Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-02-07
MOUNT VESUVIUS.
AN ASCENT MADE UNDER UN-
FAVORABLE CONDITIONS.

FAVORABLE CONDITIONS.
Rough Roads Over Rugged Rocks
I'm Rushing Rainstorm - A
Glimpse OF Dan te,s Inferno-They
Descend Limp and Languid.
NAPLES, Italy, Jan. 10th, 1896.
We have returned soaked and dis
appointed from Vesuvius. Our clothes
and our tempers have been ruined
Cook the excursion fend has fallen
in our estimation and Vesuvius
is simply beneath our notice. We
went to the crater in rain that was
sufficient to have put out the volcano.
We have jolted miles in springless
wagon, we have ridden springless
donkeys, waded in ashes to our ankles,
and all this in the interest of pleasure.
We left Naples about 9 o'clock in
the morning under the supervision of
Cook and in one OF Cooks wagons.
The morning Was not although promis-
ing but hope springs eternal" and we
thought the day would probably be
clear-Naples was just beginning to
really wake up for the day. for the
dolce far misnte of the people tegins by
lying in bed in the morning. At last
we reached the open country and
while the clouds gathered overhead
our spirits were kept up by band OF
strolling musicians who walked along
by the carriage and sang Santa
Lucia" and other delightful Italian
songs, varying them occasionally with
daisy Bell" in honor of our ma.
tionality and seeming disappointed
when we failed to look appreciative.
We stopped at little mountain inn
where our honest driver who probably
shared profits with the proprietor, told
us we could get the best wine in all
Italy. At the next stop we left the
carriage and mounted donkeys to cross
the lava fields. At this moment
natures feelings overcame her and AS
if in anticipation of the fate that
awaited us, began to weep. Everyone
commented gleefully on the fact and
we mounted the diabolical beasts, as
premier oliver said when the French
started to Berlin with L" light hearts"
When we reached that spot on our
return we had aeen Yesnyina- hut q
strange silence had fallen on all the
party, and those who found voice at
all lifted it in declaring that henceforth
their mission would be TO dissuade
others from the ascent OF the volcano.
An incompatibility had sprung up be-
tween all the members OF the company
and eyes that looked love at the be.
ginning OF the trip were now singulsrly
inexpensive behind Strengthened
bangs. and under dripping hats.
Probably the donkeys were no worse
than other donkeys, but the road they
had to travel was but q rough path
and it seemed to me that any self
respecting donkey would not have
taken advantage Of so many rocks ir
the road for purpose of stumbling
as these innocent looking animals did
The saddles were fastened securel,
and the guides, one OF whom &C
companied each rider and shouted
dreadful threats to the donkeys wer,
expected to hold the saddles on. Whel
the donkey fell down, the saddl
slipped forward and cuffed the anima
ON the head. When he went up hill
! it settled insecurely on his tail an,
finally when the guide had grown tire
of holding it on it tumbled off alto
! gether. r..s H.
The rain at last began to pour an
{ the wind rushed violently down tn
, mountain. 1t was impossible to hol
, umbrellas and cold, wet and dii
heartened the party reached the sta
ton of the funiculaire road that lead
up tho steep, yielding ashy cone I
within q few hundred yards OF tn
I crater OF the volcano. ..
: The only FIRE in the restaurant wa
= in the kitchen and the head-waitel
r who speaks five languages and probabl
4 gets about $40 month, invited us {
: warm ourselves, an invitation we glad
r ly accepted. When the world had al
= sumed brighter hue through tn
8 medium OF an omelette and steak "
: started up the mountain again. TIL
Q road is almost perpendicular and on
D feels much more as if the ascent wer
q being made in an elevator than on
3 rail track. It is called q funiculairt
: but is really cable with double track
r and the cars are balanced so they pas
r each other midway of the distsnc'
}. On either side are the great fields {
o lava and sshes, the former of cours,
9 now cooled and in the most fantasti
shapes, in which, as in clouds, one ace
most clearly what his fancy suggest
Perhaps it was the influence OF tn
:. donkey ride and the weather but
y seemed to me Dore's illustrations {
), Dsntes "Inferno" might have bee
!. photographs of these formations.
Il At the top of the funiculaire "
were met by new relay of guides VIII
took off their big coats and wrappe
10 them about the drenched women j
n the party. Chairs carried by four me
It were to be had for those unable
walk to the crater. A guide wer