Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-28
ON CLASSIC GROUND.
THE RANKINGS OF s sACRAMENTAN
AMONG ITALY's WONDERS.
A Visit to the Crater of TeSsvius Among
the Ruins of Pompeii-Primi-
tive Farming Methods.

special Correspondence of the SuNpsy UNION.
ROME, June %, 1889.
Fps. SUNDAY UNION: l have Just been
TO Naples and back. have climbed the
wonderful Mount Vesuvius, and looked
down into the crater. 1t was a very
thrilling experience, and one l shall
never forget as long as l live. But have
had to pay for it since, as it was very
hard climb. l have been quite sick, but
am better now. There are two doctors in
our party, a Mr.. and Mrs. Henderson, and
two young men from Kansas City. They
were all very kind to me and fixed me up
in good shape.
We left here on Monday morning, arriv-
ing in Naples at , P. NJ, and there took
another train and went on to Pompeii, six
teen miles around the bay, which took
about three-quarters of an hour. We went
over the old ruins of Pompeii-into the
houses and through the streets and rows of
shops; we saw where wine was sold, the
bakery where they ground their own flour,
the ovens, the lighthouses of marble. pal
aces, theaters, etc. We took walk through
that part of Pompeii where they are at
work digging out the ashes.
We went to bed early, and were called
at l O'Clock in the morning. Each had
a horse and guide 10 take him no
the mountains. We were a little over
three hours going to the top, and the last
hour we had TO go on foot. 1t was very
hard and steep climbing part of the way.
The ashes were so soft and loose that we
would slip at every step, aud then the path
would lead over the hard, rough lava. We
finally reached the top in time to see the
sun rise. 1t was grand sight. We had
to come to one side of the volcano to see
the sun rise, and in going around the
crater the wind kblew the smoke into
our faces once or twice, and it was dreadful.
We were almost sutfocated with the fumes
of sulphur. Finally we got around to the
windward side and could look down into
the crater. Every few minutes there was
queer rumbling sound then an explosion,
and up would go shower of stones and
red-hot lava, which would fall back into
the crater. There is continuous volume
of white smoke pouring out all the time.
All around where we were walking there
were creVices where sulphur and smoke
were coming out of the ground. We came
fifty or one hundred yards across to another
spur of the mountain, where we could get
a good view of the bay, and had lunch of
bread and butter, cold meat, oranges and a
bottle of water. (The guide had bottle
OF wine.) While we were lunching there
was an extra loud explosion, and an
immense shower of stones came out and
fell just where we had been standing only
a few minutes before. 1t was a very mar
row escape for US. the guide went over
and put his stick through piece of the
red hot lava, which was quite soft vet, and
brought it over 10 our feet. 1t was as large
as my head He said it was very seldom |
that so large a shower came out. | !
was very thankful we escaped
being caught, for even if it had |
not seriously hurt US it would have |
ruined our clothes. We learned afterWard |
that a gentleman was hit on the arm with |
quite a small stone, and was badly burned. |
We greatly enjoyed the view of the sur
country. The mountain is 1000 |
feet above the sea, and the reflection of it, |
with the smoke issuing therefrom. looked |
beautiful down on the bay
We went around on the east side of the |
mountain and saw the stream of red hot |
lava running down the mountain side into |
q sort of ravine. 1t looked beautiful in |
the night, as we rode up, to see the red-hot |
streams of stone and lava issuing from the |
mouth of the crater. 1t reminded us of !
the fireworks we have at home 1t was a
grand sight. We came down to our
horses in about ten minutes. We would |
go about fifteen feet at one step in the soft |
ashes; it was like coming down a steep
Sandhill 1t was a beautiful ride, however,
down the mountain side in the early morn |
ing, with the green fields, vineyards, |
villages and the bay beyond, all |
within view.
We saw many queer sights on the way |
and arrived back at Pompeii at 7:3O, where |
we had breakfast and took the $50 train |
back to Naples. Here we went to splen- |
did hotel, the Hotel Vesuvius, aud got |
room looking out over the bay, and could |
see the smoking mountain beyond / did |
not feel tired so L went through the Ma |
tional Museum and saw all the relics from |
Pompeii-lOaves of bread, furniture Jew |
elry, cooking utensils, bath tubs, musical |
instruments, money, paintings, sculptures |
you could think of or imag- !
inc, and came back to the hotel and took a |
rest till P NJ. Then l went for drive |
over to Pdtioli, where Paul landed |
Spoken of in Acts, chap. xviii }.
We came back to Rome and got there at |
):15, seven of US in a car together We |
will take rest for a day, and then go on |
to Florence, and then to Venice. 1t was a |
very hot and severe trip, and was very
glad to get away.
All the grain is being harvested here Just
now, and it is a pretty sight to see hun
dreds of men, women and children at work
in the fields. All the work is done by
hand, with small scythe. They cut an
armful, bind it and lay it behind them, and
so on all day long. The grain is plentiful
in rows, on q ridge. They use oxen to
pillow with, and an ancient pillow made of
wood. In so many ways the people seem
to be 100 years behind the times.
CHARLES M CAMPREJJ