The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1877-07-25
WEDNESDAY, JULY 25. 1877.
EsoInpeii.


to find oneself transported back and brought
face to face with the every day life of eighteen
centuries ago, is to experience sensation which
no subsequent visiting of famous relics OF the
past can ever efface from the mind. An ancient
ruin is but heap of stone whether in Mexico
or 10 Egypt. The massive blocks of Stone
henge or those of the Ephesian Temple OF Diana
mean nothing to those who, from their know
ledge and imagination. cannot call up mental
pictures Of the circumstances under which they
were erected and it requires no small effort ON
the part of even those possessing the apprecia-
tive faculty TO exercise it, when locality hlther-
TO surrounded with halo ofromsnce, sentiment.
or historical interest," is for the first time viewed
from the window of nineteenth century railway
train. Pompeii is perhaps the one exception,
Tourists who have YEARLY assembled Pisa's lean
ing tower and thought of nothing but the steep
ness of the stairs, o. who have done" the Aero
polls at Athens at sunrise, with the idea OF
breakfast uppermOst in their minds, lind in the
exhumed city an interest which leaves no rooGl
for such ncongruous feelings. II is the interest
which induced thousands at the Centennial TO
turn their backs on the magnificent Castelani
collection of antiquities and linger in the New
England kitchen.
To reach Pompeii from Naples. fifty min
utes' journey by the railroad which skirts the
great lava stream of 1894, over two thousand
feet wide and forty feet thick. at the base of We
suvus, and passes a number of little villages, in
hahited Gin the face Of constant danger from
earihqnake) on account of the great fertility of
the soil. On reaching his destination the visitor
pays small admission fee. and enters at once
into the streets of the ancient city.
Pompeii was partly destroyed by two earth
quakes in the year 63 A. d. It's inhabitants
were still engaged in rebuilding the injured por
ton. when, on August "a IS, great eruption
of NesuVius overwhelmed the city and the ada
cent towns of Hercuaneum aud Stable. SO
suddenly was the outbreak that the escape of the
people was prevented. A dense cloud of black
smoke burst forth from the crater, and settled
thickly over the town. plunging it in complete
darkness. A dense rain Of thin light ashes fol-
lowed, and then showers of hot stones, mingled
with masses of lava giving off mephitic gases.
Meanwhile great rivers Of black lava poured ire
sistibly down the mountain sides filling the
streets and cutting off the exit of those who had
taken refuge in cellars while Others, who were
attempting to leave the city by the gates, were
blinded by the drifting ashes and overcome by
the sulphurous vapors. For three days this ter
rible infliction continued and then, when the
smoke dispersed, where once was beautiful
town was but an arid mass OF ashes, pumicestone,
and hardened mud
Centuries went by The rich volcanic soil
became covered with profusion of vegetation,
and q new town sprung up over the buried city,
only to be destroyed by earthquake tour hundred
years after the great eruption. Pompeii then
existed only in tradition and this located the
lost city several miles from the uninhabted
plain under which it was eventually discovered.
In the middle Of the last century. the finding of
relics in the vicinity induced the government to
undertake systematic excavations. An inscription
was soon unearthed establishing the fact that the
true Pompe had undoubtedly been found and
since that time the work of uncovering the
buildings has been slowly and carefully carried
on.
Fortunately the material which chiefly cover
ed the city was not lava, which would have set
like stone after probably burning paintings and
melting objects in metal but fine light ash
which insinuated itself into the minutest crew
ices, and even through porous earthenware. The
writer assisted in opening large wine jar still
bearing the seals placed over its mouth at the
time of filling. The white ashes had replaced
the wine, and had made their way through pot,
terry of close texture and now harder than stone
Generally. however, the presence of the ashes
has proved advantage, because in opening q
street for example, they are easily dug out and
removed; while by packing closely around per-
isbabIe objects they have formed perfect moulds
retaining the form of the objects after the same
have wholly decayed and disappeared. 1t Is not
frequently that articles are found at height above
four feet from the floor, as their weight natural.
ly carries them downwards through the soft mass
OF ashes. The digging is therefore rapidly pro-
secuted until the above uniform level is attained
Then shovels and picks are put aside, and the
ashes are taken out by handfuls each workman
prnmhlinU tho m tn hafa lima
it. As soon as the experienced eve of any work
er recognizes the indications of a mould being
formed in the ashes, labor near that point i:
stopped, and tampng iron are cautiously insert
| ed TO make two or three vents in the cavity
Then hqnid plaster is poured in and after being
| left sufficiently long to harden, the ashes are
taken away and the cast removed. The bodie;
oftwo women, were found apparently poor people
as on the finger of one an iron ring was found
The elder one has the limbs drawn up as if il
agony the other, girl probably of fifteen year
of age, is more composed One of the hand hal
Open as if holding something The texture o
the dress is exactly reproduced, even to thu
| stitches of the seams.
1t is believed that of the inhabitants of Pom
peii thousands persisted. Many hand in hanC
CROPPED their way through the streets, and so es
capped to the open country. At the chief gat,
| tHcio eNoou d seutiuei, WHO steFDly kept Ills pos
through the thunders of that dreadful day. III
died in harness. Planted 10 his sentry box, b.
covered his mouth with his tunic, and held OF
against the choking and sulphurous shower Blu
the ashes fell and FELL and finally filed the box
and buried the soldier alive, still graspng hi
weapon in ehand and yelling bis mouth will
the other. There, after ages Of rest, he wa
found-a grisy skeleton clutcbing rusty sword
Sad discoveries were made in the street lead
ing to that gate. There were two skeleton
locked in close embrace, the teeth perfect, indi
eating youth in its prime; skeletons of youn
man and maid. They had fallen together il
their fight, and death had welded them Their
| was mother with her three children hand i
hand, who tried vainly to outrun DEATH Perhap
the mother singly might have done it, but sh
could not leave her children. Plenty of food fo
sad thought is furnished in remembering that 81
hundred skeletons have been already exhumed
many in such positions and circumstances O
to suggest very touching episodes accompanying
the final catastrophe. OF the family of Diomet
seventeen persons we're stifed in wine celia
well stocked with amphore of wine, some {
which bore the date of the vintage. The fugi
tives in their agony of fear stood all huddIed
corner. One swoonng girl fell forwards on
the bed of ashes that had drifted in. She lei
the impress of her bosom in the drift like a Sc,
in softened wax.
l. An Interesting ltttIa c;rann,atanoo :, oo,-..