Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-14
VESUVIUS IS CALMER
Mattucci, From Brink of Vol cano, Reassures the World.
VILE FURY OF MOUNTAIN ENDS.
Terrible Scenes at Bescstrecase, Where Dead Are Being Exhumed. Ten Years Before Crops Will
 Grow Again on Slopes.

NAPLES, April 14.-No better evil
 dence of the improved condition of
 affairs in the section affected by the
 eruption of Mount vesuvius can be
 presented than the following special
 message from Director Mattucci from
 the observatory on the mount:
 The activity of yesuvius and the agitation at the surface of the volcano has sensibly diminished. Electric dis charges have ceased, and the discharge is less abundant From the presumed formation of the cse1oeee .sthsp- -istii- cations, and If the news coming to me Is true of the cessation of lava at Bos. cotrecase, I predict with reserve that in two or three days volcanic calm will reign"
 Until the crater definitely assumes its new shape is to say, when the ridges have been smoothed down there is possibility of further dis turbances.
 For the present the light wind blew ing will in all probability carry the ashes in direction, which will leave Naples free from further annoyance of this nature, and as it is the i'll wind is blowing good to other places, for ashes are the best fertilizer 1t is possible to use. It is merely a question just now of having too much of good thing"
 But in other quarters there Is no es- caping from the awful evidences of the yolcano's fury. At Boscotrecase the exhumation of the dead is being carried on by soldiers. who, owing to the advanced state of decomposition of the corpses. are unable to work more than an hour at a time.
 Many of the bodies are merely shapeless. unrecognlzable masses of flesh and bones. while others are but little disfsured. As quickly as possible they are buried in quicklime to less en as far as may be the danger of epidemic. None but those engaged in the work of recovering the corpses are permitted in the vicinity. The weather is fine. and the wind has shifted so that the clouds of ashes from the volcano instead of enveloping Naples were carried In the direction of Ca serta.
 After the last great eruption, which occurred in 1872. the land covered by cinders did moi produce. crops for seven years. and the losses in this respect alone averaged s20O00.000 yearly. It is believed that 1t will now take ten years to bring the land under cultIva- ton again
 The people as a demonstration of their gratitude for the sympathy which led to sthe French squadron being sent here enthusiastically greeted the French sailors when they landed.
 For the first time for some days ve- suvfus is visible from here. A cloud of black smoke rises perpendicuIarly from the volcano to about three times the height of the mountain. The height of the cone has greatly dimin lshed. and 1t has become almost round. I
 Professor Msttpcci. director of the Royal observatory on the yesuvius slope. climbed up vesuvius to a point a long way above the ob~eTva- tory at the imminent risk of his life and sscertsined that unless the rondftions change radically there vili te so further discharge of I2va st present. He added that it was inpos- zible to determine the quantity of l and ia the crater. but as the cone had sinfnsshed considerably h heles and .he ssg~srs of einders thrown cat ksd be<a transferred into eshez. he b. Hsv-d tbe ed of the dIsturbsnce ras rezr.
 Nearly se1o peopse are enpsoged h .Searfnx fhe roofs and main thsrs1xh- 'sre<L Gangs of men are enuErd ia plHnr tbe ashes h the rnE1dse ef fhs ,srrow s-rs><s vkicA usk>< the pas '.es ef rehsc;ss exceen.eiy di.czlf I.1 s11s ts t1s discszfo<f sf pedes- !