The state herald., 1898-10-28
VEsUvIUs IN ACTION.
oMINous REPORTS coMEFRoM
THE VOLCANO.
Threaten Observation-Disclosures That Towns
May he Destroyed by tho Stream
of Motion Lavs-Has Cost Thousands
of Lives.

The worlds most historic volcano is
going through one OF its periodical
eruptions, which from the ominous re-
ports threatens to be more violent and
destructive than usual Naturally the
event attracts worldwide attention
and hosts OF the curious are fiocl;ing
to Naples. Since 1841 the big volcano
mas been under close inspection by sa-
wants, who have been able to pre-
dict eruptions but unable to predict
their force or extent. Vesuvlis ia
eight miles from Naples. 1t overlooks
the bay which itself is believed to be
the immense crater Of prehistoric
volcano. AT Its base Vesuvius is thir-
ty miles In circumference. Its height
varies after eruptlons, but the average
is about 1000 feet. Its great crater
is some 1000 feet In diameter and 500
feet deep. Vesuvius, as known to the
ancient world. was truncated cone
with base Of eight or nine miles and
height Of 1000 feet. At its summit
was a depressed plain three miles in
diameter. That was the scene Of the
night between Spartacus and Claudius
Pulcher. AT the beginning Of the
Christian era the sides were covered
with fields and vines and the crater
was overgrown with wild grapes. It
was not known within human memory
to have been In active operation. The
younger Pliny and Tacitus say that 1t
gave warning by earthquakes for thlr-
teen years before the great eruption,
but no heed was paid.
In the year A. d. 79 the famous cat
astrophe occurred. The steam con-
densed fell in torrents OF rain. making
from the lava dust kind OF cement
that poured down the mountain side
and buried Herculaneum, at the west
base; Pompeii. on the southeast base:
Stabiae, on the south side and beyond
that Castellamare. These cities were
covered and lost and forgotten. 1t was
a strange revelation when in modern
times those ancient cities were exca-
waited with their revelation Of the man
ners and customs OF Roman life at that
day. For many centuries after Vesu-
vius slept, People living around for
got that 1t had buried cities and slain
its myriads. Vines again covered the
treacherous crater: the plowman titled
and the herdsman pastured his kline.
and the vineyards waved on its slopes.
Again the mountain began to rumble
and shake. but the warning was TN
needed. At last on Dec. 16, 1881. Vesu-
vius burst forth In tremendous fury.
The cities at the base were destroyed
by the lava and $4,000 lives were lost.
Another grand eruption came In 1873
when huge stones were hurled thou
sands OF feet into the air in cloudt>of
white vapor with masses OF molten
rock, while immense streams OF lava
poured down the mountain side carry
Ing death and destruction. In 1894
there was n repetition OF the horror on
smaller scale, and again in 1922 when
the top OF the cone was ruptured and
the great crater was formed. Since
then Vesuvius has never altogether
rested. When the great eruption OF
May. 1856. occurred the people fed in
time. having been warned by the OBJ
servatory founded few years before.
At intervals of n few years the erup-
tions have gone on ever since.