The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-01
THE MOMENT OF DEATH.
Some Terrible Pictures of the Last Strug-
gle in POmpeii. #....

Some Terrible Pictures of the Last Strus-
' gle in POmpeii.
Some years ago, in a small street, the
workmen employed in the excavations at
Pompeii discovered an empty space of I'M
usual form in which were some skeletons,
says the New York News. Before disturb
ing them they called Signor Firrelli, who
was fortunately at hand. A. particularly
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 a
similar appearance. As soon as the plaster
was hardened the surrounding ashes were
removed and displayed the perfect cast of
four human bodies. -
All four are now in the museum there,
and q more singular or affecting sight is
perhaps not to be seen in the whole world.
The plaster was hardened around the ashes
SO perfectly to the 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 pre-
that here and there the bones of the skele-
ton within are partially uncovered. Egyp-
tian mummles are bare, black and hideous,
and arranged in an artificial posture for
their burial, while in the exhumed Pom
peians we see human beings in the very act
of dying.
One OF them is the body of a woman.
Close to them were found a large number of
coins, two silver vases. some keys and some
jewels. which she was carrying with her
when the falling ashes arrested her flight.
It is easy to trace her head dress and the
material of her clothing, and on n of her
fingers are two silver rings. Her hands
were SO clasped i'll agony that the nails had
pierced the flesh. With the exception OF
her legs. the whole body is swollen and con.
tracted. It is plain that she strove violently
in her dying struggle. Her attitude is that
of the last agony, and not that of death,
Behind he" lay another woman and a girl,
evidently of humble rank.
The elder of the two, possibly the mother,
has an iron ring on one of her fingers
The signs of q dying struggle are evident
but the death seems to have been easier
than in the case of the victim lastdescribed
Close to her lies the girl. almost a child ir
age. The details of her dress are preserved
with a startling faithfulness. One can sss
the material and stitching of her frock, the
unmended rents in her long sleeves, he
dress over head to ward off the torrent o.
ashes, and falling headlong Oh her face sht
had rested her head on one of her arms
and so died apparently without a struggle
The fourth body was that of a large ant
powerful man who had sat down to di'
with his arms and legs straight and fixed
His dress is completely preserved; hi!
trousers are close, his sandals are laced Il
his feet, with nails in their soles. On on
finger is an iron ring; his mouth is open
and shows hat he had lost some of hi
teeth, his nose and teeth are strongl
marked; the eyes and hair had disappeared
but the mustache remains. The Who'll
sight 10 tragic to the last degree. After til
lapse Of eighteen centuries. the terribl
death seems to be enacting itself before u
with ell its appalling s%ufferings.