The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-25


exploring the Herculaneum excavations.
HISTORY OF VESUvIUS..
vesuvius is the most celebrated volcano
in the world-and there are $50 active great
VOLCANOES. 1t is most uncertain and has been
since the earliest time. Since 1S41 it has
been under constant observation by scien-
fists, who have been able to predict erup-
tions, but unable to foretell their extent.
Vesuvius is eight miles from Naples.
whose bay it overlooks, at the eastern ex-
tremity of chain extending to the island
of Ischia. 1t is believed that the whole
Gulf of Naples was once an immense crater.
the northern end of a great rent in the
earth's crust Aetna being the southern end
and Stromboli about the middle.
At its base Vesuvius is thirty miles in cir
conference. Its height varies after its
eruptions, but the average is about 1900
feet. Its great crater is some 1900 feet in
diameter and about 500 feet deep 1t con-
sists of two distinct parts. The north side
is lofty. semi-circular cliff called Mount
Somma, which has a prehistoric crater 1t
is separated from the active volcano by
deep valley several hundred feet wide.
The Vesuvius of the ancients was a trun-
Gated cone with base of eight or nine
miles and height of 1900 feet. AT its sum-
nit was a depressed plain three miles in
diameter. On this plane Spartacus the
gladiator fought Claudius Pulcher. AT the
beginning of the Christian era the sides of
Vesuvus were covered with fields and vines
and its crater was overgrown with wild
grapes. 1t is certain that the people living
near at that time had not the slightest idea
that it was an active volcano, for the writ
ing of Pliny the Younger and Tacitus show
that it gave warning for thirteen years be-
fore the great eruption. There were a series
of earthquakes and treacherous seismic dis
turbances.
The great historic eruption took place in
A. d. g. The steam was condensed and
poured down in torrents of rain, making
the lava dust pasty substance that poured
down the mountain side and buried Her
culaneum, at the west base; Pompeii, on
the southeast side; Stabiae, on the south
side; and Castellamare, which was beyond
Stabiae. These cities were inundated and
forgotten, so that centuries after, when the
ruins were dug up moderns could gain a
perfect insight into the manners and GUS
toms of the time of the great eruption.
For centuries Versuvius was quiet. Peo-
pie who lived about it forgot that it had
once buried cities and killed thousands.
Again did vines cover the crater, and its
six months of earthquakes, but these were
not accepted as a warning.
Vesuvius burst forth in mighty fury on
Dec. 16, 1851, suddenly and unexpectedly. 1t
continued until February, 1852. There was
a tremendous flow of lava, mingled with
water, resulting from the melting of the
snow and mud. Tore Annunzata, Tore del
Greco, Osina and Portia were almost
wholly destroyed, and it is estimated that
900 people lost their lives. There was an
other eruption in 1860, but only ashes and
steam, which formed the mud torrents,
came forth.
THE ERUPTION OF 1779.
One of the grand eruptions occurred in
1779 Huge stones were projected several
thousand feet into the air in a cloud of
white vapor, with large masses of molten
rock. Huge streams of lava poured down
the mountain side, carrying death and de-
struction. VeSuvius was then quiet for a
few years, but in 1874 it burst forth again.
Tore del Greco was again destroyed by
lava, which flowed down in a fiery stream
nearly a quarter of a mile wide at it's base
and fifteen feet thick. The outbreak which
began in October, 1922, lasted nearly a
month, rupturing the top of the cone and
making a crater three miles in circumfer-
ence and 1900 feet deep. From that time
Vesuvius has never been wholly quiet.
In 1871 Ferdinand III established an OBJ
servatory on the volcano for the purpose
of giving warning of probable eruptions.
When the eruption of May, 1855, came the
people had fed in time. The cone was again
rent asunder and the flow of lava con-
tinued for twenty-seven days destroying
miles of cultivated fields and many houses.
In 1858 there was another eruption. when
have poured from the crater. But it was
slow moving, progressing only a few inches
a day. The eruption of 1861 was violent for
seven hours and Tore del Greco was over
whelmed for the third time. The intense
cold, which rapidly cooled the lava, was of
immense advantage in protecting property.
In the middle of November, 1867, cone
seventy feet in diameter, which had been
forming in the crater during the preceding
two years. poured forth great amount of
lava. Besides the main stream from the
great crater there was a flow from an out
side orifce twenty, feet in diameter which
formed stream twenty-five feet wide. The
two streams poured down the mountain
side in a fiery torrent. Above the crater
was a great cloud of white vapor, into
which We're projected huge stones with a
mighty roar. This eruption continued until
June, 1868.
The eruption of 1872 was preceded by
slight premonitory symptoms. Early in
1871 the seismograph became unquiet and
Professor Palmeiri prophesied an outburst,
which gradually increased in intensity until
April a. 1872. Two days later there was a
rent in the cone 1000 feet wide. Molten
rocks, lava and ashes gushed forth from the
crater Two fiery torrents rushed down the
mountain on each side of the observatory,
joining at the base with a third stream. In
the words of Professor Palmeiri, the vol
cano "sweated fire"
The atmosphere was white with crystals.
The streams of lava gave forth dense clouds
of steam and formed miniature volcanoes
as it sped downward The earth trembled
and heaved like the ocean in a storm. There
was vivid lightning from the intense cleo
trical excitement and heavy downpour of
rain. The streets of Naples were covered
inches deep with black sand. The flow of
lava was three-fifths of mile wide. There
have been other eruptions since that time
which have done more or less damage.
THE PAGEANT OF SEPTEMBER.
When iron weed and goldenrod faunt
their purple and yellow banners from every
hillside, meadow and fence corner, the
passing summer is a feat achieved-Septem-
bers eloquent signal is set upon the time,