Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-15
VIEW ERUPTION
Story Of Two Men Who Remained in
Observatory During Disturbance.
AWFUL GRANDEUR OF THE SCENE
Prot Mntteucci and Prof. Ferret
Collect Great Quantity Of Data
aud Specimens that May
Prove Valuable.

NAPLES, April 1.-THE Associated Press
today succeeded in reaching the highest
habltable point on Vesuvius, where Prof
Matteucci, director Of the Royal observa-
tory, has courageously held his post
throughout the eruption. The noted sci
enlist was found to be comparatively calm
and undisturbed by his recent fearful ex-
pericnces. For three days Prof Matteucci
and his little band were cut off from the
outside world Their provisions ran low
and their rations consisted of cheese, bread
and dried onions, until Prof Matteucci's
urgent Geographic appeals led venture
some guide TO push through on Friday with
stock of supplies for their relief. Mean
time the professor had kept at his instru
ments taking observations and making cal
culations day and night while a perfect
inferno ragged around him.
As he came forward to greet the corre-
spondent his blackened face and dust COW
cred clothes told of the ordeal through
which he had passed. He is of medium
height, stoclSy Of build with rudy face
and silver gray hair and moustache. His
appearance combines the intellectually of
the savant and the hardihood of the ath-
lete. His rough garb seemed to belle his
profession, for ne looked like western
cowboy after. hard ride in dust storm
ne wore a rough tweed jacket over u
wooden shirt. which was held together at
the throat by rough cord. a cloth cap,
trousers, leggings and heavy boots com
pleted his costume.
Great Ocean of Ashes.
The portico where he stood was knee
deep in ashes which had been swept aside
to make a small footway. From the OBJ
servatory terrace, TO which narrow paths
had 10 -. a IL
spondent looked out over an ocean of
ashes and twisted rivers of lava. while
Vesuvius rose grimly in mantle of ashes
and shrouded with dark vapors rising like
gigantic fan Prof. Matteucci was asked
to tell in, his own way the story of the
cataclasm from the outset. This he con-
scented TO do and, speaking in good French,
gave the following detailed narrative
81 first observed Mount Vesuvius giving
unusual signs about a month ago, when
the lava began to overflow, taking south
west direction. This gradually increased
as several small lava streams formed into
one great current. The real danger began
the middle of last week. Then an enormous
stream OF lava came from the summit,
meeting the other streams which burst
from the lower strata. 1t was this that
overwhelmed Bosco Trecase. Throughout
paratively quiet and without electrical phe-
nomena or explosions. The only ominous
sign was the advancing wave and the Gin
ders forming an enormous cloud in the
shape of pine tree over the crater.
Terror Begins sunday.
Our really terrible period came at :
o'clock Sunday morning and lasted until
O'Clock. The mountain, which hitherto had
been silent. suddenly gave out deafening
roar and a great rent was made In Its
cone. Huge solid rocks were hurled sky
ward. Some of them fell near the observa-
tory, threatening TO crasl in the roof, but
most of them fell far outside the observa-
tory zone There was no scoria In this dis
charge. but solid. buliet-like stones which
cut the roof and damaged the windows"
Prot Matteucci employed his hands az
well as his voice I'm order to depict the
continuous mass of stones rising like bombs
and roman cardles
AT midnight of Saturday" said Prof
Matteucci, 81 ordered the women and chill
dren of the household removed. This wal
Just before the rain Of huge stones begaI
and | was then left with Prof. Perret o
New York. my American assistant, and tw'
doInestics. There was scarcely any eating
and all domestic order was abandoned. w
snntched a few bites now and then; mos
OF the time l ate right here" and the OBJ
server pointed to the remains Of recen
meal on the desk in his study.
throughout Sunday enormous soli'
blocks OF stone rose to a height of 80
feet from the crater while ashes and SAM
were thrown much higher, but toward
Monday the terrible shocks of earthquake
gradually diminished. The worst feature
of the eruption was the unusual extent o
tho electrical phenomena, the darkness be
iny broken by vivid flashes of lightning
giving the sky a bood-like color, witt
short. heavy peals of thunder interspersed
These moments were terrible-very terrible
Yes. Il was veritahle hell"
valuable Data Collected.
Asked il his scientific observations her
Welded valuable results, Prof. MatteucC
replied:
Observation was extremely difficult un
dor such disturbing conditions The seis
matte Instruments were badly affected b
the electrical currents each explosion bein