Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-25
VISITING vEsUvIUs.

l started with friend to make the as
cent. II rained until we reached the OBJ.
servatory. and then, fortunately, the day
became delightful. 1t is q weary climb up,
through the loose ashes; and one Is tempt
ed to halt and admire the view pretty often
before reaching the top. When we had
reached it we could see nothing for the
smoke and mist that filed the big crater;
while far beneath US we could hear the
lava seething and frequent explosions from
the new cone. We were advised at start
ing not to descend into the crater; but our
guide assured US we could quite safely do
it, so down we scrambled on the lava.ay
The floor of the crater has risen in the
last few weeks from considerable depth
to within about twenty feet OF gap in
the SIDE of the crater wall, looking toward
the old left hand cone OF Vesuyius, and is
still rising. As we stood on the compara-
lively cool blocks of lava the fresh red
hot stream was slowly flowing out from
cracks around US. moving on ID . snake
like, fascinating way. and breaking oat in
fresh place as soon as the flow stopped
elsewhere. Every crack showed the lava
red hot foot or so beneath as. but the
guides ran about on it, and we followed
them, as if we were on the level cam
pagna. ..... 81,
At the upper end of the old crater
that is, just underneath the highest point
of the old cOne--is the new cone, which
has risen in the last week or so "a baby
cone, about fifty feet in height. and per-
haps one hundred and ninety yards In cir
cumference at the base, but a very noisy
and fiery cone. sending out continual
puffs of smoke rosy with the flames
which frequently rise above its summit,
and hurling into the air to the height of
one hundred feet Jumps Of red hot Stone
and lava, which. falling down ON to its
sides, make them rise higher every day.
The wind fortunately blew the smoke
away from us, or otherwise We should
have been almost, If not quite, suffocated
| where we stood-about thirty yards from
the base of the cone; and we were able
TO enjoy the wonderful sight, which, as
| man who followed us down said, one
could stay all day to look al Accompa-
nying the bursts of flame were hollow
reports. not loud, as l expected but
smothered, stifled explosions; and as l
climbed up the side OF the crater 50 as to
be able to look more into the mouth of
the new cone could see through the
| smoke struggling confusion of flames,
which found vent in the election of the
burning liquid.
The crater walls are brilliant with yellow
| and orange and colored sulphur, mixed
with basalt and red lava and white salts,
forming bright contrast to, the leaLen
colored lava whicn forms the floor and
the black cone with its crown of smoke.
| The guide told us the floor had risen an
extraordinary number of feet; but, iudg-
ing from what we saw OF lava flowing. it
would take a month probably to reach the
gap, through which its flow seems indicat-
ed, unless 1t should burst on the side of the
mountain. At present the stories that it
is flowing down the outside OF Yesuvius,
and that Prof. Palmira is building dyke
to protect the observatory and 50 forth,
are pure inventiC ms. Letter from Naples.