Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-03
An APPALLING Adventure.
Two AMERICAN GIRLS ASCEND MOUNT YES
vIrvs ny NIGUT.

Two AMERICAN GIRLS ASCEND MOUNT vEsU-
WIS BY NIGHT.
To the Editor Of TIE London Times -
SIR-Through your columns trust to reach the
ewes of some English and American travellers
who have in mind to visit Mount Vesuvius this
season. Perhaps the event to be narrated win be
novel to no one who has assembled the mountain
within some years past. but strangers to Naples
rarely 20 there prepared for such an occurrence
During the past week, two American ladies. of
strength and pluck, determined to venture to the
crater of the volcano. They were informed at the
hotel. aud also by trusty guide, that there was
no danger from the condition of the mountain /;
but the journey should be performed at night, as
the heat Of the day oppressive They were
advised to be on the cone by sunrise. gentle
msD, who wss q stranger to them, and, perhaps,
less pucky, but who proved good company,
agreed TO accompany them; and the three en-
ployed n safe courier, VITO spoke English. The
party went to Pompei in the afternoon, rested
from till II o'clock, aud then, at midnight, sf-
they supposed must prove to them delightful ex.
curson. Before the cone was reached various
ATTACHES OF the expedition appeared, and they
were told that these were all necessary. When
counted they proved to be ten in NUMBER
"mountan guide" two totch-besrers, six help
ers" for the climbers two TO esch), and one "help
err for the chief guide.
During the ascent the wind, which had been
blowing gently, mere ised TO quite a gale the
ashes and scOrIa came into the ladies faces, fill
ing eyes, nose and mouth, blowing of hats, and
what was even worse, blowing out the two torches
aud preventing their use Up in the dark such
a nght-fancy it But thus far ones sympahies
may not be with the ladies' because il would seem
that the night only proved bad one, and that
risk all must take who ascend Nesuvius 10 the
night. The worst, however, was still to come,
and this surely they could not have foreseen or
prevented.
BY 3 A. NJ. all were al the summit The wind
howled, and blew the snlphurous smoke into their
lungs and eyes, and the fires only partly lighted
up the darkness and gloom Then the ten Ia-
ians asked the lad es TO descend into the outer
crater, IN order TO compel them to pay fee for
extra" They declined to go. Tue courier was
appe ied to for his influence to induce them TO go,
lie simply asked them # they wished TO 90, and
upon their saying no, told the men so. They be-
came only the more exasperated, and began quar-
relling with the courier. lie renamed good
natured, but they bantered him, clenched their
fists, and then went through scene which beg
gars description. Fancy the night, the place, the
persuasive ladies anu stranger, with ten ltal
Ians bent robblng them OF money-and these
demons before the glare of this little hell fighting
terror which oyercame the ladies, the fear lest
they should be carried into the crater by force,
robbed, or in some way prevented from descend
ing the mountain peaceabl,-and fancy such
scene occupying nearly Two hours, or almost Till
five A. NJ when the day broke
1t would take column of the Times to describe
the whole occurrence. | will only add IN relation
to the above that the ladies had desired TO be car
Iied up the cone on the chairs, always in waiting,
but asked 40f. each Tor that seryce-nearly
TO for the three; and that in consequence of the
conduct OF the men no pleasure whatever was de-
rived at the summit. At A. NJ. they reached
Ponpei again, glad TO be WITH civilized people,
although diencned TO the skin by the rain which
began at seven, and which they hurried through
on horseback III order 10 be out Of the reach OF all
the scounore, who seemed to infest the region of
Vesuvius
Last week, in Rome, gentleman told me he
had, two days before, been up Nesuvius IN tue
daytime with guide; that when on the summit
fifty francs extra was demanded by bis guide and
others. and he Obliged to pay 1t in order to be
permitted to descend. Has the Italian govern
ment no means of protecting peaceable travellers
from such robberies and brigaudage as this
Yours obedienty, A. V. ID. ii.
Genoa, September 7.