Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-04-15

volcanoes. The fury OF the waves
casting up the snow and ice cause
them TO freeze into hollow cones with
great assures on the windward side.
One in particular attracted my atten-
tion which l named Vesuvius. 1t
was not far from the pier, and was
higher than any near by.
Vesuvius at this time was in vio-
lent state of eruption. About once
every nine seconds a mighty wave
rushes up to her base, the projecting
ice giving it a greater impetus, it en-
ters the fissure and is forced out the
top, inundating it's entire surface.
The next evening the banks are still
higher; but a pedestal has frozen
around Vesuvius, and it has become
extinct. One can now go about it's
base in safety, and l endeavored to
explore its dimensions, but was dis
appointed to find | could not get
within it. As the waves receded the
fissure had nearly closed. But by
making myself small worked myself
in far enough so that by turning ov-
er on my back l could see out the
top. l had been told that from the
can see the stars in the day time. So
while in this condition | endeavored
to find luminary, but as | did not
succeed | concluded that my tele-
scope was not long enough.
The sharp wind and freezing spray
which soon envelopes one in an icy
armor renders the exposure too'severe
to beprolonged.
After exploring few more of the
banks and watching the sun set, I
went home thinking would return
the next day and continue my re-
search. The next day was still very
cold and clustering, and l did not
venture out except to 60 to and from
school. But could see from the dis
tance that the ice had frozen far out
from the shore. For some time after
this my work kept me from going to
the beach. Finally one evening at
the end Of the week 1 concluded to
60 to the beach and see what chang
es had taken place since | last visited
1 ita Inthe meantims the weather had
been ,Warmer; the south wind had
broken up the ice which had left the
shore, and to my great disappoint-
ment | found that the outer row of
banks had floated away with it. Feel
ing quite certain that they would not
be again replaced and thAt my ex-
plorations were at an end / turned
homeward with feeling of distrust.
But it was something of a consolation
to think that was not looking for
stars through the crater of Vesuvius
From the first of March on until
the latter part Of the month, and Of
ten in April the ice gradually melts
away and disappears. The snow and
ice which is piled UP several feet deep
on the beach remains the longest,
but hard rain accompanied with O
high gale which lashes the waves to
the foot of the bluff clear away every
vestige of what remains, and leaves
the beach in excellent condition for
riding and driving. And once more
you can gather up the shells by the
shore"
Besides these few sights there are
many others which l could mention.
The melancholy pines which cover
the bluff in many places, whose beau
ty is lost in summer among a greater
variety of foliage, now stand out
prominently, and form a pleasing
contrast against the winter sky.
Many birds, which in other localities
would leave for warmer parts, never
leave these shores. Little brooks
which trickle down the bluff and are
hardly visible in summer above
their messy beds keep freezing and
overdowing, until in shape and ap-
pearance are like the waterfalls of
much larger streams.
Once after the ice had gone my
college chum had spent the day with
me; he had always lived at Lakeside
and was home on q visit. 1t had been
a very rainy day, and in the afternoon
the rain developed into dense fog.
Just before sunset we went to the
beach. What ever prompted US, do
not know. But we had no sooner
reached the beach than the fog be-
gan to break away; and the sun which
had hardly been seen for several days
burst forth in full splendor before
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