Thurs
day afternoon, the 25th INST, at O'Clock in the after
noon the great cone the cone, and recently
formed craters sent forth i've currents of lava which,
pursuing their cOurse-some toward TOrre del Greco
others toward Reina- threatened TO devour those
places An eruption SO strong, while it filed all who
witnessed it with apprehension yetfasonating from
Its beauty and gave indications of yet greater erup
ton During the day the lava seemed TO be SPENT the
two principal only discharged vast columns Of
stones into the air and for time Vesuvius, cOmpara
lively tranquil without trcmbed from internal labor.
IL was about in the afternoon that the crater
OF which have already spoken being that OF
1855, opened, and sent forth current which may be
nkened 70 a IL was pursuing its course when
new crater far distant began 10 play sending FORTH
In the fret instance volume Of smoke and fire mixed
with stones which fell the Observatory. Most Of
yho no nd ne
Of the severely burnt rOasted-sOme of them
are dead; but this is not the place 10 enumerae the
victims. The currents meanwhile, one on the right
and the other the left of the Observatory pursued
very rapid course Such the state OF things until
. IN. Of the 2Gth April, when, in moment the aspect
was entirely changed Vesuvus began TO throw up col
Omns of stones into the air and with such ferocous and
Continuous roarings that they were heard distinctly
at Naples and all round the bay. They have been
compared 70 the firing Of artillery, but human ar
tllery ever equaled that roar in continuity, and
loudnessiand depth. 1t appalling; it shook our
windows and houses and deafened u.s. and 80 IL con-
tnued without ceasing, may almost say until last
night Rapidly and rapidly the lava pursued its
eourse-and other mouths opening for considerable
space, enlarged the first The CONSERVATION of the
people of the neghbOrng towns and villages at its
hight-how could IL be otherwise. Men, women, and
children, old and young, gave themselves up to precip
fight carrying with them what they could Of their
household gods The stream the left OF the Observa
tory advanced quickly other aiuents sweled its pro
portions issuing they did at certain distance from
the Fosso della Vetrana and the Fosso del Faraone.
Masa d SOmma had been already covered by il in part
and some portion OF San SebasanO; and IL coming
down toward Cercola. Happily IL stopped but Massa
a township OF 9COO inhabitants, and San sebastiano
have suffered much though 10 the which has
been stated by the Press.
The stream the right Of the Observatory after run
ming short distance sopped but another current from
an immense opening in the mountain flowed down IN the
direction Of Tore del Greco with most menacing as
pect. and fortunately stopped within half mile Of IT,
TOrre del Greco town OF 10000 inhabitants and is
built on the ruins Of several cities swallowed up by the
former fiery dcuges You may see the top of a befry
which emerges from the lava that with a black
ened crust the last city. What wonder then that the
whole population the avoid the desruc-
tion which hung them the neighborng nights
30 they Ned from many other villages and around
the mountain for tbled at every poreava flowed down
nortb' south, east, aud west Vesuvius was mass of
naines and DO one felt certain the ground might not
open beneath his feet Toward Saturday night the fiery
deluge ceased and the mountain assumed another As
peet IL roared and rumbed fearfully and for ten en-.
tre days rained continuous showers OF fine black dust
every one was compelled TO carry umbrella-many
met with handkerchiefs over their heads and 6ne
gauze coverings on their faces That fine i'm.
palpable dust covered everything entered every
where 1t several inches deep in the streets 81 en-
tered our doors aud windows, which were carefully
closed; and our plates, and the very handles of onr
knives observed yesterday at dinner were roughened
by It's presence "sgnor you must pardon It," said the
servants, we cannot attempt to maintain cleanDessp
need scarcely tell you that, for five days. the utmost
CONSERVATION and confusion have prevailed in Napes
thousands have entered Of whom many have left and
reiIUaed 10 their homes. For upward Of thousand ten