The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-05-03
NAPLES YELLOW RAIN.
A Lurid Account of the Recent Visi-
tation in that City.

AS in a .sandstorm in the Arabian des-
ert, an atmosphere of yellow ocher en-
veloped Naples yesterday. What does
It mean 2? everyone inquired. rs it a
'kamsin'# or a Simon; an aurora borealis5
or an upheaval Of Vesuvius?"
Sunday dawned upon leaden mantle,
covered every visible portion of the heav-
ems. Slowly and ,implacably it descend
ca, heavier and heavier. as if to crush
the city beneath it. The air was diff
cult to breathe, and as the hours passed
oae felt singular uneasiness and OPP
preston: When later the mantle of leaf
assumed a hue of pea-soup green, heads
became heavy, pulses slowed and lips be-
came parched. y
In the bay Capri and the hilly outlines
CT the shore, with distant Vesuvius, dis
appeared. It was even impossible to dis
tlngu!sh the nearer submits Of San Mar
tino and Capo del Monte. The sea itself
assumed livid hue, and dashed in curl
ing waves against rocks and jetties with
meiac:ng anger.
AS the hot ''sirocco" threw over land
feared only heavy shower, perhaps of
hail, recalled the warnings which fore
told 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 10
Consult the saints, the priests and each
other. - ...-.
San GennarO was, of course, invoked.
Son+a Barbara duplicated, and other
saints likewise tormented and apos-
trophised: Binoculars and telescopes were
b:acketed from every balcony and roof
i'll, -
an eruption of flames and rocks, accom-
panied by subterranean tremblings.
However, the. cloud mantle: did not
come from the mouth Of hell,' as the
crater is known here. 1t was carried ST.
lently across the sea from the deser.
sands Of Africa, and early in the after
noon the dust descended incased in water
ing rusty spots on holiday attire which
not even ammonia can scrub out-aDd
penetrating every nook and Granny OF the.
houses. 4s Sc . b Z &: * ...S.a ~. r F.
The atmosphere changed from chrome
70 Grange, and again to Ihe5well known
tint of London fog. = 49, i r.
Although at FIRST there was q dead
calm, the waves were higher than is usu
al 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 rhe
dilapidated barrier. from which it tore
huge slabs Of stone. In the calm there
was that peculiar vibration in the air as
if mature were holding her breath.
Then. suddenly, from all quarters, de-
mon wind arose, shriexing like a fend
from the surrounding mountains. Trees
bent and moaned as il in pain, and eddies
Of dust whirled blindly in mimic mael-:
stroms. Again, silence!
Nature recuperating for another mad
outburst! s 6 f,5 #.s48.
Today the sea is calm and placid. Far
out in the sunshine the. fishermen are.
with her snowy plume OF smoke, gazes in
sullen apathy through the yellow sand
streaks on the window panes, and a light
powder Of silica covering trees and houses
remains as reminder that is storm is
passed. Naples Correspon il Lon
don Express.