Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-12-18
NO. 81.
Vomiting Vesuvius.

diameter, judging Dy the eye, from one
side TO the other, is about 800 yards and
the whole of this area is filled with
lava on fire, but crusted on the surface
with skin some inches deep of lava
that has been chilled. All who have
crossed the Mer de Giace, at Chamouni,
are aware of the character of its for
nation; the deep, intensely blue tints OF
the crevasses, the huge boulders of ice,
the uncertain and irregular character
of the blocks, and sometimes the fantas-
tic shapes assumed. Imagine just the
same formation, but substitute heat for
cold, intense fiery red color for the
blue, and the appearance of the crater
may be realized. The surface of the
lava blocks is black, cOntOrted into
myriads OF forms, hot, rough, and
somewhat brittle, and lying more or
less at one level. Looking between the
cracks or down the ''erevasses," how
ever, the glowing fires a few incl @,
below our feet, and in tie blocks
whereOn We were standing, were seem
When the mouth of the volcano shower
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 ii to raise a cone
almost in the centre of the crater, at
least hundred feet in height, very
wide at the base, eonverging at the
summit like sugar-lOaf, but with the
| summit of the loaf removed. With a
pulsation as regular and as marked As
that Of the piston of n steam-engine in
full motion, did the huge mountain
carry on its work, so that now we were
| clearly able to understand what was
meant by ''cyery pulsation of the vol
| cano being duly registered at the obser-
vatory." Clouds OF smoke and fumes
were Issuing from the summit of the
cone-now densely dark, as if fresh
supply of coal had been heaped on the
fire; then intensely light, as if the
engine were blowing of 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 a little while; and then, as if
five thousand torpedoes were simulta-
neOusly exploded. The huge mountain
seemed TO heaye, and fOrth from its
mouth issued immense quantities OF
molten lava, shot scores OF feet high up
into the air-apparenly, at the mouth,
all in one body; but, there, separating
into millions of pieces great and small,
all glowing with most intense red neat
that can possibly be SEEN With u
powerful opera glass we silently
watched the visible operations OF the
volcano. Each piece as it ascended
into the air was separate; no piece Was
partly red and partly black, but was on
fire, land at red heat throughout; 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 gradually, but continuously, in-
creased in size and height. Every now
and then, a huge mass would drop out
side, and then would be heard an i'm
mense crash, followed by vast quantities
of lava rolling down the sides Of the
cone. As We stood watching, at inter-
walls 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. a grand display.
Up rose, possibly one hundred feet
above the cone, an immense mass,
spreading in the shape of lady's fan,
and presenting one of the most magnin-
cen sights the eye of man can 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, but was cou-
tinuOus and incessant and almost seemed
as if every renewed expulsion were
grander than Its predecessor, or as indi-
eating trial of actual strength prior to
the great event proposed to be com.
pleted. As we descended TO the crater,
the rain had ceased; whilst there IL
again fell heavily for a time; then the
whole surface seemed ''frizzling, and
kissing and steaming," as the two
bodies came into contact; the thunder
overhead was pealing like the roar OF
fifty parks of artillery in concert, and
the lightning flashed with intense Wv
idGess; then the rain and thunder and
lightning ceased, and there was a per-
feet calm, nothing to be heard beyond
the "machinery" in full vigor and
''steam up" then the sunlight light
eued briefly the whole scene, deepening
impressions that time cat never erase.
As the day was drawing on, it at last
became necessary to think of returning
to Naplee. With much effort and the
aid of our helper, we again got out of
the crater to the summit, out our desceat
was to be by another way from that by
which we ascended. IL was down the
side of the mountain, at a far more
acute angle than that now proposed for
the roof of st. Adams abbey, but being
of loose friable materials, similar to
those we have previously 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 American friends
made the descent of the outer cone in
nine minutes; we travelled it more
leisurely, and took from twelve to ff-
teen. The Hermitage was soon reached
and at once taking carriage we starred
for the hotel.
Think little of yourself, and you will
not be injured when Others think little
of you-