The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-11-21
Visiting Vcsuv us.

started with a friend to make the
ascent. Ii rained until We reached the
observatory and then, fortunately, the
day became delightful. 1t is a
weary climb up, though, through the
loose ashes, and one is tempted to halt
aud admire the pretty view often o.
fore reaching the top. When we had
reached 1t we could see nothing for the
mist and smoke that filed the big era
ter, while far beneath Us we could hear
the lava seething and frequent explo-
siols from the new cone. We were
ADVISED al starting not to descend into
the crater, but our guide assured US
that we could quite safely do it, so
down we scrambled on to the lava. The
floor of the crater has risen in the last
few weeks from a considerable depth
to within about twenty feet of O
gap in the side of the crater
wall, looking towards the old left
hand Cone of Nesuvius, and it is still
rising. As we stood on the compara-
lively cool blocks of lava, the fresh,
red-hot stream was slowly flowing out
from the cracks around US, moving on
in snake like, fascinating way, and
breaking out IN fresh place as soon as
the flow stopped elsewhere. Every
crack showed the lava red hot foot or
so beneath US, but the guides ran about
on it and we followed them, as if we
were on the level Campagna. 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; baby
cone, about fifty feet in height and per-
haps one hundred yards in circumfer-
ence 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 hurting into the air to height of
one hundred feet, or so, 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 uase of the cone ;
and we were able to enjoy the wonder
full sight, which, as man who fol- |
lowed us down said, one could |
stay all day to look at. Accom-
panying the bursts of flame were |
hollow reports, not loud, as had ex-
pected, but smothered, stified explc-
sions; and as climbed up the side of |
the crater so as TO be able to look more |
into the mouth of the new cone l could |
see through the smoke struggling
confusion of flames, which found vent |
in the election of the burning fluid. |
The crater walls are brilliant with vel |
low and orangc-colored sulphur, mixed
with basalt and red lava and white salts,
forming bright contrast to the lead
en-colored lava which forms the floor
and the black cone with its crown of
smoke. The guide told us that the
floor had risen an extraordinary num-
Der of feet; but, judging from what we
saw of lava flowing, IL would take a
month probably to reach the gap
through which its flow seems indica-
ted unless it should burst ont any
where on the side of the mountain. At |
present the stories that it is flowing
down the outside of Vcsuvius, and
that Professor PaImicrI is building a
dyke to protect the observatory, and |
so FORTH are pure inventions