Middletown transcript., 1878-04-13
Our d9lio.
Written for the MiddletoWn Transcript
LEAVES FROM AN OLD SAILORS
DIARY.

! LEA Els FhOM AN OLD ShAAsOh'S
DIARY.
After being dragged down St. Alma
(for that mountain is called Saint
Alma, the country being Catholic, ev.
erything lacal has some Saints name
Timothy, Duke, Deuteronomy, some
body else Of that calibre), we took the
cars for Pompei. There are three
classes of society in Italy, nabObs, sol
diers and beggars. The latter are the
most numerous, and a stranger can
scarcely walk twenty yards without a
beggar is hanging on to his coat plead
ing for the filthy lucre. | was very
much amused at the care of the engin-
eer and conductor of the train in going
so slow, and man running ahead of
the locomotive nearly the whole time,
clearing the track Of stragglers. l
thought it was very foolish thing to
be 50 careful Of those beggars, as there
were so many Of them that few killed
would not be missed. It is just nine
miles from Naples to Pompei, and it
took US just two hours to 60 there
Pompei was destroyed by the first
eruption Of Mount Vesuvius, which, I
believe, was in the year 79, &c. 1t
was completely covered up with ashes.
Being situated at the base of the noun
tain it is sixty feet from the highest
pillar to the surface Of the earth.
When l was there the Sandman gov
ernment had opened-or, rather dug
out-three streets. We were told by
our guide that they only excavate one
street at each change Of monarchs, and
the ruins are considered sacred. The
most astonishing thing I noticed was
that the ashes covering the city were
wood ashes. | brought home some Of
them and had them analyzed, and
every one who saw them pronounced
them wood ashes and those ashes GER
tainly came from the volcano Vesu-
vius. There are numerous pedestals
or bases Of monuments scattered along
the sides Of the streets, but the sculp
tors statues are taken away, and can be
seen in the Kings Museum, at Naples.
One | particularly noticed was fifteen
feet high, representing the half of a
man and the half of a horse mans
head, arms and breast, and horses
hind legs. 1t was masterpiece of
sculpture. There are two tables of
marble, with the ashes of two persons
still lying on them. The guide eau
TONED US not to speak or go within
5ix feet Of them, for fear eur breath
would disturb them. l think they
must have been instantly sufocated by
aking a shower bath, in the bath vault
Inder the street. at which place we
aw them.
Ny impression is that these two cities,
Compel and Herculaneum, were the
titles Of Sodom and Gomorrah. Her
:ulaneum was covered with lava, but
oompei with ashes. The streets are
,aved with granite, and at each corner
f the street is a granite block, placed
here to prevent the carts from touch
ng the houses, and a most singular
act | noticed was that each of those
locks were worn by the hubs Of wheels
* inches deep, and the ruts in the
treets were also worn six inches deep,
y actual measurement. That city
lust be very old, judging from the
lts in the street that deep.
There are two statues in the Kings
arden, at Naples, which we're dug up
'om these ruins, Of life size; one rep |
Venus coming from the bath, {
nd the other Venus and Adonis, of {
ure white marble. There are many 7
atues excavated from these ruins. I |
Oticed that all of the buildings have G
lack and white marble strips, about q
lie size of ones finger; they are up
ght, and are made to represent all
nds Of pictures, birds, animals, etc. J
There is very large building, about y
llf of it excavated, called the hall of b
crifce, containing several tables of 8
arble, some of which are much worn t
! the knives cutting up the different t
,jects of sacrifice; another large ta- n
e has hollow place in the centre to 4
i'm the sacrifices, so we were told by t
If guide. q
After leaving Pompei we went up Il
e mountain to get nearer view of b
e orator of the volcano. 1t was in st
II blast, and the melted lava would r.
casionally run over the top of the a
ator and form a small rivulet of red d.
It fire, and it certainly was rash in tt
to 60 up, but others had been there p
ID we thought we could 90 where "
hers had been. We hired donkey pl
iecc and started up. There is an old nj
rmit living about half way up the ne
which affords good resting te
nee to those going up. The outer te
ator is about a half mile wide, with sa
cone in the centre, which is about 80 sh
It high, and from it the present era bs
: continues to burn day and night. dc
OLD TAR. vi