The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-03

Travellers who ascend the mountains in
| their vehicles, or In others not belonging 10
the society, are charged SO 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 q station and restaurant.
The atmosphere Is an exquisite mingIing
OF sea breeze and mountain air, and the
view below, when the day Is clear, il charm
| ing. Sorrento, Cas,eIamare, Capri. Naples
all cities whose very names recall encbant-
Ing scenery-lie below in vast and beauti-
! full panorama. The low one.story house
built 10 resist earthquakes Is decorated
| In the Pompeiian style. The mosaic
pavement at the door greets you with a
Saire, and all around on The walls are
photographs OF Vesuyius. You eat break
fast here-roast beef with glass OF Vesu-
Wan wine-tbe price, OF course, being rs
| elevated as the position OF the restaurant on
the mountain. Water, they told us. was all
brought there in b1rTels on donkeys' backs,
as none is ever found in the earth there. II
is ground that has been upbeayed unnum-
bered times, and even II II were not near
the top Of the mountain water could not be
expected there.
The car is in two compartments at diffe-
rent levels, and carries up eight persons at
each voyage, which occupies nine minutes.
The heavy oak beams, laid up the side OF
the cone at an angle OF fifty degrees, look
stout enough to hold the cable-wire and the
wheels firm on the Iapillo OF the cone, and
giving to the winds all misgiyings you be-
gin the ascent This rolling up the cone,
with a conductor mounted on an elevated
seat in front OF the car; this leaving the
world which we have hitherto known so far
behind gives a curious sensation OF mingled
wonder and fear. The move meDt is slow
and cautious, as il man feared to tempt
the mighty power below, and all Is silent
except the creak OF the wire over the iron
wheel. When at last you are landed at The
upper station the ascent so far has been
made without fatigue, and the promises OF
the society arc fulfilled. But part OF the
cone Is still before you, il you would arrive
at the crater, and this ascent Is steep and
fdtiguing. The guides hover round eacb
group OF travellers here, hoping TO find
some who, az in former days, will require
their aid. Although the walk, which is
about fifteen minutes, is fdiguing, 1t
gives only the fainlest idea Of the diff
Guilty of the former mode Of ascension.
The only question, on looking back at the
cone, is, How did so many delicate wo-
men ever do it." 1t used to be considered
a matter OF course for any traveller who
visited Naples to ascend Nesuyus, but even
with the aid OF the guides 1t must have
been q serious effort. Even those who per-
mitted themselves 10 be carrie d up in
chair must have experienced nervous SEN
satiOn on finding themselves thus strangely
suspended on the shoulders 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 field OF
yellow lava here elected by VeSuvius in the
eruption OF 1872. BY leaping from one
rock 10 another it is possible to 90
even nearer, but it is not safe to 60 on the
cone on account Of the burning stones that
are constantly falling over it. BY ascend
ing q bill TO the right may be seen the assure
in the top of the cone through which the
llya runs in narrow stream down the side
toward Pompei. But / confess my cOur-
age failed me here, and ! contented myself
with sitting down in the ashes and watching
the explosions which frequently occurred.
The fine black ashes fell in showers, and
the hot, sulphurous air burned my face and
discolored the steel ornaments OF my dress.
Clouds came every few moments TO wreath
the cone in darkness, and the frequent eX-
plosions shake the ground under foot.
The guides said that the mountain was
more agitated than usual, and the mass OF
fire we saw issuing from the mouth o. The
cone was proof OF it. The red mass OF
stones was thrown violently into the air
and fell again with dull, heavy thud into
the boiling lake below, or some OF the lava
rolled like stones down tie outside OF the
cone.
yesuyius has changed its form so often
that the descriptions OF it given by various
writers are dissimiar. 1t is the only exist
ing volcano which has history extending
through many centuries. That OF Vesuvius
begins with the Latin writers before the
great eruDiion which DESTROYED POmpeil
and Herculaneum. They refer to preceding
eruptions, which had left traces on the
mountain. The present cone did not then
exist, and it is believed TO have been made
at the Pompeiian eruption. The broken
mountain behind what we know as Nesu-
yius. and now called Monte Somma, was
the original crater, which was then yio'
lenfly torn asunder and its mouth lefl
broken and jagged, as may be seen from
Naples.
From that time to this every successive
writer has given the mountain different
description, although accurate accounts ol
its varied phases exist only since the yeal
1881. when there was a memorable erup
tion. When long period OF repose occurs
nature covers the ground with green, ano
the natural fertility OF the soil tempts mar
to cultivate it even 10 the crater. A poe
before the eruption of 1881 speaks OF 'sheeI
that make the summit OF Vesuvius white a.
snow" hich proves that the inhabitant'
had almost forgotten the character OF I'M
mountain. Six thousand sheep were los
in that terrible agitation OF Vesuvius, ant
many Inhabitants OF Tore del Greco, o
Resini, and PORTER were either struck d.
projectles or surprised between two cur
rents of lava. Four thousand persons ar
said to have perished in that time. No
only fire, but mephitic air and water, that
losing its usual courses, oyerwhelme'
plains and villages, caused the loss
human life. The vegetation OF ten squar
miles was destroyed, and one slon
! thrown out in the direction OF Mont
Somma was estimated to weigh 1000
pounds. This is counted as the thirteent
eruption after that of the year 70, althoug
the inscription on the public road at Resin
: in memory OF this eruption calls 1t IN
: twentieth. IL is related that man and hl
J wife, who inhabited cabin on the noun
tain, were alarmed by the ringing OF larg
cog-bell that hung in the room. They lie
in haste, and, looking back, saw an awft
chasm in the ground where their house ha
: been moment before. Some travellers wh
' approached TOO near the crater during I'd
eruption Of 1872, contrary to the advice
D Professor Palmieri, were surrounded .
: two streams of the lava and lost. The cou
!. age OF Professor Palmieri Is united VIII
I profound science and lopg acquaintanC