The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-10-07
FEARLESS IGNORANCE.
illustrated by . Tourist Who Insisted
Upon Going Into q Crater.

illustrated by Tourist VINO Ansistoo
Upon Going Into Crater.
Captain Basil Hall tells one of
those stories which are always com.
! ing up to prove that the man who
knows nothing about danger is
the one to fear it least and to neglect
salutary obedience toward those
who have trodden a path before.
The incident was narrated by On old
guide at Vesuvius.
"A few years ago, said Salvatore,
IT came up the mountain with
party of gentlemen, enc of whom
insisted on going not only around
the cone, as we are doing now, but
actually into the crater, though I
told him that such all adventure
was attended with more danger than
the thing was worth.
"'Pooh! Pochl Danger?' said the
pigheaded gentleman. What do !
care for danger? Am I net q SOL
der? Why, man, have faced the
foe before now! Lead the way, III
follow
II merely said that to face a hui
man enemy and to face an active
volcano were two very different
things.
"'Are you afraid to go?' he asked.
"'I don't much admire 1t, ! an
swered; but as / think know
how to evade the danger when 1t
comes, having been at the work for
nearly half century, I'll go into
the crater if you are determined
upon the adventure. Only I warn
you again, the danger to an mex
pcrienced person is very great
"'Well, WE'LL he called impatient
~, come along' And away We
went, he fourishing his stick like a
sword, while I only shrugged my
shoulders.
Now, sir, I said to him, the
only plan by which we can hope to
accomplish this expedition in safety
is to be perfectly steady and if a
shower OF stones comes about our
GERS to stand as cool and collected
as if nothing were happening. ]
! hope we may not have any while
wo are in this awkward place, but
if we should DO SO unfortunate,
mind, your only chance is to stand
fast and look forward. 1t requires
good nerves, 80 brace them up
| "'Oh, nerves., said he skeptic
ally. is that all? You shall see.
$50 away we went, climbed the
lip of the cup, descended into the
fearful abyss and, though half chck
ed with the fumes, saw all we wish
ed to see. We were on our return
when the mountain roared like
thunder, the ground shook, a furiou!
eruption took place, and myriads O.
stones were shot thousand fee
into the air.
CHOW, signor, MIC! called
Stand your ground and make goot
use of your nerves! Look! B
steady, and you may yet escape.
"But the man who had faced NOR
tai foes quailed before the power
of nature. He looked up, as he wa
hidden, but when he saw catarac
. of fire falling Oh his head the cou1
t ago of which he had boasted forsoo
him, and he inccntirently fed.
For my part, ! was too muc
afraid to fly. ] never saw such
shower Of stones, and / wonder v
were not both demolished. AS
{ was, my companion had not run ia
! before be was struck down by thes
: missiles.
lone of them broke his leg, an
o another stunned him, and ! ha
; enough to do to get him out of tt
q cone on my shoulders. Much wor
Q we had to take him to Naples, whe1
q the hotel keepers and the Italia
doctors between them had the pluo]
Q ing of this precious pigeon for tt
l. next six months. youths Con