Catoctin clarion., 1900-08-30

there along the road and mountains, which
add to the picturcsqueness of the scene.
most of those nearest Naples are liable at
any moment to be swept into non existence
by an eruption or earthquake. The people
seem to have no fears; they bave been reared
among the terrors of Vesuvius, and
"Where they dwell
Their fathers dwelt and died, and shall awake:
That love which bindsIlevetia's mountaineer
Mid rocks and Alpine SHOWS, gows in lava
here
Having decided to ascend Vesuvius we
made arrangements for horses and guides and
soon after We're on our way. We were a
funny looking cavalcade as we wound our
way up and up this lava coveaed road, with
our guides holding on to the tails of our
horses and belaboring them with sticks until
we begged them them to desist. The road
became narrower as we ascendcd until it was
at last only path with ashes 50 deep that
the horses found it difficult to find footing.
ARRIVING at the foot Of the cone, the immense
ascent yet to be overcome, at least one mile
coarse sand seemed feat that we were
scarcely competent to accomplish Here we
were obliged to dismOunt and most Of the
ladies of our party were carried up in chairs
but two Of us decided to make the climb; by
taking several rests on Jumps of lava cncoun-
tered by the way, we finally reached the sum
nit, breathless but triumphant We were so
fatigued, however, that some minutes rest
occupied in viewing the magnificent scene
spread out before us at every point of the
compass, was necessary before approaching
the crater After proceeding several hun
dred yards over a level but rugged plane of
lava full OF deep cracks and chasms, we found
ourselves at the crater on the summit. One
who has never ascended Mt. Vesuvus can
have the falntest idea ofthis wOndrous noun
tain. Looking at it from Naples, or even
standing near its base and scanning its
mighty proporticns impresses the mind with
but a comparatively insignificant estimation
of Its reality. The views revealed as we rise
higher are trncly wonderful. On our right
was spread ou; before us the beautiful bay of
Naples with the bleak mountains Of the isl
and of Capri looming up from its bosom and
the villages Of Castclamare, Torrcdel, An
nunziata and Sorrento lniHg its shores. In
front of us were the ruins of Pompcii and
the villages and vineyards through which we
passed short time before like 50 many John
la I'M
from the crater and about every twenty
minutes an explosion would take place.
The streams Of lava and stones and ashes
that have in years past been vomtcd forth
from this mountain have caused the ocean to
rccedc fully Il mile from its ancient shorcline
rs defined in the days Of Pompcii. Some
idea may be had of the amount of ashes
thrown out by these eruptions by viewing
the ruins of Pompeii which city was SO
thoroughly buried by ashes alone that its
site was unknown for 1900 years. We de.
sCendCd by Il short cut, having sent our
horses by the winding road We had not gone
far before the s,ecpncss caused Us to move
with more rapldity and we fairly flew down
through the deep back ashes, planting our
heels in it and sliding along at pace that
astonishcd us Reaching our horses We
were soCn in the saddle and continued the
descent without further incident. Here our
carriage was in waiting to take us to Pom.
pei where we arrived Il short time later and
after resting and getting lunch We were ready
to view these marvellous ruins, II is truly
wonderful sight The civilization of the
first century petricd in the midst Of its full
est development and most active life for the
curious gaze Of the 10Th century We en-
tered Il long tunnel or archcd stone walk at
the end of which was the museum which
contains many Of the articles found when the
Of all was Tie plaster casts Of some of the
bodies in the exact positions in which the
the skeletons were found: some were lying
with their faces downward others on their
backs with limbs drawn up as if in agony.
The figure of little boy and one of dog
was particularly pathetic. Strange to say,
the most OF these figures have a peaceful
expression. We passed on int the deserted
streets and empty houses and felt like one
who trcads a lonesome banquet hall. AS we
entered the arena Of the cXcavated ruins we
were greatly urpiiscd to find them in 50
excellent state of preservation. We walked
through long, paved streets Just as they were
when throngcd with inhabitants 1900 years
ago with the runs of rows of houses on both
sides, closely built up in every direction.
The streets are narrow (about II feet widc)
except the principal thCroughtarcs which are
about 20 feet in width, They are paved with
irregular blocks of lava closely fitted together
and bordered with narrow pavement and
curbstone Stones for mounting horses, also
rings in the curb for fastening horses are to
be seen in front ofthe most prominent houses
and shops. The sidewalks are brick and
occasionally succeed. The houses are small
and low and deficient in all that would be
considered comfort ut the present day, tho
it is evident that the whole space within the
walls of the city. which are 2 miles in Cir
cumfcrence, was closely occupied by build
ings. The walls and roofs of the larger
houses were often decorated with great
splendor and the paycmcnts were always
marble or mosaic. The shops were small
and most of them had the owners names
written above them mostly in red paint, 9TH
ers had signs TO denote the commerce that
was carried on in them. Thus goat indi-
Gated milk shop or dairy, the wine shop by
large glass jars and wine COO Ter. the butcher