Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-05-21
POMPEII.
ITS TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION 1928
YEARS AGO.
A PARALLEL TO THE DESTRUCTION OF
ST. PIERRE EXCAVATION IN THE
BURIED CITY.

The destruction OF Pompeii 1923 years
ago forms hut meagre parallel to the
destruction of st Pierre last week, though
1T has TIL now been the most sudden and
awful disaster OF its kind in the history of
the world.
While no accurate estimate of the num-
Der of lives destroyed with the burying OF
Pc .peii under the terrific shower of dust
and ash from yesuvius can be made, the
fact that the humber OF bodies so far re-
covered Is under 400, and the size OF the
city indicate much smaller population
than that OF St Pierre.
Pompeii is situated on the shore of the
bay OF Naples, within a very short dis
lance OF the fool OF Mount Vesuvius. At
the time OF its burial 1t was a town of
Campania As a town OF the living it had
no great reputation except as resort for
Roman nobies, and mparatively little is
known OF it. but as the most rem rkable
relic Of antiquity in existence its fame is
world wide.
The wonders of this ancient city and the
horror OF its destruction have made appeal
to hundreds OF thousands of English
sreakiDg people through Bulwer Lytton's
splendid romance, "The Last Days of
Pompeii -
Pompeii, like most OF the cities in the
beautiful country of that region, had
very mixed population. A seaport town,
1t was cosmopolitan to degree. its
origin l. quite uncertain, but it passed In
and out OF the possession of many nations
before 1t was anally. conquered by the
Romans after long siege in SO B. G.
Before the end of the republic, Pompeii
became the suburban home OF many of
the Roman mobiles, who built beautiful
villas in the neighborhood and greatly
popularized the city among people of high
degree. Cicero was one prominent occa-
sional resident, and his letters frequently
mention tn enthusiasm his villa there.
Under the Roman Empire the same Gus
tom continued, and during the first century
OF the Christian era it was a f1ourishing
place with considera BILE population.
Only two historic events are recorded of
the city during this period. The first was
fgut in the amphitheatre between visi-
tors from the neighboring colony of
Nuceria and the citizens of Pompeii, in
which many were killed and wounded As
result Of this, all gladiat orial and theat
rical exhibitions we're prohibited there for
ten years. This was in SO A. d.
Four years later the city was practically
destroyed by earthquake All the neigh
boring towns were injured by this dis
turbance, but Pompeii was the most
severely affected. Most of the public
bui dings and very many Of the priva
residences were destroyed or SO badly in
jured that they had to be rebuilt. This
work Of restoring the city was active y
under way when, in day, the whole life
of the city was wiped out and the very
location of the fourishing little colony
was lost, to remain so for many centuries.
In 70 A. D., Vesuvius, which had been
stum bering for unknown ages, suddenly
burst into terrific eruption. Vast masses
OF earth and ashes were thrown into the
air and fell in great shower over the sur
rounding country, and lava spouted from
the mountains crater. The whole country
was violently disturbed. Devastation was
wrought ali around the shores of the
beautiful gulf and the two cities of Her
Gu aneum and Pompeii were completely
buried under dense masses of cinders and
ashes.
The cities were destroyed in somewh hat
different manner, however. Over Hercu-
laneum there came a solid mass of vol
canic tufa that obliterated it. Upon Pom
.tI fnyp g.. IL 49, O.,
OF cinders, small stones and ashes thrown
out by the volcano. 1t has been clearly
established that this was all done by one
eruption, though thsre are two distinct
strata, the lower one of the stones and
heavier materials, and the upper of fine
white ash, which is often consolidated by
the action of water.
The devastation was at least so sudden
that the inhabitants had no chance to
escape. They were caught like rats in
trap in their houses, in the streets and in
public buildings. Only few blind people,
familiar by the sense of feeling, were able
to make their escape, the city being
covered, it is believed, with pail of black
ness like the darkest night. People were
stood. Soon their bodies were covered
with the fine ashes. As decay set in these
ASHES absorbed the liquids and 6. sort of
petrefaction took place. In many cases a
shell was formed from which an accurate
mould of the bodies could be cast.
Some Of the Roman soldiers standing on
guard did not desert their posts and were
slowly buried alive. Their remains are
found to-day where they died standing at
attention, almost as unmoving as the
shells of their bodies have been through
the long centuries.
So entirely did this coating hide the city
that its very site was forgotten and ancient
topographers looked in vain for it. There
were important changes in the topography
of the country that helped to make its
location difficult, and it was not till 174s
that it was accidentally discovered that
the vineyards and mulberry grounds of
the modern Italy covered the buried CITY