Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-07-12
Vesuvius in 1912.

Seen from Naples during the winter
Of 1912, Vesuvius wore an aspect more
festal than formidable. At intervals. a
bright-red riband of fire depended, like
a decoration, from its summit; while
the volcanic character, already BETRAYED
in the graceful inward curves of central
subsistence, was accentuated by vapor-
Gus crown occasionally flushed with the
nocturnal glow of internal incan-
descence. The mountain was, however,
considered to have entered on a phase
of serious agitation; and n minor cone,
thrown up Just outside the northern
edge of the great crater, served at once
as the main channel and the visible
sign of its renewed activity. High up
among the lava fields ominous sounds
began to be heard by the end of Janu-
airy, resembling the distant below of an
Infatuated animal; hot, sulphurous steam
issued from cracks and crevices, and
the great crater threw some preliminary
bombs. On March % with the full
moon, Signor Palmieri bids us observe)
the volcano tried its powers in formal
eruption, but, as if finding them still
inadequate, suspended its action, and
relapsed into comparative tranquility
on the 29th. The lava stream issuing
from the small cone was, on the follow
ing night, crossed close to its source by
the present writer without the slightest
inconvenience. 1t was already .!dead,"
that is, had ceased to receive reinforce
ments, and betrayed its recent ignition
only through glowing assures and the
instant blazing of any intiammable
substance thrust into them. A thick
column of vapOr rose, however, from
the Orifce, blo0d-red with the reflection
from the fiery mass within, and every
twenty or thirty seconds the central
crater discharged, with a grOWl and a
crash. vOlley of red-hOt stones, some
a foot or more in diameter, which pow
dered with fire the black ashes of the
surrounding plateau, and menaced in
9uisitive spectators with the utmost
penalty of rashness. But the most
memorable feature of that nights
spectacle was the sudden and
unexpected apparition of a lurid cloud
suspended above the Atrio del CavallO
(the valley dividing the cone of Vesu-
vius from the precipices of Somma),
showing that the mountain had opened
in that direction. Such was the fact,
though llgtie noted at the time. It con-
stituted, hUweyer, a threat which was
terribly and fatally executed. A few
days late2 predictions of great erup-
ton, to coIne off before April was ended,
were circulated in Naples; but they
could be traced to no authoritative
source, and served only to lend a
piquant flavor of coming excitement to
the dolce far 71ie7ate of the Chiaia. Pune
tually, however, with the next full
moon-April 23-the agitation recon-
4 I 1t, 8 ia
rock trickled down to the base of the
cone. Then the mountain paused, as if
to draw breath; and at nine o'clock in
the evening of the 25th only the open
mouths of the two craters were visible,
like watch-fires on a hill, their flames
alternately rising and falling in rhyth
mical pulsations of repOse. Before
dawn on the 26th the full fury of the
ong-threatened eruption had broken
loose; the large cone was cleft from sum-
NIT to base, along the line of weakness
previously laid bare; the small cone
was blown into the air; and three great
lava streams were already we'll on their
way-one making for Tore del Greco,
another for Resina, and the third direct
inc it's course towards Naples itself!
The explosion, which occurred at $3.50
a. M, unhappily involved in destruction
party of about sixty eXcursionists-
university students and others-who,
disregarding the warnings received at
the observatory. had rashly ventured
into the Atrio del Cavallo. But awe and
regret were alike absorbed in amaze
ment at the stupendous spectacle pre-
scented by the volcano. Into a sky,
which on the side of Naples was as blue
as April could make it, hugevolumes of
steam discharged themselves, and, as
cending with extraordinary velocity to a
height of at least 16, 900 feet (such is the
unimpeachable assertion of the photo
graphic lens), hung poised beneath the
zenith in solid-looking, focculent masses
of dazzling whiteness. A torrent of
proiectiles, furrowing the column of
issuing vapors with livid and fiery
| CLEANS, outdid even the fierce haste of
their up-rush, while the entire back
ground was rendered of an inky black
ness by dense clouds of falling ashes
and lapilli. eve have an obligation to
the wind, soldier remarked in pass
| ing; eff it blew the other way, Addio
| Ndpoi"' This, however, was figura-
tive; the danger to Naples was at no
time extreme. Edinburgh ReUie'O.