Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-04-23
OF LIVES
CLAIMED BY VOLCANO
DURING 1877 YEARS

DURING 1877 YEARS
vesuvins has been more
than ordinarily active within the past
four years, Offering spectacle Oh
keen interest-of which tourists have
not failed to take advantage
In 1895. 1897, 1899 and 1903 the
mountains energies nave been viol-
ent enough to convey dreadful sus-
gestions OF possible disaster, bni nap
piIy they were only suggestions.
The present eruption which began
II days ago has been heraided by
many signs of trouble, extending back
to last spring. At one time, last
June the preiect of Naples felt suiii-
cient apprehensions to cause him to
warn the teeming population about
the sides of Vesuvius to be prepared
to abandon their homes at a signal.
The fertile slopes OF Nesuvius have
attracted from the most ancient times
swarming population of vine grow
ers and farmers, and a great number
of hamlets and villages dot the coun-
try about. together with the large
towns of Portici. Resina (on the site
of ancient Herculaneum), Tore del
Greco, Tore Annunziata, Ottajano,
Boscoreale and Anastasia, places of
10000 to $4,000 inhabitants.
The magnificent scenery, with its
charm of outlook upon the Bay of
Naples, has led hundreds of persons
aafo1i,iafi iafiru hhaaasame 6epnntrNt TRY o seats ats
most noted being Favorita, the cha
teau occupied by Imall Pasha, once
khedive OF Egypt.
The first reported eruption of We
suvius was that which destroyed Her
culaneum and Pompeii, Aug. 20, 10
A. ID. Sixteen years before that an
earthquake seriously damaged those
cities. both populous summer re
sorts" of the wealthier Romans.
On the fatal day, familiar to all
readers through Bulwers tale. the
mountain burst and buried under
ashes and lava the two cities and all
surrounding villages. II is estimated
that 10000 perished then
1t was by that eruption that the
present peak was formed Before
that, there Is good reason to believe
what is now called Monte Somma."
a rounded crater surrounding the
cone, was the extreme height of the
mountain.
The height of Mount Vesuvius var
les from $500 to 4,300 feet. according
to the growth or subsistence of the
lava cone.
Vesnvius rested for 124 years.
Again in the year 2o3. under Sept.
mus Severus, there was an eruption
worth recording. In 472 the volcano
belched ashes, which fell in all then
known parts of Europe and even in
Asia Minor and the northern part of
Africa. Other violent disturbances |
appear in the records of 512 and 9S2.
The first reported discharge of liq.
uid lava appeared in the year 1896. |
Down TO the year 1900 there had been
nine eruptions in all. From that year
TO 1851 the volcano was quiet but in
that year there was a tremendous
- ''''s Ni'ii NlOlGuN
and the discharge of torrents of boil.
ing water. This eruption overwhelm.
ed the places now most in peril
Tore Annunciata, Tore del Greco.
hesina, Portici and Boscoreale.
There are authentic and detailed de
scriptions of this eruption. VeslIyns
was wholly covered in that year with
woods and bushes and cattle were
taken 10 Craze within the crater. On
Dec. l6, 1881, a huge cloud of smoke
and ashes arose in conical form. max
Ing day like night In Naples, 10 miles
rom the summit The cloud extend
ed over the whole southern portion of
Italy, as far as Tarentum. Heavy
stones were thrown 10 miles. One
weighing 25 tons fell in the village of
Somma. The earth was convulsed by
errific earthquakes and seven
streams of lava poured out, overflow
ng the doomed villages. In all, 5000
ives were destroyed in this disaster.
From May to August, 1907, the vol
ano was in constant eruption. show
ring ashes upon Naples and keeping
hat city in long-continued state of
anic. Vesuvius was again persist 9
ntly active from l717 to 1897. In {
160 and 1867, active, severe erup- t
Ions occurred, the latter sending lava c
nto Portici, five miles southeast of
'aples. and scorla fell In the city it.
elf. Red hot stones in vast num- {