Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-15

through every nerve and fiber Of the
frame
OncominE Tide of Lava.
Suddenly. as he spoke the place became
lighted with an intense and lurid glow.
Bright and gigantic through the darkness,
which closed around II like the walls OF
hell, the mountain shone-a pile Of irel
Its summit seemed riven in two; or rather
above its surface there seemed to rise two
monster shapes, each confronting each,
as demons contending for a world. These
were of one deep, blood-red hue OF fire,
which lighted up the whole atmosphere
far and wide; but below, the neither part OF
the mountain was still dark and shrouded
save in three places, adown which flowed
! serpentine and irregular rivers Of molten
! lava. Darkly red through the profound
gloom OF their banks, they flowed slowly on
as toward the devoted city over the broad
est there seemed TO spring cragged and
stupendous arch, from which, az from the
jaws OF hell, gushed the sources OF the
sudden Phiegethon, And through the stuled
| air was heard the rafting of the fragments
| OF rock hurting one upon another as they
were borne down the fiery oataracts-dark-
ening, for one instant, the spot where they
fell, and suffussd the next, in the FURNISHED
hues Of the flood along which they foated
I
And meekly, softly, beautifully, dawned
at last the light over the trembling deep!
the winds we're sinking into rest-the
foam died from the glowing azure Of that
delicious sea. Around the east, thin misls
caught gradually the rosy hues that her.
aided the mornlngi light was about to
resume her reign, Yet, still dark and
massive In the distance, lay the broken
fragments Of the destroying cloud, from
which red streaks, burning dlmlier and
more dim betrayed the yet rolling fires
| OF the mountain of the "Scorohed Fields. y
The white walls and cleaning columns
that had adorned the lovely coasts were
no more sullen and dull were the shores
so lately crested by the cities OF HeTeu-
laneum and Pompeii. The darlings Of the
deep were snatched from her embrace!
Century after century shall the mighty
Mother stretch forth her azure arms. and
know them not--moaning round the sep
ulchres of the lost!'
Later Activities.
Then the mountain slept and the next
eruption is recorded in the reign Of Alex
ander Severus A. D., 2O3 There was an
other eruption, A. D., 473, during which
ashes were carried as far as CONSTANT
nople. Between that date and the year
1900 nine eruptions OF more or less de-
structiveness occurred.
December 16, 1881, more than 5000 persons
lost their lives in a severe earthquake and
flow Of lava that extended as far as Taren-
tum, and destroyed Bosco Trecase, the
town which suffered the other day. and
other towns in the vicinity Another erup-
ton in 1907 lasted four months and kept
the people of Naples in constant fear OF
death. Again in 1877, 1850 and 1867 Vesuvius
poured forth rivers of lava and showers
of ashes covering Portici and reaching as
far as Naples.
In August, 177s, redhot stones were
thrown 1000 feet above the crater of tho
volcano, and in 1894 more than 400 people
lost their lives. On that occasion the lava
flowed to the sea. Other eruptions fol
lowed in 1904, 1906 1922 1850, 1855 and 1853
In the last mentioned year the crater
sank 1876 feet below It's former height.
A road twenty miles long, commencing
at Naples, extends enthusiastically alonl
the shore of the bay and then, winding
inland, completely encroles the mountain
This is dotted with villages, all within
hearing of the volcanic rumblings and bel
lowings of Vesuvlus,
Cities on the Mountain side.
-Four miles down the bay road from Ma
pies lies Portici, its 12C00 population dwell
ing peacefully upon lava thrown down L
the sea by the eruption of 1851. On thi
black bed stands the royal palace. built b!
Charles III in 1888 Resina, one mile far
Their, is the favorite suburban scat o
wealthy Neapolitans Its 1900 resident
dwell partly upon the ruins of Herculaneun
and of Retina, to which latter city Pin,
the elder set out during the great erup
ton which destroyed these cities and Pom
pei He came by boat to save the Romal
garrison, but finding the harbor deluge
with ashes, he went on to Stabiae, wher
he died. Resina is the town from whic
the ascent of Vesuvius is made and is tn
> chief abode of the Vesuvian guides.
Sixteen times has the burning mountain
. overwhelmed Tore del Greco, two and
, half miles farther on; yet within fou
and a half miles from it's destroyer tn
seventeenth town fiourishes with $1,000 pop
ulation. This little city has been the sores
sufferer from Vesuvius. each lava foo
! drying and forming the rocky foundatio
!, for new edihces. There is a saying anon
: the Neapolitans, Naples commits sins an
. Tore pays for them"
After the eruption Of 1851 an earthquake
:, assure in the streets of this Inflated tow
was descended by men who found them
selves inside a church buried by the prod
ucts Of a previous eruption, Tore d.
d., Greco is the center of the Mediterranea
coral fishery and Is surrounded by ric
: vineyards as well as fruit orchards FroT
: its grapes some Of the choicest wines G
!, Italy are made, notably the Lachryma
. Christi.
Five miles farther along is Tore del Ar
|, nunziata, a large fishing town of 1870
: people. Turning a mile inland here III
traveller views the ruins OF Pompeii.