The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-06-18
0hin0s Abroad.
UP VESUVIUS BY RAIL

each compartment, which can contain six.
Horn signals ale exchanged with the up
per station and the signal stations, Of
which there are two along the line; a
whistle is sounded, and we begin the as
cent. The angle of inclination is at first
40 degrees, increases to 63 degrees, and
has decreased again to IS degrees when
we enter the upper station, just eight min
utes after starting. The outline Of the
mountain edge runs parallel with our
course. Swiftly and smoothly We 60 up,
and as VIC lean out of the window We for
get the mountains aud feel as il We were
in a balloon far above the slimmering
world below US. Nothing Is yet to be seen
of the crater of eruption. The m'-hty
sAes.asr up which we are gliding hides =
from Us, but we see its shadow aud that
of the smoke projected on the side Of the
mountain to our left, for the moon IS ris-
NJ above the edge on our right.
Flaring torches receive US at the upper
station. $40 feet above the level Of the
sea. 1t is still unfinished and looks like a
mass Of scaTolding. This was the most
difficult part of The undertaking, for here
the very lisllc firm foundation 10 be fouad
anywhere failed en,irc'y-uothing but loose
lapilli aud ashes. We leave the station
/ aud goiug up some little wooden steps aud
through gate in an immense wall Of lava,
which Is one Of three built to protect the
line from possible streams Of the glowing
matter, we enter the narrow path whish
has been made in ziguss up to the edge
Of the old crater, about a quarter Of an
hours walk Il is a heavy work, because
Of the deep, loose ashes which form its
pavement, but this Is nothing compared
with the fatigue formerly undergone in
ascending the mountain.
Still, the ladies Of the party arc very
Glad to bo relieved Of part Of their Own
weight. and to be pushed and pulled up
even that brief space, taking advantage Of
the dozen guides who are waiting to be
employed The reports about the despair
aud illwill Of these Vcsuvian guides are,
F I ,hiuk, much exaggerated As the rail-
way gains the confidence Of the public
more aud more people viii ascend 1t, and
the guides will earn enough, for il IS ua,
T wise ia the weak To refuse the MD Of their
siroag arms, and foolhardy in the strong
+ to vcatare over the stiIl hot aud erumbhog
/ lava in the newly 6led up crater without
the guidance Of one accustomed 70 the
place aud aware Of the changes which con.
s,an,ly take place.
4 SUBLIME SPECTACLE.
Till now the edge Of The olI crater has
iu,erroucI between Us and the uew cruP-
/ tive cone, bu, as we leave the lis'lo path.
way aud begin 10 erOss the jagged lava, a
glow Of red light buTs.s upon Us aud rive's
Us to the spot. The new cone some huu'
dre3 aud 6fiy feet high, and perhaps ave
lines that namber 10 diameter a, rs base,
Is in a state Of yiolen, crup,ioa. Preeed-
cd by jound which | scarcely knox hoW
TO something ike a sudden
/ blast Of wind in the baked branches Of a
winter forest. or the fall Of I crested save
ou a shiugly coass--milliOns Of glowing
PARTICLES. from the size Of cannon ball
down 20 4 ,iay spark. shoe. high into the
air and iall slowly and gracefully upon the
sides og the conc, sliding down Is with
cracking sound, aud spfiukling il all
over with 4 frciwork Of fire The larger
masses fc1 back iato the crater, or, if pro
1 jeeted Ear enough, with . dull ihud on the
gigantic cindcr heap. \ few seconds ia
teryal, during which the column OF whirl-
iug smoke looks very beautiful, its lower
part glowing ia the red light from the
crater below, its apPer part blush white
IN the moonbcams-and another fierce
Ssh. s-s-sb, announces another shower
The smaller sparks seem to scrPeniine
in fsry s;reaks as they rise aud fall, aud
10 ascending TO be fa,teued at the top
Whether this is really the fact as would
/ be possible if still liquid lava was hurled
Up into the gir or whether it was an op,i
+ cal Illusion, could no, make ont with the
closest attention, aud i. was impossible to
approach the cone aud pick up one Of the
smaller stones as it cooled to see if it wa:
Of oblong form, and really fat,ened at one
end All at once there is a stronger eruP
ton, aud the glowing masses are hurled to
4 greater distance, one falling not far FROM
US. Our guide brings it to US on the end
Of stick. 1t is rapidly cooling and grow
ing black, and looks like piece Of ragged
/ sponge, 50 perforated is it with holes
What use to describe how We stagger
ed about on the torn aud crumbling sur.
face Of the lava which now fills the once
deep crater Of 1872, until We get to the
newest stream, which issued from the foot
Of the new cone only three days ago and
was red ho, only few inches beneath the
crust on which We stood? The acid and
sulphurous fumes issuing from cracks al
about, and the increasing heat of the lava
beneath our feet drove US back again. Il
was not pleasant to thiuk that fiery abys:
might open under our very feet. We re
treated to the lava blocks at the edge Of
the old crater, which made a pleasant seat
and felt comparatively cool, though, if you
stretched your foot into one of the many
cracks, it was found too hot to let remain
there. We sat for long time admirin:
natures fireworks, of which one could ne
yer tire. \ black and lofty crag rose tC
our right hand, and about it shone the
shield of the moon in exquisite contrast to
the lurid glare from the volcano.
TIE DESCENT
Il