Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-08-10
he MANIAC GUIDE OF
MOUNT VESUVIUS.


Haye in my possession an old cop
Y3a,- bin, all fused and twisted out of
share. and every time L look at it it
c1fIses a SILVER to run through me, as
81 xuddenly plunging into a sea OF ice.
XaW it is not the manner in which l
came by the coin that occasions this
unnI4asant feeling, but the way in
N1f=eh it became fused and
But here is the tale, and after perus-
Ing Il you can see if l am justified in
the disagreeable feelings caused by the
refnembrance of the scene [ am about
u Qescribe.
he WAS a beautiful, calm morning in
Aueust, 1860
We-that is to say, myself, three
other gentlemen and two guides, six
In al, were slowly clambering up the
rough, uneven sides of Mount Vesu-
ms on our way to explore its era
30 one but those who have been in a
volcanic ravaged region can form the
slightest idea of it's desolate, dreary
appearance.
Not a shrub or blade of grass re-
lIieyes the monotonous extent of black,
broken scoria, which lies in all posi-
uons, resembling somewhat the broken
suEface of a storm dashed sea.
Ualf way up the view was sublime,
eand again and again we would stop
and allow our eyes to wander out over
1one of the most beautiful prospects
rtha& | have ever had the pleasure to
behold.
che bay of Naples gently rippled
land kissed the shore at our feet, the
islands of Capri and Ischilla dotting
its nlacid bosom, like twin emeralds
hi basket of silver, while further
westward stretched the blue waters of
the Mediterranean until the mild hori-
xon Hnd it's glaSy surface were softly
shaded into one by the master hand
OF nMture; nearer reposes the city,
win its matchless palaces, it's tur-
refefl towers. While farther inland the
eve Gould roam for Mniles and miles
over the fairy-like Panorama of vine
yards. villages. fields and villas, I'M
III exen it would be daZed by the bril-
HaH& hues and relieved when again
flizUEd upon the arid waste through
#IIffh we were toiling.
Iii last we reached the verge of the
crater and looked over.
The sights we saw and the sounds
we heard will never be erased from
mr. nlemory.
Locking down into the immense ba-
sin. re could see the smoking, fiery
cone situated in the center, sending up
m0mentarily discharges of seething
red lot matter.
Our guides informed us that there
was 10 danger, but it seemed almost
like eourting death to venture into
the xAwning abyss, which appeared
like ne entrance to Dante's Inferno
itsslf
1a1N at last, after some hesitation,
We determined to do the mountain
proHSfly or die in the attempt.
sd N commenced the descent. And
I'D was a descent with vengeance;
zhaa58 and feet were at premium,
ana I'M not positive to this day
WazefI1er | did not use my teeth.
Ef8wling here, hanging there, where
& M{sstep would send you a thousand
feet lewn a shapeless mass, holding
hx rHoiecting rocks so hot as to cause
u8iu. sulphurous smoke and jets of
ill., burst out here and there into
t6s'< very face, making breathing al
i'll an impossibility.
at last we reached the bot
1H* scene WAS terrifying.
TN# ground we stood on trembled
above the awe-like motion of the boil
Inx. Kissing mass beneath.
{{H6n getting more accustomed to
~ Fearful surroundings. we could
z&nguish that everything in this
6k laboratory of nature worked
'<< clock-like precision.
deep, heavy, piston-like thud of
immense internal engine could be
at regular intervals, and then
kz1 the valve, or more properly
s8 ing, from the mouth of the cone.
would dart chunks of fiery scoria,
<l.z Use fifty or sixty feet and then
md, requiring in some cases the
4E&sfest agility in avoiding being
I'D to death beneath them.