The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-11
4 AWFUL VESUVIUS. DESCRIBED
IN WORDS OF BULWER-LYTTON
Graphic Viewsof Scenes At Destruction of Pomr
Present Eruption Likened to That
Of Long Ago.

streets masses Of confused ruin, which
yet more and more, with every hour OBJ
structed the way; and, as the day adj
vanced, the motion Of the earth was
more sensibly felt-the footing seemed TO
slide and creep--nor could chariot or lit
ter be kept steady, even on the most level
ground.
Sometimes the huger stones, striking
against each other as they fell, broke
into countless fragments emitting sparks
of fire which caught whatever was COM
bustible within their reach; and along
the plains beyond the city the darkness
was now terribly relieved; for several
houses and even vineyards, had been set
on flames; and at various intervals the
fires rose sulenly and fiercely against the
solid gloom. To add to this partial ro-
lief OF the darkness. the citizens had,
here and there, int the more public places
such as the porticoes of temples. and the
entrances to athe forum, endeavored to
place rows Of torches; but these rarely
continued long; the showers and the
winds cxtIngushed them, and the sud-
den darkness Into which their sudden
birth was converted had some
thing in 1t doubly terrible and doubly Inn
pressing on the impotence Of human
hopes the lesson OF despair. ''
Scene of Helplessness.
In parts where the ashes lay dry and
uncommixed with the boiling torrents
cast upward from the mountain, at ca
PRECIOUS intervals-the surface Of the
earth presented a leprous and CHASTITY
white In other places cinder and rock
lay matted In heaps from beneath which
might he seen the half-hid limbs Of some
crushed and manglod fugitive. The
groans Of the dying were broken by wild
shricks OF woinen's terror-now near,
now distant-whch. when heard in the
utter darkness, We're rendered doubly ap-
pnlllng BY the crushing sense Of help
lessness and the uncertainty OF the
pcris around; and clear and distinct
noises from tho Fatal Mountain; It's rush
Ing Winds It's whlrllng torrents; and,
from time to time, the burst and roar
And ever as the winds swept bowling
along the street, they bore sharp streams
of burning dust, and such sickening and
poisoning vapors as took away, for the
instant breath and consciousness fol-
lowed by II rapid revulson OF the ar
rested blood. and tingling sensation OF
agony trembling through every nerve and
fibre Of the frame, Y,
Suddenly the place became lighted with
an intense and lurid glow, Bright and
gigantic through the darkness, which
closed around It like the walls OF hell
the mountain shone--a pile OF fire! It's
summit seemed rlven IN two; or rather
above It's surface there seemed to rise
two monster shapes, each confronting
each, as demons contendtng for a world.
These were of one deep blood red hue
Of fire, which lighted UP the whole Mt
mosphere far and wide; but below, the
neither part ofSthe mountain was still
dark and shrouded-save IN three places
adown which flowed, seDentine and ir-
regular, rivers Of the molten lava. Darby
red through tho profound gloom Of thel.
banks, they flowed slowly on, as to-
wards the devoted city. Over the broadcast
there seemed to spring q nragged and
stupendous arch. from which, as from
tho Jaws of holl, gushed the sources OF
the sudden Phegethon. And through the
stlled air was heard the rattling OF the
fragments Of rock, hurllng one upon an-
other as they were borne down tho fiery
cataracts dnrkening for one Instant, the
spot where they fell and suffused, the
next, IN the FURNISHED hues OF the flood
along which they floated,
The New Day.
And mrekly, softly, beautifully dawned
AZ last the light over the trembling deep
t'I' winGj wee sinking into res. he
foam dird tran The glowing azure of .htt
delicious sea Around the east, thin lrists
49, e'h""u'S tHe ~? ""es VEG.
heralded The morning; light was about
TO resume her reign, Yet still, dark,
and massive In tho distance lay the broken
fragments OF the destroying cloud. from
which red strcnks. burning dmlier and
more dim, betrayed the yet rolling fires
Of The mountain OF "scorched Fields" The
white walls and cleaning columns that
had adorned the lovely coast, were no
more. Slcn and dull were the shores
SO lately crested BY the cities of Hercu-
lanelm and Pompeii The darings of
the Deep were snatched from her en-
brace Century after century shall the
mighty Mother stretch forth her azure
arms, and know them not-moanlng