The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-14
Director Matsucci Thinks Con- VuIsiOnS VIII be Over in
 Two or Three Days
INCREDIBLE TALES TOLD
 OF NARROWING ESCAPES
Mountain Is Still So Completely Sur rounded By Dense Smoke That It's Outline Is Entirely
 Invisible.

Naples. April 1s-The period of danger has passed and only desolation and slowly declining panic remain Mount Vesuyius has ceased to give any sign of life. The volcano seems to have spent itself In one enormous convulsion. Director Matteueci, who heroleaily holds his post in the ob servatory, believes that the eruption has ended, and the very outward Indication confirms this view.
 No more rumblngs come from the bowels of the earth, giving terrifying warning to the inhabitants. The volcano is hidden behind thick curtain of smoke. which rises from the crater. and then spreads and falls enveloping a vast circle in semi-darkness Naples Is Just beyond this circle and today the city was bathed Tn sunshine while the ugly black pail hung to the westward over n belt mid way between Rome and Naples. Mountain Not Visible. Vesuvius today bellies all popular pie lures which represent the mountain clearly outlined against the sky vomiting smoke and ashes by day and fire by night. Today not the slightest outline is visible of the crater, crest or foothills all being swept up In a dense mass of smoke. There Is the same obscurity tonight, unrelleved by flashes or reflected light such as are seen during quieter periods. yesuvius dnlescent is picturesauely grand, but l active or smouldering Is terrible only in it's blackness and obscurity.
 The Associated Press correspondent travelled today in the belt over which ashes continue to fall. This lies to the | north of Naples. as the wind now carries the discharge away from the city. At Rome there was sunshine. but twenty miles south a thin veil of smoke l made nearby mountains dlmly visible. their snow peaks lost to sight. The zone of seml-obscurty began twenty-five miles above Naples Here there was nn- .canny phenomenon. The sun, though shining, was invisible It's light seemed t. come through smoked glass. Everything was covered with powder. The locomo- lives were coated as though they had ploughed through tar, Pretty white villas were daubed and dripping with mud and people were busy on the roofs shoyeling off the ashes. The crowds at the stations reaembled mlllers their clothing covered with grayish powder.
 Area of SemiNlght.
 Ten miles north of Naples the train en- tered an area of semi-night Pillows of thick smoke roll from the direction of the mountain. The railway telegraph poles becomes invisible twenty feet away. The train moves with extreme precaution 10 avoid collision. Breathing Is difficult, and the obseurity lasts until a short dis tance north of Naples where the sky clears and normal conditions are resumed.
 Observer Predicts Calm.
 No better evidence of the improved con dtion of affairs in the section affected by the eruption can be presented than tile following telegram from Director Mat teucel, sent this evening from the ob- servatory on the side of the volcano:
 Last night and today the activity of Vesuvius and the agitation at the sur face of the volcano sensibly diminished. Electric discharges ceased today. and the discharge was less abundant. From the presumed formation of the crater and the other indications. and If the news com Ing to me is true. of the cessation of lava at Boscotrecase, I predict with re- serve that within two or three days yol- canic calm will reign"
 The publication of this reassuring dis patch has brought joy to the people, and tonight's Good Friday services at the churches, which were attended by large congregations took the form of fervent thanksgiving for danger past.
 People Are Almost lneredulous.
 Conditions at Naples were so much better today that the people were almost incredulous of the tales of terror told by those who had escaped from the zone of devastation. The weather was line and the wind had shifted so that the clouds of ashes from the volcano, instead Of in- volving Naples, were carried In the direc- ton of Caserta The apprehension of the populaee gave place to a smiling conf- dence In which there was no reflection of the terror which had prevailed for the past week.
 But in other quarters there Is no eseap- ing from the awful evidences of the Nol- cano's fury. At Boscotrecase the exhufn- ation of the dead is being carried on by soldiers, who owing to advanced state or decomposition of the corpses are unable to work more than an hour at time. The work k one of great financial cost. as well as of danger and righteousness to those engaged in 1t.
 Many of the bodies are merely shape less unrecognizable masses or nesh ana bone, while others are little disngured, As quickly as possible they are buried In quick lime to lessen as far as may be the dangerof epidemic None of those en- gagged in the work of recovering the eorpses are permitted In the vicinity
 
 N..,.rnor Smith hrrivea