The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-11-11
FEARLESS IGNORANCE.
illustrated by Tourist Who Insisted
Upon Going Into q Crater.

Illustrated by Tourist Who Insisted
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 1t least and to neglect
a salutary obedience toward those
who have trodden path before.
The incident was narrated by an old
guide at Vesuvius.
"a few years ago, said Salvatore,
II came up the mountain with o
party of gentlemen, one of whom
insisted on going not only around
the cone, as we are doing now, but
actually into the crater, though /
told him that ssch an adventure
was attended with more danger than
the thing was worth.
Pooh! Pooh! Danger?' said the
pigheaded gentleman. What do
care for dangerp Am I not SOL
der? Why, man, have faced the
foe before nowl Lead the way, I'll
follow.
II merely said that to face a hu-
man enemy and to face an active
volcano were two very different
things.
care you afraid TO go?' be asked.
"'I don't much admire 1t, an
swered; but as / think know
how to evede The danger when 1t
comes, having been at the work for
nearly half century, III 60 into
the crater if you are determined
upon the adventure. Only warn
you again, the danger to an mex
perienced person is very great.
"'Well, wellr he called impatient.
ly, come along! And away VIC
went, he Aourishing his stick like
sword, whilo l Gully shrugged my
shoulders.
"'Now, sir, said to him, thu
only plan by which We can hope K
accomplish this expedition in safety
is to be perfectly steady and if
. shower OF stones comes about oul
ears to stand as cool and collected
, as if nothing were happening.
hope We may not have any whil'
} we are in this awkward place, bu
if we should be so unfortunate
mind, your only chance is to stant
fast and look forward. 1t require
good nerves, so brace them up.
"'Oh, nerves., said he skeptic
ally. is that all? You shall seo.'
: go away We went. climbed tn
lip of the cup, descended into til
fearful abyss ard, though half chok
ed with tho fumes, saw all we wish
; cd to see. We were on our return
: when the mountain roared liz
thunder, the ground shook, furiou
eruption took place, and myriads
stones wsre shot a thousand fee
into the air.
: "'Now, siguor, miol' I called
; Stand your ground and make goo
. use of your nerves! Look! 3
y steady, and you may yet escape
= But the man who had faced MOI
u tai foes quailed before the power
5 of nature. He looked up, as he We
Il hidden, bat when he saw catarat
!. of fire falling On his head the coul
u age of which he had bcasted forsoo
u him, and he inccntirently fed.
II "For my part, was too muc
J. afraid to fly. l never saw such
y shower of stones, and l wonder v
J. we're not both demolished. AS
II was, my companion had not run fl
u before be was struck down by the'
!, missiles.
1t lone Of them broke his leg, al
10 another Sstunned him, and l hf
O. enough b do to get him out of tt
u cone on my shoulders. Much VOL
20 we had to take him to Naples, whe
a the hotel keepers and the 1talit
dootorabetween them had the pluo
10 ing of this precious pigeon for tt
a. next six months. '-Youth's Cor
IL ,,oTicn