The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-11-06
MOUNT VESUViUS.
Up the World r amous Volcano in Csr---Watoh-
ina ExnIosinns


ing Explosions.
Rome Correspondence New York Evening Post.l
The pew road recently made by the
company now permits the carriage which
brought you from Naples to ascend two
miles further. This alone would great
ly diminish the fatigue of the ascent.
The road is about two miles long and
winds like a knotted white mband over
the steep ascent A hveried officer
touches his cup as he issues from a lit
tie cabin built at the point where the
road begins. and asks for your ticket
Travellers who ascend the mountains in
their vehicles not belonging to the
society are charged 50 from this point
for the use Of the road. The carriage at
last reaches the broad stone platform
and elegant building at the base of the
cone, used as a station and restaurant
The atmosphere is an exquisite ming
hing OF sea breeze and mountain air, and
the view below, when the day is clear, is
charming Sorrento, Castelnare. Capri
Naples-all cities whose very names re-
call enchanting natural scenery-he be-
low Ill vast and beautiful panorama.
The low, onestOry house, built To resist
earthquakes, IS decorated III tie Pom
pelan style. The mosaic pavement at
the door greets you with ''salve, and
all around on the walls are photographs
or NesuyIus. You eat breakfast here
Toast beef, with a glass OF Nesuvlan
W1ne-the price, of course, being as ele-
waited as the position OF the restaurant on
the mountain. Water, they told us, was
all brought there III barrels on d0nkcys'
backs, as none is ever found in the earth
there. 1t is ground that has been ul-
heaved unnumbered times, and, even if
it We're not near the top Of the mountain,
water could not be expected there
The car is III two compartments at
different levels, and carries up eight per-
sons at each voyage, which occupies nine
minutes. The heavy oak beams laid up
tie side of The cone, at an angle Of fifty
degrees, looks stout enough to hold the
cablc-wirc and the wheels on the lapillo
OF the cone, and giving to the winds all
mlsglvIngs, You begin the ascent This
rolling up the cone, with 4 conductor
mounted on an elevated seat in front ot
the car; tins leaving the world which we
hay" known hitherto so far behind gives
curious sensation OF mingled wonder
ana fear. The movement is slow aud
cautious, as il man feared to tempt the
mighty power below, and all Is silent ex-
cspt the creak OF the wire over the iron
wheel. When at last You are landed 1T
the upper station the ascent so fan mas
been made without fatigue and the
promises OF the society are fulfilled But
part Of the cone IS still before YOU, If
Eou would arrive at the crater, and TINS
ascent is steep and fatigllin9. The
guides loyerround each group of travel
ecs here, hoping to find some who, as il
former times, viii require their aid. Al
though die walk, which is about fifteen
minutes, is tati9Uing, it Gives only the
mlr mode Of ascension. The only Qucs-
tIou. on locking back ut the conc, is
- How dij so many delicate women ever
10 2 1t used to be considered Il
natter Of course for nv traveller who
visited naples 10 ascend Eesuvius, but
even with the aiI Of the guides 1t must
have been q serious effort. Even those
who perm ted themselves 10 be carried
gp IL chair must have experienced
nervous sensation on finding themselves
TINS strangely suspended on the shout
ders OF struggling men between earth
and heaven. After this painting ascent
we found ourselves near the base Of the
small cone which has been raised within
two years. There IS a field Of yellow
lava here elected by Yesuvius in tile
eruption OF 1872. BY leapin8 from one
rock to another it is possible to 90 even
nearer but it IS not safe to go on the
cone on account Of the banning stones
that are constantly falling over it. BY
ascending hill to the right may be seen
the tissure IN the top of the cone, through
which the lava runs IN narrow stream
down the side toward Pompeii But [
confess that my courage failed here, and
] contented myself with sitting down III
the ashes and watching the explosions
which frequently occurred. The fine
black ashes fell in showers, and the hot
sulphrous air burned my face and dis
colorcd the steel ornaments of my dress.
Clouds came every few moments to
wreath the cone in darkness, and the
frequent explosions shook the ground
under foot