The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-06-20
Uncanny Yellow Rainstorm.

AS in sandstorm in the Arabian
desert, an atmosphere of yellow ochre
enveloped Naples recently. What
does it mean?" every one inquired. is
it 'kamsin' or simoom; an aurora
borealis or an upheaval Of Vesuvius?"
The day dawned under leaden man.
tie, which suffocated streets and
houses and covered every visible por-
ton of the heavens Slowly and i'm
placably it descended, heavier and
heavier, as if to crush the city beneath
It. The air was difficult to breathe,
and as the hours passed one felt a
singular uneasiness and oppression.
When later the mantle of lead assumed
hue of pea-soup green, heads became
heavy, pulses slowed, and lips were
parched.
In the Bay Capri and the billy out
lines of the shore, with distant Vesuvi-
us, disappeared. 1t was even impos-
sible to distinguish the nearer submits
of San MARITIME and Capo del Monte
The sea itself assumed livid hue, and
dashed in curling waves against rocks
and jetties with menacing anger. AS
the hot "sirocco" threw over land and
sea its sickening cloud those who
feared only heavy shower, perhaps
Of hail. recalled the warnings, which
foretold the doom of Pompeii and the
fertile Campania. At midday the blood
in ones veins seemed to turn to fire.
The heat was unbearable in house and
street, and the churches became more
than usually crowded with timorous
people anxious to consult with the
saints, the priests and each other. San
Gennaro was, of course, invoked, San
ia Barbara duplicated, and other
saints likewise tormented and apos-
trophfzed. Binoculars and telescopes
were bracketed from every balcony and
roof which faced Vesuvius, in expecta-
ton of an eruption of flames and
rocks, accompanied by subterranean
tremblings. However, the cloud man
tie did not come from the mouth of
hell" as the crater is known here. 1t
was carried silently across the sea
from the desert sands of Africa, and
early in the afternoon the dust began
to descend incased in water-like a
shower of cayenne pepper, leaving
rusty spots on holiday attire which not
even ammonia can scrub out-and
penetrating every nook and Granny of
the houses. The atmosphere changed
from chrome to orange, and again to
tn we'll known tint of a London fog.
Although at first there was dead
calm, the waves were higher than is
usual in stormy weather, and broke in
great crests over the sea wall along the
Via Carracciolo. spraying far out into
the roadway. and damaging still more
the dilapidated barrier. from which it
tore huge slabs of stone. In the calm
there was that peculiar vibration in
the air as If nature were holding her
breath" Then, suddenly, from all
quarters, a demon wind arose, Shrek
ing like fiend from the surrounding
mountains. These bent and moaned
as If in pain, and eddies of dust whirl-
ed blindly in mimic maelstroms
Again, silence! Nature recuperating
for another outburst! Hours after
ward-far out In the sunshine the fish
ermen were casting their nets, while
Vesuvius, with her snowy plume of
smoke, gazed in sullen apathy through
the yellow sand streaks on the window
panes, and light powder of silica COW
ering the trees and houses remained
as a reminder that the storm was
passed.-Chicago Journal.