The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-06
LOST ON vESUVIUS.
Thrilling Experience of American
Women on the Burning Mountain.

CHICAGO Oct. 5.-The Times-Herald
says: 1T is thrilling story the cable
brings of the painful adventure that befell
these five women in the lava beds surround
ing Mount Vesuvius: Miss Elizabeth Ste
phenson, daughter of ex-Congressman Ste
phenson, of Marinette Wis. and who has
just been selected to christen the battle ship
Wisconsin; Mrs. Frederick c. Austin No.
40 Bellevue place, Chicago; Miss Marion
Austin. No. 40 Bellevue place, Chicago; Miss
Harriet Stephenson, Marinette Wis; Miss
Charlotte Holmes, Menominee. Mich. All
night these women, lost in the desolate re-
gion about the mighty volcano that is
pumping from the center of the earth
molten mass that touches nature with the
hand of death, wandered about with
scorched clothing, feet blistered, with the
hot ashes beneath them, and finally. more
dead than alive. were rescued and returned
to their hotel in Naples. Happily, no more
EVIL results than some slight burns and the
terrible nervous shock due to fright are an
ticipated.
Early last week the party left the hotel.
intent upon ascending as near to the vol
canos belching crater as safety permitted.
in order to gain the best view possible Of
the phenomenon. They started at o'clock
In the afternoon in carriage En- route to
the volcanoes base they picked up three
Italian guides who offered their services
and whom the women were led to believe
were official ones. 1t was not until they
left the carriage and had proceeded with
the ascent on foot for some time that they
were undeceived. The guides proved to be
three worthless street characters, utterly
without knowledge of the work they had as
Sumed, but having q love for American
gold Night set in and the ladies were hor-
desert of ashes, from which arose sul-
phurous odor that was almost overpower-
ing. Beneath them, it's waves ruby in tho
glare OF awful light that famed far above
them, lay the Bay of Naples. The lights OK
the far~on city twinkled as if to mock
9n nennh,; a white ribbon stretched from the
mountain side. Yet for these frightened
had wandered from the beaten trail For
six hours they frantically searched for am
exit. Blocked again and again, they never
were six inches in depth. Many times they
were forced to leap rivulets of lava rolling
the credit Of ofe the Itaians be- it said
that they did all in their power to. succor
the women At times one would sink down
fumes and the choking dust. Then the
dark-skinned swindlers would carry the uIss
fortunate one until she recovered. The Ital-
ians pleaded, urged and even uttered
threats to keep up the courage of the wom-
en-. The shoes of the latter were blistered
so that they cracked and shriveled. Their
skirts were scorcheC. and pieces fell from
them. Miss Stephenson sustained severe
ankle sprain and was carried by the Ital-
ians for more than two hours. At last the
sun tinted the east With the return of
daylight the guides" discovered a familiar
landmark and the nights horror was soon
at an end. The ladies were Frustrated on
reaching their hotel and kept their room for
three days before continuing their journey
to Paris. From the French capital they
will soon leave for home.