The Indianapolis journal., 1885-05-03
SrR. NYE's VOLCANIC STUDIES.
He Reports the Results of Series of Close
Observations of vesuvius.

Observations of vesuvius.
San francisco lngleside.
The study of the habits and temperament Of
the volcano at distance of about 10, 900 miles is
one that has always afforded me much pleasure
In watching and noting the peculiar phenomena
of the eruptons / have almost lost sight of it's
attendant dangers.
A volcano is always feverish and restless till
after the eruption then it feels better. The first
symptoms of an eruption are cold feet bad
crater. This will be followed by uncomfort-
able feeling in the bowels of the earth and f1ut-
tering pulse. The volcano is then about to erupt
and those who live near there had better sell out
at sacrifice.
One thousand eight hundred ard eighty -four
years ago tho Roman geographer and weather
crank, Strabo, spoke of Vesuvius as burnt
mountain; but it had not at that time turned
its crater now stands. For fifty years Vesuvius
had bilious spells, but kept on drawing its SAL
ary without loss of time but in rs A. d. it
turned itself loose and tore up the ground good
DEAL Real estate rose to an astonishing height,
but becare depressed at once. The south half
of tae mountain was jerked loose, as Pliny has
it, and knocked galley-west This was followed
by shower of hot, wet ashes, which completely
obliterated Pompeii and Herculaneum. Those
towns have been exhumed lately; but, owing to
the criminal delay of the authorities in doing So
no lives were saved
These cities are not covered with lava Scien-
fists say that the ruins were found under deep
layer of volcanic tufa. do not know what tufa
is. but presume the term is perfectly proper and
safe to use in good society. have heard of the
tufa cigar, which is sold at the rate of tufa five
cents, but am comparatively ignorant of the
general appearance Of volcanic tufa. This is a
close this winter that am obliged to originate a
good many of my own jokes and to write my
own autographs My amanuensis, who has
stood by me so long and aided me so we'll, has
been discharged. Autograph hunters will notice
that my autographs are not so good as when
had my amanuensis
For nearly 1000 years vesuvius then remained
in comatose state. with only an occasional
eruption. Then for 500 years it did not erupt.
In 1888, on the shores of the Gulf of Baise, in
the Bay of Naples, a new and attractive crater
was opened. 1t was good, easy running crater,
and the lava was hot when it came out. Hot
lava is not good for food. 1t hardens in the
stomach, and taints the breath with the ordor of
sulphur.
In 1851 Vesuvius itself again became intesely
irritable and showed signs of a morbid desire to
erupt. During the / 800 years of quiet the era
ter had been covered over with forests infested
by the wild boar of Italy and the tame bore of
England The slopes of the mountain were cul-
tivated up to the foot of the cone, and Sunday
school picnics swarmed over the green-swards at
its base.
Suddenly, in the latter part of December.
Vesuvius rose on its hind feet and painted Rome
State were covered with ashes and debris from the
internal economy of the volcano. Many people
were killed who had never previously lost their
lives The way Vesuvius slung hot mud at the
Neapolitan hordes that fall was solemn warn
ing to the puny pushers Of putrid politics in the
land of the free and the home of
the brave. The beautiful cities OF Resini
and Postici were entirely destroyed, and
those of Tore del Greco and Tore DELI Annun-
ziata would have perished if they had not
spread the names of the towns over themselves
and escaped. A good long name in Italy is
rather to be chosen than great riches.
About every ten years since the above date,
Vesuvius has been liable to jar the country and
shake down few towns, covering the people
with stuff that is entirely useless. The eruption
of Vesuvius is fine sight at night No doubt
that there will always be more or less apprehen-
sion on the part Of spectators until some Amer
lean hustler" puts damper in the crater of
Vesuvius, so he can regulate the eruption. At
present those spasms are too irregular and too
vehement