The Osceola times., 1878-05-25
OSCEOLA ARKANSAS SATURDAY. %

crushed down by the weight Of the
ashes. In the dining rooms the tables
are OF stone, and many are covered with
petrified food. Beds and couchcs are In
the sleeping rooms,
In one Of the kitchens was found a
fowl put in the skillet, and q stew.parl
containing small pig for roasting, all
prepared eighteen hundred years age.
Many beautiful mosaics were found on
the floors, and elegant frescoes on the
walls, and they look as bright and fresh
as il they had only been finished few
years. The frescoes, pictures, mo-
saics, and sculptures, and even Jew
elry discovered in rome of the houses
show terrible depravity in morals. In
the House OF the Vestals" upon the
door is still the word "Salve," welcome.
A mosaic with the representation of n
| tiorce dog, with the inscription, "Cave
Canem," beware of the dog, Is near the
threshold of the House OF the Tragic
Poet
In the streets are many shops which
still have the signs over the doorways
In one there is some marble partly
sculptured, with the artists tools living
around; in another, medicines and
surgical instruments; in third, a
marble counter with stsne liquor lars
behind it, and the stains made BY the
wet glasses on the counter prove that
this was drinking saloon Then there
is an estipg-house. Meats and deli-
cacies are on the counter; 6resplaces TO
keep the soups and me@es warm are still
in the room. The same building con-
tains prist mill aud bakery. In the
bakers shop a batch of losves WAS found
which had been in the oven since the
oath of August, A. ID. 10. The mill
was turned by horse power.
The various temples that have been
exhumed contain idols made of marble,
silver and gold. The temple of Isis is
eighty-fo feet long and seventy.five
feet broad The ashes OF victims were
found on its altars. The skeleton ol n
priest, sitting at table on which was
spread meal, is here, while near the
door was another priest holding In his
skeleton hand hatchet, with which he
had triei to cut his way out Of the TEN,
pie. Three hundred skeletons were dis.
covered in the Temple of Juno all
crowded together and buried beneath the
ashes. At the very hour Of their destruc.
tion the priestess was offering sacrifice
to the queen of the gods. The forum
occupies the central portion of the city.
On each side are rows of columns and
long portices which show the outline of
this spot. Pedestals on which formerly
stood famous statues are dotted here and
there. The public meetings were held
in the forum, and notice Of such o
meeting called tor the very night when
the city was destroyed
The amphitheater, which ia about hall
mile from the present excavations, is in
splendid state of preservation. 1t Is
built OF store, is in the form OF the
Colosseum at Rome, and was used for the
gladistorial shows. II is 430 feet long
ty 1886 feet wide. The stone stems seat
10000 spectators. Placards with the
announcement of theatrical performances
are still TO be seen ON the walls The
doors, seats, pillars, entrances and caves
for the wild animals are as perfect as
they were 1000 years ago.
The villa of Diomede." so called
because tomb bearing that name was
found near by, and for this reason IL
was supposed 10 have belonged to a
| Diomede, il the one that has been rem
dered famous by Bulwers description of
it. 1t stands just outside the "Her-
culaneum Gate" and the supposed
owner was discovered in his garden, with
a bunch Of keys and purse well filed
with old and silver coin in his hands.
In the celia, of the Diomedes house, bud-
died together in corner, were found
eighteen skeletons, mostly females. sup
posed TO have been members Of the
| family. All were encased in hardened
mud and ashes. One was an infant,
whose form still clupg to the bony
bosom OF its mother. Some of the vic.
tins hsd rings and bracelets encirclipg
their skeleton fingers and wrists and gold
ornaments on their necks. Over six
hundred skeletons have already been
exhumed; but fortunately most of the
inhabitants managed to escape, having
needed the warning OF the burning
mountain. Only the bones remain OF
the victims. the flesh having mostly
perisbed, but now and then little tutt
of moldy hair has been found clinging 20
the skull. The positions OF the bones in
every possible form of contortion all in
dicate violent death, one OF agony and
suffering. A miser was found grssping &
bag of gold in his bony hand.
In one room family group embracing
each other in death, in another the bones
of dancing girls mingled with the broken
instruments OF music, can he seen. In
another place the skeleton of cook at
his place near the stove in the kitchen,
One house contained bones scattered
about bearing marks Of being guawed,
while near by lay tho skeleton of dog,
showing that the brute had survived and
eaten his master. Here IL a company y,
young and old, fleeing TO the sea there
the remains OF mother vainly trying to
shelter her three little children from The
fiery storm. Outside Of the gates in his
sentry box stands a Roman soldier, In
complete armor, with the key of the city
gate in his hand. After standing faith,
fully at his post for seventeen centuries
he was discovered "clsd in rusty srmor
the hemlet on his empty skull, and the
spear in his body fingers in the city
prison, not far distsnt, were found The
prisoners, some with "their feet made
! fast in the stocka NJ Cor ST Iouis POet