The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-28

The assertion was first made by RIGHT
HoPEN that our modern volcanoes nc
longer call to attention the grandest
phases of volcanic action, but belong
rather to time Of failing activity. The
German specialist had in view such
almost inconceivable lava flows as
once issued from countless assures in
the earth in the western part Of our
own country. 1t was in that era of truly
great volcanic phenomena that the lava
flows in what is now Oregon, Washing
ton, California, Idaho and Montana COW
cred larger area than that OF Great
Britain and France combinedy with a
thickness averaging 1900 feet, and reach
ing in some places $500 feet. Those were
the giant days Of vulcanism beside which
the modern phenomena, frightful as they
sometimes are, seem puny.
Vesuvius, even il her achievements are
insignificant when measured by ancient
standards, has been rather wide awake
for two centuries. This is her era Of
activity. On the whole, for the past
fifty years, Vesuvius has been in q con-
dition of greater frequency of eruption
than in any previous period within histor-
ioal times. From the third century be-
fore the Christian era until the year 100
A. ID. only twenty-one eruptions were
recorded. FROM 100 till 1885 forty
seven outbu'sts of activity attracted
attention, and since then they have been
proportionally far more frequent. The
inference has been drawn that some
thing over 1000 years is the interval be-
tween two epochs Of maximum eruption
frequency at Vesuvius.
A popularity of these erup tons is that
most of them occur in the latter half of
the year. Since the Christian era began
nearly three-fourths Of the periods of
pronounced activity have come within
the months from July to December,
while, on the other hand, about two
thirds Of the eruptions of Mount Etna
have been in the first half of the year.
Within eight miles Of Vesuvius is Ma
pies, where half million people live.
These people view the wonderful phe-
nomena with awe, but with little solicit
tude, since for ages they have believed
themselves immune from the more seri-
Gus results of the volcanoes violent
moods. Great streams OF lava have
flowed down the mountain side into the
Bay OF Naples, but they have taken the
short cut to the sea, leaving Naples to one
side. The city occasionally suffers the
discomfort of being covered with vol
canic dust, and sometimes this material
mixes with the steam which is 80 large
an element in the activity OF this volcano,
and then the walls and streets Of the big
town are plastered with mud and the
beauty OF Naples departs until her face
is well scrubbed; but these annoyanoes
are perhaps amply compensated for
by the wonderful sight.
One bit of rock weighing about, two
tons is said to have been elected from
the crater the other day. Such d rock Ia
merely plaything for Vesuvius. 1t
has been known to throw to a consider
able distance above the crater rim great |
blocks Of stone weighing between thirty
and forty tons. The director of the
Yesuvius Observatory seems to be stick
ing bravely to his post and his instru-
ments are recording many hundreds of
violent ebulltions.
The lava spilling over the crater edge
has melted the steel rails OF the funicular
OF course; nobody knows how
hot this lava is at the moment of ennis
sion, but facts have been sscertained
that give some conception Of it, 1t was
found in 1856 that stream Of lava which |
was barely moving had a temperature Of
,22S degrees Fair. On another occasion
he lava stream fused silver, the melting
point OF which is 1 $40 degrees. At an
,ther time the melting of piece Of cop
per wire indicated temperature Of not
ess than 2,2o4 degrees. There are men
Who are not afraid to linger in the neigh
'orhood OF such high degrees Of heat,
hough they are liable to be overwhelmed |