Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-12-28
Belehing vesavias.

Belehisg vesavias.
Ths scs,sl es.Nns IL plsesi almost in
massachusetts, thFss-fourtAs a which
sss seelssDl, vhils one-fourth 10 open.
Ths sDelosiag walls rise shove the bed
a ths esssse fron go os more feet in
soos parts, ss9Arestly composed Of
sulphur. The diameter, judging BY
De sye, from oas side 10 ths other. il
cheat 30 ysssls, md the whole Of this
area = Gllcd With lava Of Ore, but
eyus1sd on tAs surfscs With skin some
inshss dssp Of lava that has been
chilled. All Who have crossed The Ner
d Glnes q Chamouni are svsre Of the
chasssees a il fosnaEi0n; the deep, in
Ssssely hlus tinis al the ersvasses. the
hues bosldeu II ice. the uncertain and
irregulr diameter of the blocks, and
so0etiuss Tie fantastic shap0 assumed.
Ioagins just the sane formation, bot
Substitute ksat for cold, intense fiery
rcd color ioe The blue. and the appear
ancs a the esatsr nay BE- realised. The
surinoo a the lava blocks u black, con-
soetsd in myrisds Of forms, hot, rough,
and somewhat brittle, and lying more
or leas 1t one level. Looking between
the cEucks or down the "crevaasss, !"
however, the glowing fires few inches
below our feet, and in blocks wherein
No we're standing, we're seen. When
the mouth of the volcano showed signs
Of movement ten months since, IL Was
not raised much above the rest Of the
bed. Its ten months activity, how
ever, has enabled il to raise = cone
almost in the center of the crater, at
least Q hundred feet in height, very
wide at the base, converging at the sum
init like sugar loaf, but with the sum
init of the loaf removed.
With q pulsation as regular and as
marked as that of the piston Of steam
engine in full motion, did the huge
mountain carry on its works, SO that
now we were clearly able to understand
what was meant by "every pulsation
of the volcano being duly registered at
the observatory"
Clouds Of smoke and fumes, were
issuing from the summit OF the conc
now densely dark, as if fresh supply
of coal had been heaped on the fire;
then intensely light, as if the engine
were blowing off its steam; then most
beautifully and delicately tinted with
the tenderest rose-pink, as if an artist
were testing how best to combine the
loveliest tints of his art; then pale
salmon little while, and then as if five
thousand torpedoes were simultane-
ously exploded. The huge mountain
seemed to heave, and forth from its
mouth issued immense quantities Of
molten lava, shot scores of feet high
up into the air-apparently at the mouth
all in one body, but there separating
into millions OF pieces, great and small,
all glowing with the most intense red
heat that can be possibly seen. With q
powerful opera-glass we silently watched
the visible operations of the volcano.
Each piece as it assembled into the air
was separate; no piece was part red
and partly black, but was on fire and at
red-heat through, but, mostly the lava
emitted fell back again into the bosom
of the heaving mass, but with every
emission quantities, large or small, fell
on the outside of the mouth, and thus
we saw readily how the cone had grad
ually but continuously increased in
size and height. Every now and then o
huge mass would drop outside, and
then would be heard an immense crash
followed by vast Quantities of lava roll
ing down the sides of the cone. AS We
stood watching, at intervals there seemed
to be the firing of ten thousand guns of
mightier calibre than Krupp's. and we
soon found that this was the precursor
of grand display. Up rose, possibly
one hundred feet above the cone, an i'm
mense mass spreading in the shape of a
lady's fan, and presenting one of the
most magnificent sights the eye of man
Gao ever see. And this upheaval was
not a thing for which we had to wait
till our patience was exhausted, and to
wonder If it would be repeated or not,
hut was continuous and incessant, and
almost seemed as if every renewed ex-
plosion were grander than its precursor,
or as indicating trial of actual strength
prior to the great event proposed to be
completed.
As we descended to the crater the
rain had ceased, while there it again
fell for time heavily; then the whole
surface seemed "frizzling, aud kissing,
and steaming," as the two bodies came
into contact; the thunder overhead was
pealing like the roar Of fifty sparks of
artillery in concert, and the tightening
ceased, and there was o perfect calm,
nothing to be heard beyond the ina
chinery" of the mountain in full vigor
and "steam up" then the sunlight
lightened briefly the whole scene, deep
ening impressions that time can never
erase. As the day was drawing on it
at last became necessary to think OF re-
turning to Naples. With much effort
and the aid Of our helper we again got
out OF tho crater to the summit, but
our descent was to be by another way
from that by which We assembled. It
was down the side of the mountain, at
o far more acute angle than that now
proposed for tie roof Of st. Adams
abbey, but being Of loose, friable ma
terials similar to those We have previ.
ously described, there was little danger
of rolling to the bottom. Stepping out
bravely, and making long strides, with
the foot and leg halfway up plunging
into the mass at every step, our Amer
lean friends made the descent of the
A. \