Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-04
Vesuvius Active Aqain.

Among all of earth's many volcanoes
| none is 50 famous as Mt. Nesuvius, al
| though its reputation as a grim agent
of death WAS somewhat married by
the awful destruction wrought by Mt.
Ptlee, few years ago. The wrath of
NcsuviuS is again kindling, and while
be equ:tlled. since the Italian volcano
is considerable enough to give a warn
ing, there is nevertheless reason to
fear serious disaster in and around
the beautiful city of Naples. The
trup;ions Of Nesuvius during the past
two weeks are said to be more violent
| than any since the destructive period
of lS72. Red hot stones are being
hurled to a height of 1900 feet by the
enragrd mountain. No less than 1874
separate explosions within one hour
have been recorded by the instruments
at the observatory near the crater. The
people Of Naples, Sorrento and the sur
rounding country are fear-stricken.
| Ncsuvius has frequently belched forth
| death and destruction, some times
without warning. There is every rea-
son to fear another deluge of fire from
| this most destructive volcano.
An examination of the record of
Mount Nrsuvius shows that it has
been more active in recent years than
ever before. The aggregate damage
which it has wrought has not been 50
great, but the eruptions have been
more frequent. 1t was the eruption
of Nesuvius in August. 10 that buried
; the city of Pompeii under a thickness
: of twenty feet of loose ashes and COW
; cred H"rculaneum with a torrent of
mud. Since that awful year Nesuvius
has had many other active periods.
one eruption occurred in the year
203, another in Az, when the ashes
were carried as far as Constantinople.
Other outbursts We're noted in the
years 5l2. 635. SS3. 1866, 1851 and
11l4. Prior to the nineteenth century.
however, the recorded eruptions were
from $50 to 800 years apart. In the
nineteenth century no less than seven
destructive cruptions occurred. In
1922 the mountain lost 500 feet of it's
height. so fierce was its action. Other
cruptions occurred in 1865, 1865, 1877,
1880 and 1898.
That the present situation is crit
zeal is evident even from casual
reading of the press dispatches. In
an interview with F. Marion Crawford
at Sorrento, the famous American
novelist describes the nocturnal erup-
ton. which he watched, and adds:
streams of molten lava are flowing
from the crater, and the fiery streams
already threaten houses and vineyards
on the side of the mountain. The
main crater also shows signs Ct activ-
. itv. emitting flames and smoke and
throwing red hot rocks of immense siZ"
thousands of feet into the air. Old
guides familiar with tn" volcano de-
! clare that this main crater looks as if
, Il rupture might take place any minute.
Should this happen both the obsrrv-
atory located near the crater and the
new electric railroad up thu sid of
the mountain will surely be destroyed.
rs will also many millions Of dollars
worth of vineyard property, where the
harvest of grapes has been abandoned
by the terrified peasants. 1t is safe TO
say no person in Naples closed an eye
> all night. Terrified peasants and the
l whole population of Naples Won't out
side the city to look at the awn-irspir-
ing sight which presented itself. The
whole immense plain surrounding the
volcano seemed transformed into a
fiery lake. illuminating with its red
glare the ncighboring villages and even
the distant gulf of Naples. Ry the
light Of the eruption the terrOr-strick-
en- inhabitants Of Rosina. Porticia and
Tore del Greco could be plainly seen
leaving their houses.