Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-06-12
Pompeii and Herculaneum.

of Pompeii and Herculaneum, on the
Oath of August, A. D. 79, by the erup-
ton of long-dormant volcano, we
have a contemporaneous description
in the letters of the younger Plny to
Tacitus, the historian. These word
pictures of trained man Of letters
bring the whole scene very near to US,
and Cd them is based every subsequent
description of the first historical erup-
ton Of Mt. Vesuvius. What is most
striking about the description is this,
that the inhabitants Of Pompeii and
Herculaneum seemed to have fingered
in the doomed cities after they had re-
ceived unmistakable warnings Of their
impending fate. 1t is not improbable
that, like the unfortunate citizens
of St. Pierre, they were lulled into
feeling of security by the assurance
that volcano so long dormant had
lost its destructive force.
1t is sometimes said that the cities
at the base of Mt. Vesuvius were de-
stroyed by lava-the Italian guides
use the words to this day. But We
suvius threw out no lava during the
great eruption of the Oath of August
A. D. 79. 1t had elected much in
prehistoric times. POmpeii itself is
built upon a lava ridge, which, in the
old days, was quarried for millstOnes,
thus giving rise to an important indus
try. But in historic times, if We may
trust geologists, lava did not flow un-
til the year of 1896. st. Pierre was
destroyed by vast mass of burning
lava, which descended in fiery torrents
from the crater of Mt. Pelee, but Pom
peii and Herculaneum were destroyed
by showers of ashes and pumice stone,
with which came torrents of rain. turn
ing the falling ashes to thick adhes-
i've mud.
Some obvious warning of great peril
there must have been, and that quite
early on the fatal Oath Of August; for
it was not long past noon when mes
sage reached the elder Pliny at Mise
mum, begging for his ships, since es-
cape was even then impossible except
by sea. Already Pliny, looking from
Misenum, saw Mt. Vesuvius topped
by that vast and awful "cloud shaped
like pine tree" out of which ashes
were raining down on the doomed
cities. His ships, approaching the
coast toward evening" ran into a hail
of pumice stone. The ashes fell hot
ter and hotter on the decks, and in
continually larger masses. The sea
ebbed suddenly, precisely as it did at
st. Pierre. There was no possibility
of giving help to the doomed cities,
and Pliny gave orders to steer of the
coast. He had closely observed all
the phenomena, however, and had
dictated the notes, which were after
wards used by his nephew, commonly
called the younger Pliny, in his des-
criptions Of the great eruption. For
the elder Pllny, who had effected a
landing in a sheltered bay near Sta
biae, with the intention Of rescuing
his friend Pomponianus, was "stifed
by the fumes of sulphur and grossness
of the air" when the light returned,
which was not till the third day after
his death, wrote his nephew to Taci-
tus, "his body was discovered un-
touched by the fire, without any visi-
bic hurt, in the dress in which be fell,
appearing rather like person sleep
ing than like one who was dead.
Thus perished the cities Of Pompeii
and Herculaneum, by showers Of ashes,
not by a flow of liquidlava. 1t is true
that lava beds lie above the city now.
Probably the lava Of the eruption OF
1851 passed over it. Sir William
Hamilton distinguished the debris of
no less than six eruptions besides that
which destroyed the twin cities. Sir
Charles Lyell also thought that a
large part of the covering Of the two
cities was formed subsequent to their
first destruction. Toany one knowing
anything Of the history of Mt. Vesu-
vius it is astonishing to be told that at
least $4,000 persons have their homes
on the slopes Of the mountain at the
present time. But familiarity breeds
contempt, and, moreover, all the Ital-
ian peasants have little images Of San
Genaro, which they set up in their
cottages, and which they firmly be-
lieve will turn aside the fiery torrent
Of lava from their vineyards and their
homes.
Saved From an Awful Fate.