The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-12


 suvius, which seemed to be five miles dis tlnt, the figure of man wearing blue jumper, appeared in bold relief again st the blue Italian sky. He was loading her up again, ana was not more than seventy. ave yards off Throwing one leg over the brow of the mountain he called out to somebody below: "Tell Jim to bring up some more sky rockets and you go for a schooner of beer"
 Then l strolled out, and went to the 'oeach to hear what the wild waves 1ere saying. like to hear everything that is said. That's the way to pick up items.
 The wild waves were not saying any thing worth repeating, but { expect they could say something that would not bear repeating, if they were to tell all they see and hear. Some people beh.ve scan dalously in the water, particularly after dark, so the doorkeeper told me.
 It was only five o'clock, and P1npey- eye vas not to be obliterated, and its very site forgotten for IS centuries, until half past seven. went into the music pavil- ion, admission ten cents, to hear Gilmores S band There are SIX y members with req anvils. There are also twenty pieces of artillery which are fired by electricity. The artillery makes the music very inn pressive. It reminds one of the war, and
 was so impressed that l wanted to get up and go out to get something to eat.
 Gilmore, who directs them, IS we'll built, trim sort of man, rather good looking Were it not for the spectacles he wears he might be mistaken for the late Ben Thompson. Alter the perform ance was over, they picked up their uten- slls and took mp the line of m ,rch in the direction of Pompey eye. It is an his torcal fact, rot generally known outside of New York, that while fire and brim- stone were doing their business for the ancient Roman city, Gilmore's blnd played Pop goes the Weasel" the Dead March in Saul" and other ap- propsiate melodies.
 Al last l was in my seat was not the only person who had paid a quarter to gloat over the sad, weird scene There were not less than 900 persons present beside myself.
 The tlblesl is really beautiful and inn prcssive. Ol the steps of the city hall, near the beer saloon, are about thirty an- clent Roman senators in long, flowing night gowns. The costumes are s1d to te historically correct. A local militia company, the Pompeii Light Guards, are parading, They carry large shields and drawn swords. It was gala day at Pompey-Eye. The people from the country had come in to see the circus. The trst performance is foot race in front of the forum. The Roman senators Tn white night gowns cheer vociserously, and such expressions as "Go it. Fatty 7" " lie IS a-gainin' on yer, Mike l." Bully boy <" are waited across the water to the audience. There IS lake of real water between the audience and the doomed city, on which proudly fl loat ancient Ro- man galleys. After the races, other heather sports, among them religious procession, follow. In the meantime $ noke IS seen o7zlug from the crater of Vesuvlus. but as smoking is allowed in- side the enclosure, it does not cause any alarm The smoke becomes more dense and every once in while it is lit up by lurid flame from the inside of the crater as if somebody had spilled kerosene on the stove. Still the gay inhabitants of this frivolous Roman city pay no atten- ton to old Vesuv. They have no fear of the impending change in the admits. tra'ion, so to speak Possibly their pro- perty IS insured. The flames increase and low rumbling sound is heard. The flames are now raging 6ercely. and still the engine has not got there, just as it is in Texas.
 The eruption is getting worse every minute The people of Pompeii have dropped their playlhings and another re- ligious procession files through the street, but it is too late. The fire has gained too much head~ay. The scene now oaf. ties description. Temples are being con. sumed by the fire hend. Tremendous explosions occur every few minutes Ve- suvtus is kept busy shooting of hundreds of sky rockets. The very air seems to burn, and the ear is stunned byt crash | of falling buildings. Houses are blown up. It is a spectacle never to be forgot ten. And amid all this lurid desolalion you can hear Gilmofe's band playing '' What shall the harvest be ?"" Tommy, never go back on your mother" and | other popular and appropriate melodies l
 But seriously, such wonderful fire works | have never seen before, but once, and | that was when fell ou the ice at Central Park, and bumped the back of my head | The audience gave vent to their admira. ] lion by prolonged expressions of "Ah Ahl" No sympathy whatever, as far as heard. was expressed for the unfortu. nate natives who must have perished in the flames.
 The closing feature of the performance was the sudden appearance in jets of fire ot an immense picture of John Bright, the English statesman. made frequent nqu.ry, but could get no satisfactory ex- plan Ation as to how John Bright's bust came to be in Pompey. Eye at that time don't quite understand it yet. It was a bright Idea, anyhow.
 The last days of Pompey. Eye at Man. hattan Beach, are very sad and impres sive. believe l stated that it cost a ~NA e.