The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-08
RETOLD IN PLASTER.
How a Death Scene at P0mpeii Was Repro
dlCed.

Some years ago. in small street, the
worKmen employed in the excavation at
Pompell discovered an empty space of I'M
usual form. in which were some skeletons.
Before disturbing them they called Signor
Floreill, who was fortunately at hand. A
singularly happy thought struck him. He
had the empty space filed with liquid
plaster Of paris, and repeated the process in
the case of some other openings which pre-
scented similar appearance. AS soon as
the plaster was hardened the surrounding
ashes were removed. and displ aged the per-
feet cast OF four human bodies.
All four are now In the museum there,
and more singular and affecting sight is
perhaps not 10 be seen in the whole world.
The plaster was hardened around the ashes
so perfectly in the shape of what NAV be
termed the mold formed by the fallen a hes
round the living bodies, that the whole
aspect OF the dying frame is preserved, even
TO the mlnuteSt details, except that here
and there the bones of the skeleton within
are partially uncovered. Egyptian num-
mics are bare, black and hideouS. and ar
ranged In an artificial posture for their
burial, while in tile eXhumed POmpeians we
see human beings in the very act of dying.
One OF them is the body of a woman close
TO whom were found a large number Of
COINS, two silver vases, some keys and sumo
jewels. which she was carving with her
when the falling ashes arrested her flight.
1t Is Easy to trace her head dress and the
material of her clothing; and on one of her
myers are two silver rings. Her hands
were so claSped In agony that the nails had
pierced the flesh. With the exception Of
her legs, the whole body is swollen and con-
tracted. 1t is plain that she strOve violently
In her dying struggle. Her attitude is that
OF the last agony, and not that of death. Be
hind her lay another woman and girl, evil
IDENTIFY of humble rank.
The elder of the two, possibly the mother
has an iron ring OH one of her fingers. The
Signs OF death struggle are evident, but
the death seems to have been easier than in
the case OF the victim last described Close
TO her lies the girl, almost a child in age.
The details OF her dress are preserved with
Startling faithiulness. One can see the
material and stitching of her frock, the I'M
mended rents in her long sleeves her dress
over her head, to ward off the torrent of
ashes, and falling headlong on her face had
rested Ter head on one Of her arms, and SO
died apparently without a struggle
Tie fourth body is that of large and
powerful man, who had sat down to die
with his arms and legs straight and fixed.
his dress IS completely preserved; his
trousers are close; his sandals are laced to
the feet, with nails in their soles. On one
niger Is an iron ring; his mouth is open and
shows that he has lost some OF his teeth :
his nose and cheeks are strongly marked ;
the eyes ami hair have disappeared, but the
mustache remains. The whole sight is
tragic 10 the last degree. After the lapse of
eighteen centuries the terrible death seems
to be enacting itself before us with all its
appalling sufferings.-N. Y. News.