The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-10-06
RIVERS OF LAVA.
Vesuvius Threatens to Destroy
italian Villages.
STREAMS OF FIRE POUR DOWN.
Peasants Fleeing In Terror and Prayers
Are Being offered for the Cessa-
tIon OF the Terrible FIOw.

New Iork.--A World cable from
Naples says: Vesuvius, the grim vol
canO that stands like an executioner,
always prepared TO destroy this beauti-
full city, after long rest is once more
belohing smoke and flames and lava.
Where the present series Of eruptions
will end no one can tell, OF course, but
many residents here profess to fear
the destruction OF Naples, though for
the most part they are cheerful, and
laugh and sing, as did their ancestors
OF Pompeii and Heculaneum just be-
fore they were eternally buried.
A panic prevails at Tore del Greco,
which is on the coast, three miles south
of Resina. This has dense popula.
tion of $4,000 happy-go-lucky Italians,
whose greatest industry is selling
relics, guiding travellers, telling lies to
Americans and selling nauseous wine.
So great is the terror at Tore del Greco
that Cardinal Frisco, Archbishop of
Naples, proceeded TO that town with a
large body OF clergy and celebrated a
special open-air service and offered up
prayers, in which he implOred the Al
mighty to cause the cessation OF the
eruption of Vesuvius. Thirty thousand
persons attended the services. They
came fom the Vesuvian territory. Inn
mediately after the conclusion OF the
beautiful and impressive ceremony
there seemed to be diminution in the
flow of lava, or the inhabitants SO be-
lieved, and there was great rejoicing.
At all churches special prayers are
being daily offered up. The Oldest in
habitants of Tore del Greco claim to
be able to tell by examining the quail
ity OF ashes that Vesuvius emits the
length and extent of an eruption.
These old folks have alarmed people by
announcing that the town is in great
danger of destruction. And, indeed,
one OF the lava streams is certainly
coming in that direction.
Nor would it be a new thing for the
lava to flow in the streets of Tore del
Greco. The town was almost wiped
out in 1881, and twice in the eigh-
teenth century lava crossed the town
limits. In 1867 il suffered from one
OF the earthquakes that are part of
the volcanoes diabolical performances.
The eruption OF 1851 deluged the
town with burning ashes and caused
thousands of dollars in damage. But
people smiled and said that it was part
OF their fate rs Vesuvians, and then
they rebuilt and bothered very little
thereafter about the pail OF black smoke
over the mouth Of the crater.
But they are terrified now and are
to flee. No Vesuvian mother
in Terre del Greco puts her babe to
bed without prayers more fervent than
usual and without an anxious glance
up at the crater, from which roll dense
clouds Of black smoke, the lower edges
of which are stained with blood-red,
the reflection of molten stuff boiling
in the caldron below.
There are watchmen posted on the
hills, by which the lava must flow,
ready to give an alarm. Science has
added to the security of Vesuvians by
giving them telegraph and telephone.
If this town is to be destroyed there
need be no loss Of life il people will
only leave in time. But familiarity
with danger has made Vesuvians in
credulous, and often it is too late be-
fore they start. That was the case at
Herculaneum and Pompeii, where no
lives need have been sacrificed.