Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-10
THE STORY OF VESUVIUS
TOLD BY AN EYEWITNESS


which. at your own desire, 1 wrote to
you concerning my uncle's death, mas
tempted you to inquire not only Into the
terrors, but the distress I suffered. while
was left at Misenum; for, with that
particular, my letter concluded.
when my uncle was gone from us 1
employed my time (having stayed behind
for that purpose) at my studies. bathed,
went to supper and had very imper-
feet and restless sleep. We had for sever
al preceding days together felt an earth
quake, which being common in Campania,
did not much alarm us; but the shocks
were so violent this particular night that
all things around us were not only moved
but seemed on the brink Of destruction.
Ny mother FASTENED to my bed chamber
at the moment of time when 1 was ris-
ing with an intention to awaken her, II
had found her sleeping. We retired
into a little court, which lay between
the house and the sea. 1 am in doubt
whether my conduct ought to be called
CASTOR, for I was then but Is years OF
age. 1 called for a Livy, and read II,
as II I had been quite at ease; and, in
the manner I had begun, went so far
as to select passages from that author.
friend OF my uncle's, who was lately
come from Spain, on purpose to see him,
finding my mother and me sitting thus
together, and taking notice that 1 was
reading, reproved tee patience of her
temper and the Indifference Of mine.
However, 1 still continued intent upon
my book. 1t was now 8 o'clock IN the
morning; yet there was but faint and
glimmering light. The house shook vio-
lently; and, though we were in an open
court, yet, as II was very narrow, and
built almost all around, we were certainly
in great danger. We then thought IL ex-
pedient to leave the town; the people
distracted with fears followed us. and
(such Is the nature Of fear, which en-
braces, as most prudential, any other
dictate in preference to It's OWN they
pressed upon us and drove us forward.
When we were out of reach of the build
ings we stopped; our establishment was
great, nor was our apprehension less; for
the carriages which we had ordered out
of town were so violently shaken from
side to side. though upon plain ground,
that they could not be kept in their
places, even when propped by heavy
stones. The sea, too, seemed to be forced
back upon itself; repealed, as II were,
by the strong conclusions of the earth.
1t is certain that the shore was greatly
widened, and many sea animals were left
upon the strand.
ION the land side a dark and horrible
cloud, charged with combustible matter.
suddenly broke and shot forth a long trail
VI AAct III lHc udNuT6 OL UuL
in large flashes. Then my uncle's friend,
the same who came out Of Spain, said to
us with great vehemence and eagerness:
II your brother and your uncle be still
living, his wishes are employed for your
safety. II he lost his life, he was desir-
GUS yours might be saved. Why. then,
will you not Immediately leave this
place? We answered that we were not
so solicitous for our own as for my uncles
preservation. He then hastily withdrew,
running with the utmost expedition from
danger. Not long after the cloud de-
seending covered the whole bay and we
could no longer see the island of Caprea
or the promontory of Misenum. My
mother now began to beseech, advise and
command me to make my escape in any
manner / could. She observed that as I
was young might easily take my flight,
but that she, who was in years and less
active, could patiently resign herself to
death in case she was not the occasion OF
my destruction. My answer was: I will
never attempt at safety IL we are not to-
gether.' And then, leading her by the
hand. assisted her to go faster. She
yielded with regret, still angry at herself
for delaying me.
The ashes now fell upon us: however,
in no great quantities. looked back. A
thick, dark vapor just behind us rolled
along the ground like a torrent and fol-
lowed us. then said: Let US turn out
OF this road. whilst we can see our way.
lest the people who crowd after us tram
pie US to death We had scarce consid-
cred what was to be done when we were
surrounded with darkness. not like the
darkness of a cloudy night or when the
moon disappears, but such as is in close
room, when all the light is excluded. You
might then have heard the shrieks of
women and the means of infants and the
onfCrfac ~ Tny
their parents, some for their children,
some for their wives. Their voices only
made them known to each other. Some
bewailed their own fate, others the fate
OF their relations. There were some who
even from a fear of death prayed to die.
Many paid their alteration to the gods, but
the greater number were of opinion that
the gods no longer existed and that this
night was the eternal period Of the world.
There were others who magnified the real
dangers by imaginary and false terrors.
Some affirmed that Misenum was burnt
to the ground. The report, although not
true, gained credit.
"a little CLEAN of light now appeared.
1t was not daylight, but a forewarning
OF the approach of some fiery vapor,
which, however, discharged itself at dis
lance from us. Darkness Immediately
succeeded. Then ashes poured down upon
us In large quantities and heavy, which
ObAEGN uS frequently 10 EASc anu DTu5A
them on. Otherwise we had been. smoth-
cred or pressed to death by their weight
II might boast that not one sigh or
timorous word broke from me through
all this distress, had not fortified myself
with one great consolation, a miserable
one, indeed, that all nature was perishing
with me.
"At last the darkness, which now was
drawn into the thinness of a cloud or of
smoke, went of. True day appeared. The
sun shone forth, but pale, as at the time
of an eclipse. All objects that offered
themselves to our sight (which was yet
so weak that we could scarce bear the re-
turn of light were changed and covered
with ashes as thick as snow. At our re-
turn to Misenum, after having refreshed
ourselves. we remained in that suspense
and doubt Of mind which hope and fear
inspire. For the earthquake still contin-
ued and several enthusiasts, by dreadful
prophecies, increased their own fears and
the fears of others. But, although we had
undergone many dangers and dreaded still
more, yet we could not be persuaded to
quit the, town till we had received some
intelligence concerning my uncle.
You will read this account without any
intention Of making it a part of your his
tory, of which II is by no means worthy,
and you must blame yourself for requiring
1t from me, IL you think It not worthy of
a letter. Farewell"