The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-10-09
vESUvIUSINFIfRY MOOD
oilers AT NAPLES TO SEE A
VOLCANO AFLAME
STREAMS OF MOLTEN METAL
Acres of Blackened Earth, Which a
Short Time Since Was Smiling
Landscape

NAPLES. Italy, Sept. 1S.-(Speclai
Correspondence to The Herald.) Inc
angry outpourirfgs Of Mount Vesuvlus
are giving rise to fears that the burlai
of Pompeii and Herculaneum In a wind
ing sheet of lava, to be dug out centuries
later. may be repeated. Flourlshing
cities seem doomed to meet the fate OF
Pompeii unless the fiery crater supsloes'
1t is interesting to speculate on the re-
ception that will be given hunoreos ol
wears from now to the curios from
these buried cities when they are res
cued from their lava bed. With the
stream Of lava constantly increasing
from the mouth of the newly-awaKeheo
monster, there are threatening lndlca-
lions of a catastrophe.
The Observatory, known as NOUN
Contaroni, from whence warnings are
issued when Vesuvius Is about to break
forth in fame, is in danger of being over
whelmed by the fiery rivers that no"
from the belching volcano. Ihree
are pouring out of the crater, ana aa
streams, in width nearly eighty yaros.
they find their way down the side OF We
suvius, they are split into innumerable
smaller streams, which leave behind
them a blackened trail where once was
green vegetation.
The receptacle for this fiery torrent Is
the valley called Vetrana- Already
ashes lie thick all through this valley,
and the villagers are prepared to flee the
moment the red and black bed rises too
high for their safety.
Tourists are here from all over Europe.
Vesuvius is a show, and the sight Is
magnificent, especially at night, when
the great crater is living mass of fire
that lights up the sky for miles around
and makes the bay glistening mass OF
reflected flame. At night the bay Is
alive with boats containing gay crowds,
who are here to see the spectacle. Only
the poor villagers, who see nothing but
ruin before them. unless the fiery ogre
of the mount goes back to his den
again, are bewailing the outburst The
majority welcome it as fine sight, pos
sible to be seen only about once in life
time.
OF the $50 active volcanoes in the
world, Vesuvius is the one that keeps at
the head for eccentricity Of tempera-
ment, uncertainty of movement and
violence of eruptions. The closest
watch Is kept upon Vesuvius by scier-
persistent attention, and upon the slight
est signs of an awakening in the black
mouth of the crater warnings are sent
forth to the country people around to be
ready to escape at any moment. An
Observatory was established there
in 1841 by Ferdinand II, and when the
great eruption of May, 1855, occurred the
warning was sent out in time and the
villagers escaped. A large section of
the country was rendered black ruin
| by this eruption.
| In 1858 the monster of Vesuvius awoke
from his slumber again, but did little
harm this time, being in a sluggish
mood, and sending forth the lava stream
so slowly that escape was easy. Again
the volcanic terror slumbered for three
years, when, in 1861, he shook himself
and awoke with fierce snort. In the
few hours that this eruption lasted
great damage was done. An eruption
that lasted eight months began in No
vember, 1857. Two fiery rivers ran
down the side of Vesuvius, and immense
quantities of lava inundated the sur
rounding valleys.
The last outbreak of importance be-
fore the present one occurred in 1871, and
lasted for several months, to the horror
of the molten lava being added great
masses of burning rocks that were
thrown out of the mouth of the crater
and sent rushing down the side of We
suvius. The great river of molten rocks