The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-10-31
Eruptions of yesuyius.

This remarkable volcaeo,s which is.
now ina state of eruptiofls stands ON the
east shore of the Bay of Naples and
about ten miles from the city. 1t stands
alone on e,Plain of Campania upon ~
base of about thirty miles in ,circum-
ference In its upper portion it divides
into two peaks, Dne of which, called the
Somma, attains the, height rof three
thousand seven hundred aud, forty-seven
feet above the sea- and the other, known
as Vesusius, reaches an elevation of
three thousand nine hundred and forty
nine feet, but varies both in height and
shape in consequence of the eruptions
of the volcano.
Vesuvius is often mentioned by
ancient Roman writer's without allusion
to its volcanic character. The first
recorded eruption occurred in August,
A. u. 70, and it was during this that the
cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum
were buried beneath t ashes. The.
materials elected from the mountain
were scori8 and ashes alone, the quail
ties of which exceeded its own bulk
and in the occasionsl eruptions which
succeeded, these were the only volcanic
products until the year 1865, when the
first flow of lava occurred. The total
number of its great eruptions, down to
the present time, has been about sixty,
and some of them have been remarkable
for the vast movements taking place in
short time. Between the year 1906
and 1851 no eruption occurred, except
slight one in 1900. But throughout this
period Etna was in state of unusual
activity, and this, perhaps, gave vent to
elastic vapors and lava that would
otherwise have found a passage through
the craters of Vesuvius.
The eruption in 1851 was accompanied
with great currents of lava, which
flowed over most of the villages at the
base of the mountain, and at the same
time torrents of boiling water were sent
forth. The eruption of 1779 is described
as among the grandest and most terrible
of these phenomena. White sulphurous
smoke, Ike heaps of cotton, rose up four
times as high as the volcano, and spread
about to proportional extent. In June,
1894, occurred a terrible eruption, which
destroyed the town of Tore del Greco.
A single stream of lava was estimated
by Breislak as containing more than
forty-six million cubic feet. The erup-
ton Of 1922 broke up the whole top of
the mountain and formed an elliptical
chasm about three miles III circum-
ference and supposed to be two thousand
| feet deep. In May, 1856, the floods of
lava destroyed the village of Cercolo.
| An eruption of great violence occurred
in December, 1861. The disturbances
commenced on Sunday morning, the
Sth, in tremblings of the ground. In the
afternoon a large opening was made in
/ fha uro,,n1 Eff1n oh Tn,-ra al
Greco, about half way up the mountain,
which was soon followed by others, from
all of which proceeded terrific ex-
plosions and jets of fame. Streams of
lava poured forth, and on the morning
of the 9th were flowing in current half
a mile broad. The explosions, like the
sound of heavy artillery, continued till
towards evening, and at night were sue
ceeded by the most brilliant display of
electric lights, forked lightning and col
ums of fire and smoke continually ris-
ing from the crater. The conyulsions
continued for several days, and even up
| to January l, 1862, the trembling of the
earth had not ceased. The effect of this
eruption was to materially alter the
shape of Vesuvius, deepening the old
crater and forming several new ones. !.
The nature of the present eruption
remains to be determined, but /. it is
thought it will be one of considerable
violence. The base of the new cone
is now covered with lava, which is
flowing down the sides of thesmeuntain
in stream of considerable size. Much
alarm is felt in the villages. at the foot
of the mountain, the inhabitants of
which are prepared for fight at the first
appearance of danger. "a a. .