The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-06
RICHMOND NAM DESCRIBES
AsVISITsHE PAID TO VESUVIUS
Was Iowere Idto The Crater With Ropes and Remained
Two Minutes. Had to Close Mouth
and Hold His Nose.
and Hold His Nose.

/, rli,npses of my terrible. desolate, black
encd OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and small heaps
of lava and Scora; hundreds OF acres "
ashes Thcre-I stood, looking down lnio
an immense, uninthoma9le, imnme a ,snt cpu.
hole or cavern, from which for many cen
turtles, at differcnttporiods, mas. neen r rnn
tied or thrown out wtll7rreSlstlDle loIcc
vast quantities Of matter win sucl ~ ~.
recorded eruption occurring In the year
10 OF the first century a. p. then &c
stroying the cities OF Pompe1i , and ilna
cning, grlmbling and rumbins for several
days before my visit. Even the, hardy
guides refused to make the ascent With
out being doubly paid me uSHa. cu rod
have fn been thirty francs for the three: or
ten francs each. agreed to, pay siSty
francs to the three men, With an az
inc (?l guide, who agreed to arrange, fer
~, NV t,vo minutes in the crater. This made
he sum total for the trp-seventy fran n
or about ss.5o WHICH dia no. no; 'nolUue :
lalf-dozen hotties or cheap WIFI i.s
Sulphur Benefit.
have never regretted investing aas S Sr,,l.
, small sum for such an experience. i ms
,,a n, tar enisodc was really the sulphur
benefi;.' Of my life, without being gotten
no esrcclalIR efc me It was VASE ol ,un,i,
, wSo m Isn't Wish brief foreaste Of
hades. In every direction around ME was
the subplurlc presence, almost sllSgestlls
thepersonal rrfSe e oest s denosts Of lava
we're covered with ut. There were only
three colors In the cratrr,-yellow, black
and gray There was an lncess ,.,n,,,. CON On
and escapng from that great vent holo
of immense. amending subterrnnean fires.
Once or twice my ears caught the o,nin l,
depths, not unlike the restless ocean waves
roaring and breaking on some rock-bound
coast.
ro 1 pulled up and out [ picked up a, small
piece Of lavy that was quite warm II
was brought away as a souvonlr-a dark;
vet gentle, reminder OF the Won s riu /:
'l1cnt urea ches Of the g'spel. Charles *
rrreton-refer to the crater OF Nesu-
vius as n vent-hole of lotment," IT was
sn'I f,sv ftl' and appreciated the allu-
sion, since It was so Eranhicnlv and ter
r'bIv suggestive in Its intended applcn-
This limited sketch Is confined 70 The
simne incident Of my, brief visit to tho
crater and the short time snent N r.
VI %2sn ana m Tnhs Tesu
wins" .cnrnot convey to any ono my
various and conflicting emotions. feelings
| and Impressions; either those INDUCED Mt
crater. 7 was merely an animated, intel
| lrcnt atom Of Gods providence, feehlv
| trying Ia solve and fatNlnm ono OF HIS
grand and sublime mysteries. It Is surely
IN cxncrIence something beyond and above
| the ror,mornlacc. At times. whom read
accounts Of the old volcano, I say to my
| self:
"r have stood-in the crater of vcsu-
wins"
| Rnt now T have no desire to attcmnt to
ropcnt an exneriencc Of tho past when It
would l>o cntirelv impossihla and fatal In
its results. cnn easily conceive OF the
| fearful nppalling soN,t Of tho present
ara des lest q a. n1rHARDsoN ~"
Richmond, Va. April II. 1906.