Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-11-11
The Moment of Death.
SOME TERRIBLE PICTURES OF THE LAST
STRUGGLE FROM PoMPEII.

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Sore years ago, In small street, the
workman employed in the excavations at
Pompeii discovered an empty space of an
unususl form. in which we're some skeie-
tons. Before disturbing them they called
Signor Fiore'li, who was fortunately at
hand. A singularly happy thought struck
him. He had the empty space filled with
liquid plaster Of Paris and repeated the
process in the case of some other openings
which presented similar appearance. As
soon as the plas.cI was hardened the sur
rounding ashes were removed and displayed
the perfect casts of four human bodies.
All four are now in themuseum there and
a moro singular and affecting sight is per-
hsps not to be seen in the whole world. The
plaster Was hardened around the ashes 81.
perfectly IN shape of what may be termed
the mould formed by the fallen ashes round
the living bodies that the whole aspect of
the dying frame is preserved, aveu to the
minutest details except that here and there
the bones Of the skeseton within are par
TALLY uncovered. Egyptian mummies ars
bare, black and hideous and arranged 10 an
artificial posture for their burial, while in
the exhumed POmpeiiaus we see human be
ings in the very act ofdying.
One of them is the body of woman,
close to whom were found large number
of CONS, two silver vases, some keys and
some jewels, which she was carryrg with
her when the fslling sshes arrested her
fight. 1t is easy to trace her head d.ees
and the material of her clothing, aud on
one of her fingers are two silver rings. Her
hands were so clasped in agony that the
nail had pierced the flesh. With the ex-
ception of her legs, the whole body is swol-
len and contracted. 1t is plain that she
s'rove violently in her dying struggle. Her
at itude is that of the last agony, and not
that IF death. Behind her lay another wo.
man and a girl, evidently of humble rank.
The elder of the two, possibly the moth
er, has an iron ring on one of her fingers.
The signs of a dying 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 faithfulness. One can see
the material and stitching of her ftock, the
unmended rents in her long sleeves, her
dress over her head, to ward off the torrent
of ashes, and falling headlopg on her face
bad rested her head on one of her arms, and
30 died apparently without struggle.
The fourth bodysis that of large and
powerful man who had sat down to die with
his arms and legs straight and fixed. His
dress ia completely preserved; his trousers
are close, his sandals are laced to the feet,
with nails in their soles. On one finger is |
an iron ring; his mouth is open, and shows
that he had lost some of his teeth; bis nose
and cheeks are strongly marked; the eyes
and hair have disappeared, but the mristacte
remains. The whole sight is tragic to the
last degree. After the lapse of eighteen
centuries the terrible death seems to be en-
acting itself before US with all its appalling
sufferipgs. York Meas.