Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-01
Some of the Famous Outbreaks Of
This Noted Volcano.
II Was ONCE 4 WOODED MOUNTAIN
Of Interest to Travellers and of
Value to Writers.
BULW ER'S DIES CRIPTION

From the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The present eruption of Mount Vesuvius
is from all accounts, the most severe mani
festaticn of the kind that has occurred for
more than thirty years. Beginning about a
fortnight ago. with prenonitory symptoms
of earth trenors and the emission of steam,
smoke and sulphuroua fumes, the eruption
increased In viulerce until it assumed a
fury watch threatened to devastate many
miles of vineyards, orchards and gardens
In tho immediate vicinity of the volcano.
New craters have opened near the summit
of the mountain. the lava streams have
been larger than has been known in this
century. and the outflow more extensive,
while tne pyrotechnic display is more inn
pressive and magnificent than any which
has occurred since the first grand outbreak.
1SoO years ago. which was one of the most
stupenGoUs disasters of any age
Prior 10 the eruption of A. d. 10. in which
Herculaneum. PontI eli and a great number
of villages were destroyed, Fesuvtus was
qulescent. 1t was wooded mountain, with
crater at the summit. underorush and
trees clothing the cUp-!ike depression down
to the lake in its depths. The region was
wild ana sparsely inhabited. and the noun
tain. with its steep slopes and the dense
underground which covered its precipitoIs
sizes, a natural fastness that was
utilized by Spartacus and his gladiators
IN lilr cary Stages OF TIE great ItDSllOH
and terminated by the slaughter of the en-
tire rebel army.
The shape of the mountain and the de-
preston at the sun init Were so suggestive
of previous volcanic disturbances that
Polybius. Strabo and other ancient writers
intimate suspicion. amounting almost to
q probability, that Vesuvius was once an
active vol ano. but IL had not shown any
signs Of disturbance in historic times and
regarded in the first century of the
Christian era much the extinct volcanoes
of southern France are by the people iiv-
irs in their neighborhood
Since the famous eruption in Al 10
Vesuyius has never been completely at rest
though sometimes Guiescent for periods of
many years.
Former Outbreaks.
Tremendous eruptions took place in A. d.
2t3, 4I2. 512, 6S5 and 993 1t is a singular
fact. however, illustrating the change prob
ably taking place in the subterransan re-
gions which feed the fires of Vesuvius that
no now of lava is recorded from the noun
tain prior to 1886 Previous eruptions while
terrific IN violence, were not accompanied
by lava discharge, the mountain throwing
out, instead. vast quantities of steam and
volcanic dust, which. combining in the up
per regions of the air. fell as showers Of
scaIdlng mud. If the reports which have
COMP down to US from the early centuries
OF our era are correct, the eruptions of A.
D. tn2 and j12 Were more notable than any
which have since occurred up to the pres
ent- In the former outbreak ashes and Gin
deTs thrown out from the volcano were
carried as far east as ConstantfnopIe the
inhabitants Of which were amazed at the
fal IN their streets of great quantities of
me dust. and, not being able 10 divine the
source whence il came, attributed If TO
Supernatural agency. In the later eruption
tAS Clouds VI steam and dust were borne by
north wind OFF to the south and circled
over all the cities of North Africa to the
establishment OF the natives. The dust
thrown out by the volcano caused red sum
sets all over southern Europe for several
mcnthS. and these were Interpreted by the
priests anu so0thsayers as presaging bloody
wars and dire disasters 10 state and people
The erupuons during the later middle ages
DO not seem 10 have attracted much att.n-
-len and appear not have caused any
great amount Of damage a fact probably
explained by the superstition Of the times
Which made Nesuvius one Of the entrances
TO hell. and consequently deferred the peo-
PIE from living on the slopes of the noun
tam or near its base. There was a terrific
outburst toward the close of the year 1851
Iorre del Greco was destroyed. with a loss
or 4.Ur lives. This eruption occurred a
week before Christmas and while prepara-
TONS were being made al Rome and Naples
Tor an unusually splendid celebration of
the Nativity, and in the popular mind the
eruption was due to the hatred of Satan for
christians and Christmas. and to his eff
forts 10 spoil the feast by the destruction
OF as many Christian people as possible In
400 there was another tremendous mani
Iestat!pn Of energy, after which .Vesuyfus
remained tolerably quiescent until 1861 In
1itt occurred d most violent outbreak the
lava from the volcano ruined nearly 10 900
acres OF arabic land, fourteen villages were
burned, and the top of the mountain fell in
reducing the height by over 1000 feet and
making q crater three miles in circumfer-
ence.
Increasing in Violence.
For some cause. which the scientists are
Nol able 10 explain To their own satisiac-
ton, the outbreaks OF VesuVis during the
last go years have greatly increased in
number, though their violence is not SO
marked the earlier eruptions Since the
beginning of the eighteenth century there
nave been tOrJythTee manifestations of
volcanic fury. each attended by more OF
ItSs destruction of lie and property. The
eruption Of lTT9 had as d spectator Sir
William Hamilton, a scientist not less caps-
bic than Pilny OF observing the phenome-
ma he beheld and Of recording his observa-
uons Tor the instruction of the world. Ac.
corning 10 Sir Williams notes, the erup-
ton OF that year one OF the grandest
speGt@cies ever seen on the earth. White
smoke, ike heaps Of cotton. rose four times
as tush as the mountain, and spread about
10 d Proportional extent. Into these clouds
stones. scorIae and ashes were projected a,
least b,pbi feet high. Columns of fire shot
Iorth three times as high the mountain
ana great masses of rock were thrown out
one or which, subsequently measured was
us leel in circumference
Notable Eruptions.
TWenty-three notable eruptions have oc
CURED in this century. that OF 1855 ravag-
Ing the entire neighborhood the floods o,
lava descending as far as the sea and Gov.
erinS III their course vineyards cultivated
fields and dwellings. The eruption of De.
ceInosF' lSIl, was Of exceptional violence
eteYen cones wero opened between the sum.
init and the sea. and the lava streams push
ing into the bay made ma terial alteration
IN the coast line In 1877 there was an out
Freak which lasted for several months al
villages for distance Of three miles from
the crater were destroyed and the arabl,
land was again devastated by showers o
ashes and flows of molteI. lava. Many live.
were lost during this eruption, for II cam,
SO suddenly that the dwellers In the neigh
borhood OF the volcano had not time Il
escape ard Were either slain in their home.
ny railing stones and Scoriae or perIshef
IN tRe sufocating vapors emitted from the
crater.
Vesuvius is regarded by scientists as =
most instructive object lesson in volcanic
hhen"i'ena For many years the I.aliar
government has maintained an Observatory
on the mountain. and with instrr,roerts
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